1 Kings 17:1-16 New King James Version
Elijah Proclaims a Drought
17 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
Elijah and the Widow
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a [a]jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ”
15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen.
Today, we will delve into the remarkable story of the Prophet Elijah and explore several spiritual lessons we can learn from his amazing life of devotion to God.
Through these accounts we prayerfully discover points which highlight how Elijah’s journey can embolden, empower and inspire our own Christian walk.
Bold Faith and Trust in God (1 Kings 17:1-6)
Elijah Fed by Ravens
17 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
2 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
Elijah’s story begins with an incredible act of faith as he confidently declares a drought upon the land of Israel.
This demonstrates his unwavering trust in God’s power and that even during his great time of discouragement, his willingness to obey divine instructions.
Similarly, we can learn to rely on God completely, stepping out in faith and trusting in His faithfulness to guide us through challenging circumstances.
People of faith are never going to be promised an easy life and steady, but they are steadfastly and immovable promised that God will absolutely be with them.
As we begin to look at the life of the prophet Elijah, we see that his work begins with a message of judgment from God.
Wishy washy King Ahab and evil Queen Jezebel are ruling the land, but in their kingdom Baal is worshiped front and center and the worship of the true God is pushed to the back row.
The sins of the rulers and the sins of the people lead to God’s punishment.
Elijah announces, “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.”
The consequence of Israel’s sin is that the nation’s fertile land will become a desert, and everyone will suffer.
God’s judgment even affects Elijah.
He will need water and food in this time of famine.
It will not be easy to be a person that God will use.
But God tells Elijah where to live and find water, and God assures Elijah that the ravens will supply him with food.
We don’t know what the food looked like after being in a raven’s beak.
What probably did happen, though, is whenever a raven landed with his daily bread, Elijah gave a prayer of thanks: “The Lord has provided for me—today.”
Divine Provision and Sustenance (1 Kings 17:7-16):
1 Kings 17:7-16New Living Translation
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
The Widow at Zarephath
8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
During the drought, God leads Elijah to a widow in Zarephath, who generously provides for his needs from the meagerness of her own.
This account teaches us God’s miraculous provision, in the midst of scarcity.
It reminds me and I pray it reminds each of us to fervently seek God’s guidance and trust that He will provide for us abundantly, according to His perfect plan.
Life can be harsh.
We are up against death all the time.
The woman at Zarephath was prepared to do everything she could for her son, even until the end.
If we could do this in our homes and neighborhoods and communities today!
The world outside is a famine-stricken wasteland.
So all a husband really has to do is start his wife’s car for her once in a while.
And a wife could spend five minutes listening to her husband.
All a kid needs to do is say, “Thanks for supper,” and carry the dishes to the counter—or maybe even volunteer to wash them.
We might only have today, you know.
It shouldn’t be too difficult.
Just scrape a few sticks of basic kindness together.
Really?
You and I can’t do that?
Sure you and I can.
Because God scraped up two big sticks and made them into a cross.
His Son died on them for a broken, famine-scorched sin broken world.
He died for you.
And He died for me.
He literally and echelons beyond what we can imagine, gave us all he had.
Living out salvation is really mostly about giving our own everything to God.
Happier homes start when people in a family make a gentle commitment:
“I will give my family everything of what I have; I will share what “everything” I have with them, even just the little bitty things that may seem too meaningless.”
God’s Faithfulness in Answered Prayer (1 Kings 18:36-39)
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,[a] prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
The most iconic moment in Elijah’s life occurs on Mount Carmel, where he publicly, singularly steadfastly challenges the prophets of Baal and calls upon the God of Israel to claim the moment, send fire upon his water logged offering.
God dramatically answers Elijah’s prayer, consuming the sacrifice with fire from heaven.
This event demonstrates God’s faithfulness in answering fervent prayers, encouraging us to approach Him with confidence and trust that He hears us.
Fire is most certainly a destructive force, but it can also illuminate the night.
Elijah on Mount Carmel stands as God’s representative before people who worship other gods and the people from Israel who can’t seem to choose.
Greatly outnumbered by the Baal’s, publicly, at great risk of his life, Elijah calls them all to decide between the Lord, the one true God, and Baal, the false god.
Before any decision is made, a contest is played out between Elijah and the prophets of Baal as to who can bring fire from heaven down on a sacrifice.
The prophets of Baal prepare their sacrifice and cry out for Baal’s attention, going so far as to cut themselves and bleed.
But there is no response, because Baal does not exist.
Then Elijah pours water over the sacrifice he has prepared.
The sacrifice is totally drenched, and water also fills a trench around the altar.
Then Elijah prays to God.
In response, the Lord sends fire so intense that it burns up the sacrifice and the wood, stones, and soil and evaporates the water in the trench.
In this battle, it is clear who has won.
The people no longer waver.
They cry out and acknowledge the Lord as God.
We serve the one true God, who hears us.
We serve the God who is not silent.
We serve the God who was even willing to send his Son, Jesus Christ, into a hopelessly broken, sin governed world, to die for us, securing our salvation.
