< 1 Kings 17 >

The ten tribe kingdom of Israel had turned away from God to idols and, throughout the following centuries, the LORD sent many prophets to them to turn them back to righteousness. One of the most prominent of these prophets was Elijah who had to face severe persecution at the hands of Israel’s king, Ahab. Ahab not only worshipped the golden calves set up by Jeroboam but also Baal, the god of the Canaanites, because he had married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Zidon.1 Kings 16:30-311 Kings 16:30-31XWaiting for response Jezebel was notoriously evil and determined to eradicate the worship of the LORD in Israel and she murdered a great many faithful prophets and worshippers of the true God. Therefore Israel suffered divine retribution, and the LORD brought a drought upon the land. Elijah had prayed for this and also, three years later, for the rain to return, and he was heard by God and his requests granted. These events are cited by both Jesus and the apostle James as evidence that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. James 5:16-18James 5:16-18XWaiting for response

During this famine Elijah was preserved by God, and afterwards he was sent to a certain widow concerning whom the LORD said: “I have commanded her to sustain thee”. This illustrates how the providence of God works because the woman knew nothing of this commandment but God knew her character and how she would respond to the prophet’s need.

Elijah came to her she was about to make a final meal for herself and her son before they died of starvation. v.121 Kings 17:12XWaiting for response Nevertheless Elijah told her to make him a little cake FIRST v.131 Kings 17:13XWaiting for response and then she would be provided for throughout the famine.v.141 Kings 17:14XWaiting for response She believed him and obeyed v.151 Kings 17:15XWaiting for response and therefore she had food until the rains came.v.161 Kings 17:16XWaiting for response No doubt this is recorded as a lesson for us. We live in a time of famine, not of bread or of water, but of hearing the words of the LORD Amos 8:11Amos 8:11XWaiting for response and we are all dying. However, the prophets of the LORD have brought us instruction as to how we can preserve our lives: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Matthew 6:31-34Matthew 6:31-34XWaiting for response The LORD knows we need the necessities of life, and he will provide. If, like the widow, we obey God’s word through his prophets and seek his kingdom by belief, baptism, and obedience, we will be provided for now by God’s providence and at last inherit eternal life in his kingdom.

Even if we die, we are assured that Jesus will come and do for us what Elijah did for the widow’s son - restore us to life. The word “soul” means “life”. The child’s life left him but, through the action of Elijah, he revived and his life returned. Jesus referred to these incidents when in his own town of Nazareth and it so incensed the people that they tried to kill him! This was because he pointed out that Elijah did not heal the people of Israel, but Gentiles. Luke 4:25-29Luke 4:25-29XWaiting for response Gentiles today can likewise respond obediently to the words of God through Jesus to save our lives which will be restored to us “at the resurrection of the just”. Luke 14:14Luke 14:14XWaiting for response