(43) And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. (44) And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (45) And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (46) And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
While the prophet was wrestling in prayer with God, his servant is sent on the lookout for the first sign of answers to his prayer. Six ineffectual searches were made; teaching, that though God waiteth to be gracious, yet for these things he will be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. At length at the seventh look out a little cloud is seen, the day of small things. That is enough to the mind of the prophet. He knew that in the womb of that little cloud all the blessings he was praying for were contained, and would be brought forth. Oh! Reader! let you and I be continually on the lookout, for the Lord Jesus is everlastingly looking upon his people; let us catch at the smallest things of Jesus, for his promise, like himself, is yea and amen.