"Camel Knees"

Photo courtesy of Photo Bucket

We finished our study of the book of James this morning. Tim told us that James had a nickname: "Camel Knees." He was on his knees so much that he developed calluses. I don't have calluses on my knees. James took prayer very seriously. 

So did Elijah.

James 5:17-18 says this: 

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

When Elijah was facing the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, the stakes couldn't have been higher. The drought had lasted more than 3 years. Three long years with no rain or even dew. We are in the midst of the driest 6 months since 1930: 11/100ths of an inch of rain. As desperate as we are in West Texas for rain, I can't even imagine three years without a drop of rain.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were not really known for their patience and benevolence. Ahab had been hunting for Elijah ever since the prophet had delivered the Lord's sentence on the land. When the Lord told Elijah to present himself to Ahab, he knew what was coming. It was time for a showdown. Ahab tried to blame the drought on Elijah, but the prophet rebuked him and laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of Ahab's family. 

The showdown was to be between Ahab with his Baal-worshiping prophets and Elijah, the representative of Almighty God. The location was Mount Carmel. I'm sure you know the story. It's one of our very favorites in the entire Bible. One lone prophet of God, full of faith, staring down 450 prophets of Baal, not to mention Ahab and Jezebel, his prophet-killing-wife.

Elijah gives Ahab's prophets the opportunity to "go first". No big deal. Just call down fire from heaven to consume the offering they had placed on their altar. Baal's servants cried out to him all day. Nothing. They tried everything. Nothing. They offered their own blood. Nothing. 

Elijah's turn. He instructed that God's altar, the wood, the sacrifice, everything be completely saturated in water. Do you think Elijah was nervous? Do you think he wondered what would happen? Don't think so. He KNEW Whom he served. He had witnessed the power of the Lord's right hand over and over. 

So Elijah prayed for God to glorify Himself. And God answered! Fire fell. It consumed everything. Everything!

God had prepared the stage to show Himself Mighty before the people of Israel, to call them back to Himself. The people saw Who the real God was. The prophets of Baal were slain. And so it was time for the drought to end. 

Notice how Elijah prayed:

I Kings 18:42
So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.   

This wasn't a time to casually toss a "prayer request" up to God. The prophet of the Lord understood what it meant to approach God in prayer. 

He PRAYED. 

Then he sent his servant to check the sky. Any sign of rain? 

Not the first six times Elijah prayed. But he knew it was coming. And he didn't quit praying until the Lord answered. Elijah knew he was praying in accordance with the Lord's Will and so he had full confidence that the Lord would answer. Elijah simply kept on praying until He did. When the servant reported a cloud the size of his hand rising up out of the sea, Elijah knew what was coming. He sent word to Ahab to high-tail-it back to Jezreel before the rains overcame him. There was not a doubt in Elijah's mind that the Lord had answered his prayers and the drought was ending.


God hasn't changed. Not a single iota. He is still the God that rained fire down from heaven. He is still the God who sent an end to the drought. He is still the God Who will be Glorified. Either we choose to glorify Him willingly, or He will glorify Himself in spite of us. I am really not wanting to be on the "wrong side" of that debate. 


As we looked at Elijah's life this morning, I was convicted how shallow my prayer life is. The Lord wants to take me deeper into Himself. He desires us all to really learn to pray. Will I ever be serious enough about prayer that I develop "camel knees?" I pray so.