God does not willingly afflict the creatures he has made.  He is a gracious God, merciful, and of great kindness, and has compassion even on the beasts of the field.  When Jonah complained that he spared Nineveh, because its inhabitants humbled themselves before him, and turned from their evil way, after having sent him to prophesy to them that in forty days it should be overthrown, he said to Jonah, “Should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left; and also much cattle?”

In this long drought in the land of Canaan, the cattle must have suffered greatly, and many of them probably perished.  Indeed, we read that Ahab, the king of Israel, and Obadiah, the governor of his house, searched the land for the fountains and brooks, to find grass to save, the horses and mules alive, that they might not be all lost.

God is a Father, and, like a tender, loving father, he removes his chastisements so soon as they have produced the effect designed.  He was “grieved for the misery of Israel.”  He told Elijah he would send rain.  The prophet went to Ahab, who, when he saw him, asked, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” Elijah answered, it was Ahab, and his father’s house, who troubled Israel, because they had forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and worshipped Baalim.

Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel, and earnestly prayed for rain.  God had promised that he would send it, and Elijah no doubt pleaded this promise, as he interceded with him.  He directed his servant to go where he could look towards the sea.  He went and looked, and said, “There is nothing.”  Elijah was not discouraged.  He knew God would remember his promise, and he sent him seven times more.  The seventh time the servant returned, and said, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.”  It grew rapidly larger and larger, till the sky was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

James, in his Epistle, says, “The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much,” and he mentions this instance of prevailing prayer in Elijah, as an encouragement to all Christians to ask for needed blessings.  “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are,” he tells us, and if he prevailed with God, so may others.  God is the “same yesterday, to-day, and forever.”  He does not change.  He is always a hearer of prayer.

Mrs. Dudley also told her children that God hears the cry of all who are in distress.  She referred to one of the psalms of David, where he describes a storm at sea, and the great terror of the sailors.  “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivers them out of their distresses.”

God does not forget any creature he has made.  He provides the springs and the streams to give drink to the beasts of the field, and to the birds which sing among the branches.  He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.  He feeds the fowls, and clothes the flowers with beauty.  He has taught us to ask for our daily bread, and as this must depend upon fruitful seasons it is proper we should ask for rain, whenever it is needed.