This text of Scripture provides a clue to two important things. Firstly, it throws light to 1 Kings 17:1. For clarity, here is the passage: “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”” On the surface, it seems that Elijah was acting on his own volition. He would appear as a power-drunk who wanted to flex a bit of that power. However, hearing him pray in our text changes the narrative completely. He pleaded that God would send fire to demonstrate that he had done all things at His word. So when Elijah announced that there would be no rain it was because God told him to say so. There is nowhere in God’s word that indicates we can do things arbitrarily as we please. Every move must be as God commands and in line with His will.

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬The chief aim of all gospel activities is to make God known. Whether it is preaching or miracles, everything must point people to God. Where this is not the case, what you have is a charade.

The second lesson from our text is the objective of the prayer. The objective was not different from what brought the famine in the first instance. Israel had gone a-whoring after other gods and must be brought back to the true God. So Elijah asked for the supernatural fire that the people may know that He is God in the land. The chief aim of all gospel activities is to make God known. Whether it is preaching or miracles, everything must point people to God. Where this is not the case, what you have is a charade.