1 Kings chapter 17 is a refreshing break from the steady decline of Israel. There is a sense that God would not allow the corruption of His people to go any further. The chapter begins with Elijah the prophet speaking to Ahabthe evil king of Israel. “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” Please note that God’s Word is sometimes uncomfortable for us to hear. I’m convinced God often ministers through regular folks. James 5:17 says, “Elijah was a man just like us“. Often we don’t even know when God uses us. A kind smile or word of encouragement can mean everything to someone in pain. The thing that made Elijah unique is he actually did what God told him to do. God told Elijah, “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there“. And we read, “So he did what the Lord had told him“. To the Hebrew mind, the idea of taking food from a raven (an unclean animal) would have been repulsive, yet he did not delay. “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook“.
The chapter continues, “Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land“. And God told Elijah, “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food“. This was a Gentile city and widows were among the poorest people in that society. The prophet asked a woman that was gathering sticks by the town gate, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread“. How did he know which woman to ask? Perhaps she was the only one who responded to his request? She answered, “I don’t have any bread only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die“. Clearly she was in a desperate situation, at the end of her resources. Elijah instructed the widow, “First make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son“. And he added a promise, “For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land’.” The widow had nothing, but still gave virtually all that she had because she believed the promise. She did as Elijah asked, and we read, “So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family“. Note that there was never any abundance to store up for the future. Literally she had to trust God for her daily bread. Sometimes it is not until our own bins are empty that we finally turn to God.
The chapter ends with the widow’s son becoming ill. “He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing“. The woman said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” That is a familiar attitude. Sadly many people believe bad things happen because God is cursing us for our sin. God is not waiting for us to mess up so He can penalize us! 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord… is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance“. Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” The chapter concludes, “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived“. Elijah presented the boy alive to his grieving mother, and the woman said, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” Even after being sustained miraculously day after day, what makes her finally believe Elijah is “A man of God”? He raises her son from the dead. What more do you need to believe God’s promises for your life?