Elijah’s faithful soul was grieved. His indignation was aroused, and he was jealous for the glory of God. He saw that Israel was plunged into fearful apostasy. And when he called to mind the great things that God had wrought for them, he was overwhelmed with grief and amazement. But all this was forgotten by the majority of the people. He went before the Lord, and, with his soul wrung with anguish, pleaded for Him to save His people if it must be by judgments. He pleaded with God to withhold from His ungrateful people dew and rain, the treasures of heaven, that apostate Israel might look in vain to their gods, their idols of gold, wood, and stone, the sun, moon, and stars, to water and enrich the earth, and cause it to bring forth plentifully. The Lord told Elijah that He had heard his prayer and would withhold dew and rain from His people until they should turn unto Him with repentance. {3T 263.1}

Elias' trofaste sjæl var bedrøvet. Hans vrede var vækket og han var nidkær for Guds herlighed. Han så at Israel var dumpet ned i et frygteligt frafald. Og da han kom i tanker om de store ting Gud havde gjort for dem, blev han overvældet af sorg og forbavselse. Men alt dette havde størstedelen af folket glemt. Han gik frem for Herren og med sin sjæl presset i pine, bad han indtrængende ham om at han måtte frelse sit folk, om det ved Guds domme var muligt. Han bad Gud indtrængende om at tilbageholde dug og regn fra sit utaknemmelige folk, himlens rigdomme, så det frafaldne Israel forgæves kunne se på deres guder, deres afguder af guld, træ og sten, solen, månen og stjernerne, der vander og beriger jorden og får den til at give af overflod. Herren fortalte Elias at han havde hørt hans bøn og ville tilbageholde dug og regn fra sit folk indtil de angrende ville vende sig til ham.