Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/314

 the presence  of  them  all  that  He  rained  down  this  wonderful  fire  from a cloudless sky,  which  consumed  even  the  wet  stones  of  the  altar. As soon as  the  people,  overwhelmed  by  the  stupendous  miracle,  fell  on their  faces  and  adored  Him,  confessing  aloud  their  faith in  Him,  by another  miracle  He  sent  the  wished-for  rain,  so  that  all  men  might know that  the  drought  had  come  from  Him,  and  that  from  Him  came help and  salvation. But it  was  also  for  our  benefit  and  instruction that this  great  miracle  was  wrought,  in  order  that  none  of  us  may waver in  our  faith  in  the  merciful,  just  and  almighty  God. It teaches us that  God  is  the  Lord  of  all  the  universe,  that  all  the  powers  of nature,  rain  and  drought,  dews  and  clouds,  obey  Him. We may  sow and plant,  but  the  increase  comes  from  God.

Firm faith.  Like  a very  rock  of  faith  and  confidence  Elias  confronted the  wavering  multitude,  the  unbelieving  king,  and  the  frantic idolatrous priests. He reproached  the  people  for  their  indecision;  he mocked  the  insane  superstitions  and  vain  efforts  of  the  priests  of  Baal, and never  doubted  for  one  instant  that  God  would  hear  his  prayer  and confound his  enemies.

Fortitude. Achab hated  Elias,  and  his  hatred  was  increased  by the  long  drought  which  he  attributed  to  the  prophet. Elias knew  of  the hatred borne  him  by  the  king;  nevertheless,  at  the  Lord's  bidding,  he fearlessly  confronted  him. He showed  equal  fortitude  when  he  challenged the priests  of  Baal  in  the  face  of  all  the  people. If God  had  not  heard his prayer  and  sent  fire  from  heaven,  he  would  most  certainly  have been killed;  but  his  ardent  faith  and  zeal  for  God’s  glory  induced him to  risk  his  life  in  the  hope  of  bringing  back  the  people  from  their sad defection.

The power  of  prayer. It  was  at  the  prayer  of  Elias  that  God  worked the wonderful  miracle  which  has  been  described. For this  reason St. James cites  the  prayer  of  Elias  as  an  example  of  efficacious  prayer. He says  (5,  16,  18):  “The  continual  prayer  of  a just  man  availeth  much. Elias was  a man  passible  like  unto  us:  and  with  prayer  he  prayed that it  might  not  rain  upon  the  earth,  and  it  rained  not  for  three  years and six  months. And he  prayed  again:  and  the  heaven  gave  rain, and the  earth  brought  forth  her  fruit.’’

Half-heartedness and  indecision.  The  reproach  made  by  Elias  to the  people  for  their  wavering  and  indecision  applies  equally  to  many Christians who  hesitate  between  virtue  and  vice,  the  spirit  of  Christ and the  spirit  of  the  world,  the  service  of  God  and  the  service  of  the devil, although  in  holy  Baptism  they  renounced  Satan  and  all  his  works, and promised  to  be  faithful  to  God. Our Lord  warns  us  thus:  “No man can  serve  two  masters  (who  give  opposite  commands);  for  either he will  hate  the  one,  and  love  the  other:  or  he  will  sustain  the  one, and despise  the  other. You cannot  serve  God  and  mammon”,  i.  e.  the riches &amp;c. of this  world  (Mat.  6,  24).