This God also turns to us and calls us to follow him as His own Son followed.
Learning from Isolation and Solitude (1 Kings 19:1-9)
Elijah Flees to Sinai
19 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai,[a] the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
After the triumph on Mount Carmel, Elijah finds himself overwhelmed by fear and flees into the wilderness.
In his isolation, God reveals Himself to Elijah, teaching him important lessons about divine presence and guidance.
We, too, can experience spiritual growth in times of solitude, as God speaks to us and strengthens our faith in the quiet moments of life.
But, what makes us run away in the first place and display our distrust of God?
We are just too tired to think about any other alternative but running away?
We have become too discouraged or perhaps too disillusioned not to run away?
Both are very real possibilities – who of us has not experienced any of them?
By all accounts, Elijah had just finished a successful revival.
The false prophets of Baal had been utterly routed, and the people of Israel had publicly acknowledged God and had proclaimed their allegiance to the true God.
God had answered Elijah’s prayers for an end to a crippling drought (1 Kings 18).
But instead of resting confidently and faithfully in the Lord, who had brought about all these good things, Elijah instead made the decision, ran away. Why?
Sometimes we are just too worn out to stay where we are.
Even our moments of success can be clouded by opposition and fear, and it can seem easier to run away.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, or you feel unable to cope for another day with a difficult relationship.
Or maybe you’re just plain tired and you think that being elsewhere—physically or spiritually—will fix things.
But when we run from our challenges, we often miss the lessons God wants us to learn—about ourselves and His mercy, forgiveness and compassionate care.
Thankfully for us, God is willing to meet us when we run away.
He came to Elijah with a gracious question: “What are you doing here?”
And God responded to Elijah’s hurt and fear with a promise of his presence and ongoing work.
By coming to us in Christ, God has done even more.
When you’re worn out and tempted to run away, let the unsurpassable peace and incomparable presence of Savior Christ lead you back home to rest in Him.
Hearing God’s Still Small Voice (1 Kings 19:11-13)
10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
The God who created the universe is obviously present in big things, and God is also present in the small, mundane, meaningless, subtle and quiet things of life.
God does huge miracles, saves countless people, and heals debilitating diseases.
From the limitless depths of eternity, God also watches over us in our weakest times and knows the minute details of our lives.
From the indefinable silence and coldness of our universe, God is present in the whispers of our lives when it seems as if no one is there and nothing matters.
Fellowship, Koinonia, Community, Neighbors and Neighborhoods are similar.
It isn’t just present in the big and life-changing moments.
It isn’t just present in huge groups.
It is present in the quiet, little things of life too.
Sometimes we aren’t even looking for it, and it just shows up.
It is present in couple’s nights, quiet conversations over coffee, in small game nights, in family meals, in BBQ’s, or in any garage as friends work on their cars.
What small mundane moments do you look for and maybe find community in?
Maybe when you look for community in those situations, you’ll see it all around you and maybe in all those innocuous and mundane moments – find God there?
Leaving a Legacy of Faith (2 Kings 2:9-15)
9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”
And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.
13 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.
15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
Years had passed since the time God chose Elisha to succeed Elijah as his prophet (1 Kings 19:16, 19-21).
Now, after training Elisha, Elijah was going home to God.
It was time to see if Elisha was ready to serve in his place.
What might look like a good-bye tour of their favorite hangouts was really a test.
First Elisha’s loyalty was tested, and three times he said he would not leave.
Next Elisha’s wisdom was tested, and with true insight Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit—the inheritance traditionally given to an eldest son.
Suddenly two things happened at once: a chariot and horses of fire came between them.
And Elijah was sucked up into a mini-tornado and was gone!
Because he saw Elijah taken away, Elisha received what he had asked for.
Then, in front of everyone on the other side of the Jordan River, Elisha was able to repeat Elijah’s last miracle.
With the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha parted the waters and walked across on dry ground.
Everyone watching could see Elisha had been chosen to be God’s new prophet in Israel.
Each of us has been called and also equipped to be a prophet, right where we are and alongside the people we live with.
Equipped with God’s Holy Spirit and His power, we too are also commanded to follow our clouds of predecessors, pick up our cloaks and get right to laboring.
Conclusion:
The life of Elijah provides us with valuable spiritual lessons.
Through his bold expressions of faith, unwavering trust, divine provision, answered prayers, solitude, attentiveness to God’s voice, overcoming deep discouragement, leaving a legacy, we can grow in our relationship with God.
In and by your baptism, How might this all be expressed through your own life?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Lord God, heavenly Father, we are poor, miserable sinners. We know your will, but we are too weak to fulfill it. Our flesh and blood hold us back, and our enemy the devil will not leave us in peace. Pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that with a steadfast faith we may cling to your Son Jesus Christ, find comfort in his passion and death, believe the forgiveness of sin through him and in willing obedience to your will lead holy lives on earth until by your grace we depart from this world of sorrow and obtain eternal life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 