Elijah enters the Old Testament narrative suddenly. Presenting himself to King Ahab, who “did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kings 16:33), Elijah delivers a concise declaration: “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
It’s a bold statement to a king, who was used to delivering decrees, not receiving them, least of all from one of his own subjects. Elijah is not merely a messenger here; he is the actor. He doesn’t say, “according to God’s word” or, “until you repent.” He says, “according to my word.”
About three years later, Elijah speaks with Ahab again, commanding him to gather the prophets of Baal. The king obeys, and Elijah demonstrates the supremacy of God by calling down fire from heaven. When the people collectively acknowledge Jehovah as the true God, Elijah declares the drought over. “Get thee up, eat and drink,” he says to Ahab, “for there is a sound of abundance of rain” (1 Kings 18:41). Before Ahab arrives home, he is engulfed in an enormous rainstorm.
What is the source of Elijah’s power? How can he close and open the heavens? The Old Testament doesn’t explain it, but the Book of Mormon does. Many years after Elijah, a prophet named Nephi initiates and concludes a similar three-year drought, but before he does so, we read about how God gave him this power. After preaching the gospel, performing miracles, and being rejected by his people, Nephi is walking alone when he hears the voice of God, saying:
Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
Helaman 10:4-7
And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.
Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.
The power God confers upon Nephi in these verses is commonly known as the sealing power, because God describes it using the word “seal.” Just as an ancient king’s seal confirmed the authoritative nature of a message, a prophet who holds this power speaks on behalf of God. But the prophet is more than a messenger. In the Book of Mormon, God doesn’t command Nephi to cause the drought (see Helaman 11:3-5). He expresses confidence that Nephi’s decisions will not conflict with His will, and He affirms Nephi’s agency in using this power.
Did God express the same confidence in Elijah? It’s reasonable to assume so, since Elijah spoke with such authority to his own king. His use of the phrase “according to my word” mirrors God’s declaration to Nephi, “all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word.” He clearly knew that God would honor his words and that what he spoke on earth would be honored in heaven.
Today I will be grateful for the power God shares with His children. I will strive to act according to His will as I exercise the power He has conferred upon me.
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