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101 Questions - About Ellen White and Her Writings

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    Question 87: Why did Elijah have to pray seven times? (“Elijah Statement”)

    About twenty or twenty-five years ago, I was reading a story about Elijah in a Spirit of Prophecy book and I came across something that made a deep impression on me. I have gone page by page through my books, but I have never been able to find it again. I finally came to the conclusion that I must not have read it at all, but then at church the other day, we had a video, and the pastor on the video quoted word for word what I had read so many years ago. Then he said that it was found in the Bible commentary. I don’t have the Bible commentary, so I don’t know how I ever read those words so long ago.101Q 190.1

    What really interested me in what I read was when Ellen White talked about Elijah kneeling seven times in prayer and that each time he knelt, he reviewed his life to see where he had failed to give God glory or bring God glory—something like that. Then the seventh time when he got up, there was that little cloud in the sky. I have read many stories about Elijah, but they didn’t have the part where he reviewed his life. Could you see if that story is written that way in something that I have here at home?101Q 190.2

    Here is the statement you were looking for.101Q 190.3

    The servant watched while Elijah prayed. Six times he returned from the watch, saying, There is nothing, no cloud, no sign of rain. But the prophet did not give up in discouragement. He kept reviewing his life, to see where he had failed to honor God, he confessed his sins, and thus continued to afflict his soul before God, while watching for a token that his prayer was answered. As he searched his heart, he seemed to be less and less, both in his own estimation and in the sight of God. It seemed to him that he was nothing, and that God was everything; and when he reached the point of renouncing self, while he clung to the Saviour as his only strength and righteousness, the answer came. The servant appeared, and said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand” (Review and Herald, May 26, 1891; The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 2:1035).101Q 190.4

    The statement also appears in a couple of devotional books: Our Father Cares, page 100, and Our High Calling, page 133. It was included as well in the compilation Prayer, page 140.101Q 191.1

    Yes, yes, and yes! That is the one I have tried to find for so many years. I love that part about Elijah searching his heart because that’s where I am at right now. If Elijah, the prophet of God needed to search his heart and afflict his soul and review his life, how much more do I need to do that also! Jesus is coming soon!101Q 191.2