"But I sayto you in truth,there were manywidowsin Israelin the daysof Elijah,whenthe skywas shutup for threeyearsand sixmonths,whena greatfaminecameoverallthe land;
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
"For My thoughtsare not your thoughts,Norare your waysMy ways,"declaresthe LORD.
Is it not lawfulfor me to dowhatI wishwith whatis my own?Oris your eyeenviousbecauseI amgenerous?'
At that verytimeHe rejoiced greatlyin the HolySpirit,and said,"I praiseYou, O Father,Lordof heavenand earth,that You have hiddenthese thingsfrom [the] wiseand intelligentand have revealedthem to infants.Yes,Father,for this waywas well-pleasingin Your sight.
For He saysto Moses,"I WILL HAVEMERCYON WHOMI HAVE MERCY,AND I WILL HAVECOMPASSIONON WHOMI HAVE COMPASSION."
On the contrary,whoare you, Oman,who answers backto God?The thing moldedwill not sayto the molder,"Whydid you makeme like this,"will it?
alsowe have obtained an inheritance,having been predestinedaccordingto His purposewho worksall thingsafterthe counselof His will,
He made knownto us the mysteryof His will, accordingto His kind intentionwhichHe purposedin Him
Elijahwas a manwith a nature likeours,and he prayedearnestlythat it would not rain,and it did not rainon the earthfor threeyearsand sixmonths.
Thesehavethe powerto shutup the sky,sothat rainwill not fallduring the daysof their prophesying;and they havepoweroverthe watersto turnthem into blood,and to strikethe earthwith everyplague,as oftenas they desire.
