Along the same lines, the Chasam Sofer offers a fascinating insight into another episode which occurred later in our history.
Starting in the days of Yeravam ben Nevat, a significant portion of Klal Yisrael worshipped avodah zarah. This continued through to the times of Eliyahu Hanavi and Achav Harasha. One particular avodah zarah mentioned in Scripture is the Ba'al, its preachers being referred to as נְבִיאֵי הַבַּעַל - 'Prophets' of the Ba'al.
The Gemara (סנהדרין קיג ע"א) relates, that King Achav approached Eliyahu Hanavi and mocked the words of the Torah, saying 'Your teacher Moshe Rabbeinu said that if we don't keep the mitzvos, there will be no rain, but I have flooded the entire Eretz Yisrael with avodah zarah and rain is still falling.' In response, Eliyahu Hanavi declared חַי ה' אֱלֹקֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו אִם יִהְיֶה הַשָּׁנִים הָאֵלֶּה טַל וּמָטָר כִּי אִם לְפִי דְבָרִי - "As Hashem, the G-d of Yisrael, whom I serve, lives (I swear in the Name of Hashem), if there will be during these years dew or rain except according to my word." Indeed, for three years since that moment, no rain fell in Eretz Yisrael.
After those three years, Eliyahu Hanavi gathered the yidden by Har Hakarmel, and invited Achav and the Nevi'ei Haba'al to perform a contest to see who is correct, they who believe in idol worshipping, or he who calls for pure faith and loyalty to Hashem and His Torah.
Each party was to erect an altar upon which they would offer a sacrifice. Those who remained loyal to Hashem would offer their korban to Him, and those who succumbed to worshipping avodah zarah would offer theirs to the Ba'al. While the 'prophets' of the Ba'al proved unsuccessful in proving any 'higher' powers, Eliyahu davened to Hashem that He demonstrate His Divine Sovereignty over the world. Hashem accepted his tefillah and sent down a supernatural fire to consume his korban.
Eventually, everyone recognized that Hashem is the true G-d, proclaiming "ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹקִים! ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹקִים!". Subsequently, Eliyahu Hanavi killed the four hundred and fifty Nevi'ei Haba'al, and all of Klal Yisrael repented sincerely, once again displaying their complete loyalty to the Almighty.
The Chasam Sofer shares the following insight. Clouds contain the הֶבֶל פִּיהֶם - the airborne vapor formed by the breath of man's speech. When clouds are formed from spiritually positive language, especially words of Torah, they produce גִּשְׁמֵי בְרָכָה - rain of bounty. This rain nurtures crop of superior quality that elevate those who eat from it. Conversely, if the clouds are made up from improper speech ch''v, its rain yields poor quality produce which has a harmful effect on those who consume it, both physically and spiritually. This continues in a downward spiral until man stoops to a place of no return, chalilah.
In the days of Achav the world was spiritually barren, to a point of near destruction. Eliyahu Hanavi therefore declared that there be no rain, as it would only lead to further deterioration. He added, though, כִּי אִם לְפִי דְבָרִי - but by my word, meaning that the rain which would eventually fall, would come from clouds formed from the holy words spoken by Eliyahu and his followers.
After Eliyahu Hanavi got rid of the Nevi'ei Haba'al, he put his head between his legs and davened. He then sent someone to check for any incoming clouds. After going back and forth seven times to check, the man related that he saw a "small cloud the size of a man's fist" (מלכים-א יח). The Chasam Sofer explains that at the time, there were only very few ehrliche Yidden who remained loyal to Hashem and His Torah. Thus, the cloud formed by their pure speech although holy, was small. The rain that fell from it was גִּשְׁמֵי בְרָכָה and had a positive impact on the world, ultimately elevating it and its inhabitants.
(דרשות חתם סופר ח"ב דף שעו)
This once again demonstrates the awesome power of our words and its enormous influence on the physical world.
