1 Kings 17 -- God's Provision

King Ahab and his evil non-Jewish queen Jezebel were going to get a 3-year lesson from God via Elijah, who popped on the scene just long enough to announce that God was bringing a protracted drought because the people of Israel were worshiping Baal.  Since Baal was the storm god of fertility, a drought would disavow them of any ideas that he was anything but an idol.  Elijah then followed God’s direction, crossing the Jordan to hide in a ravine, where he would have water and where ravens would supply him daily with meat and bread!  Though under Mosaic law ravens were unclean because they ate dead animals, God’s instructions were to eat, and Elijah did what God said.

 

The drought finally caused even this stream to dry up, but Elijah waited to hear from God, who commanded him to leave Israel for the home country of Jezebel!  What’s more, he was to find a certain widow and her son who would care for him.  My commentary said that Elijah was probably amazed at this, because widows were usually among the neediest people in the land!  It also said, “Because of our proneness to look at the bucket and forget the fountain, God has frequently to change His means of supply to keep our eyes fixed on the source,” and that’s what He was doing with Elijah.

 

As the drought continued, the woman’s grain and oil never ran out – a true miracle.  But then her son grew ill and died.  Elijah prayed to God for the boy’s life to be returned, and God answered his prayers with the first resurrection of a dead person recorded in the Bible.  This caused the widow, who’d been amazed at the continuing food supply, to finally understand that Jehovah was in charge of her own life and her son’s.

 

Perhaps the biggest thing about this story is that Christ would later use it to show unrepentant Jews that God is no respecter of persons, that they didn’t have a corner on the market with Him, and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” my commentary said.

 

Father, Elijah’s faith in Your provision for him helps to sustain me as I await Your resolution of several things.  You continue to bless me, and I know that in Your timing You will take care of us in it, too.  I trust You, Father.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford