1 Kings

1 Kings 17:1-7

The prophet Elijah makes an entrance into the narrative of Ahab.  The northern Kingdom had been led to idolatry and Baal worship.  Ahab had many prophets advising him according to Baal.  When Elijah cames before the king he quickly found out that Elijah spoke for Yahweh.  Elijah announced that it is by the power of the living God that it would not rain until he prayed for rain.  While most of Israel had thought God to be dead, Elijah announced that he was very much alive and still in charge. 

God sent Elijah to Cherith, which was a safe place where Elijah would trust God for his provision.  Elijah probably had many questions, as we would: how long?  What kind of food?  For what purpose?  How would he know when it was time to leave?  And it could go on and on. 

The very brook that Elijah got water from finally dried up.  Yet, he did not pray for rain.  He was being obedient to God's will in spite of the pain and discomfort it caused him.  It Elijah died, God would be found unfaithful in his statement that Elijah's prayer alone could bring rain.  How many of us would have prayed for rain with the justification that God wouldn't want us uncomfortable?  Do we trust God in spite of what we feel and see?

1 Kings 17:8-16

Elijah went to Zarephath to find this widow who was to provide for him.  This had to difficult for him to go to a gentile land to be provided for.  This was outside of his normal way of thinking.  What gentile would take care of a Jew during a drought like this.  Then upon finding the woman, he discovers this widow had no provisions for herself, let alone him.  Yet we see only faithfulness and trust in Elijah as he receives word from the Lord that he would provide miraculously for the widow, her son and himself.   The widow had only a handful of flour and a little oil so she also had to exercise her faith in serving Elijah first.   

After this, the flour bine always had the day's provision and the oil was always available.  Her daily bread was delivered to her as she needed it, daily. 

1 Kings 17:17-24

This woman's son became sick and died.  This is a drastic turnaround from the joy she was experiencing at Elijah's presence.  She stated at their meeting the boy was going to die, it was by God's provision that he lived on until this illness.  She now was inclined to blame Elijah for this death.  Elijah took the boy upstairs and stretched out on him 3 times and prayed to God.  Some may draw some significance to the prayer posture and the actions, but it was a sovereign act of God to preserve his life. 

©2016 Doug Ford