Today's lesson comes from 1 Kings 17: 1-16. The events described in this passage occur approximately fifty years after last Sunday's lesson. Following Jeroboam as the king of Israel, there was a quick succession of five kings. Then we come to Ahab who is reigning as the king of Israel in our study today. All of the the kings of Israel followed Jeroboam's wicked example. There are two principle thoughts that can be seen in this lesson:
1. Elijah's courage in proclaiming God's message to Ahab; and
2. God's providential care for Elijah.
The period we are now studying was one of the darkest times of Israel's spiritual history. Temples of idolatry and heathen alters occupied the land. There was bitter persecution on those who still worshipped the true God of Israel. The altars of Yahweh were broken down and the true prophets killed. But then came Elijah the Tishbite. We will learn how a true man of God responded to such perilous times for a believer in God.
The first section is "A Drought Announced" v. 1. Elijah told King Ahab that there would be a drought. This required great faith and courage. Elijah declared himself to be the servant of God and then announced impending punishment for the nation's sins. The drought lasted three and a half years, until God gave another message of the coming rain. What was the source of Elijah's power? He prayed earnestly according to James 5: 17, 18. After his time in prayer, he was able to announce God's Word to Ahab. This is an important lesson for us today. We have many moral and spiritual issues today. We need revival. The answer is not to be found in clever slogans or advertising programs, the answer is found in real prayer.
Why did God send the drought to Israel? First, He wanted Ahab and the people to consider how far they drifted from Him. Second, the drought showed that Yahweh was still the rightful God of Israel. Third, it was a punishment for their sins. A drought meant no rain for food to grow. Fourth, it would leave the people no resource but God in their times of trouble.
The second section is "God Provides by Ravens" vv. 2-7. God tells Elijah to hide. At first, this may seem strange. Couldn't God just protect Elijah with an army of angels? Yes, He could. However, we cannot put God in a box. He chooses the methods that He wants. His way is best, always. Elijah is told to go to the brook Cherith and to hide from Ahab. Elijah gets his water from the brook and the ravens bring him food. He had two fresh meals a day. While he was hiding, it gave Elijah time to prepare his mind and soul for the work yet to be done. He would have a great test in the future with the prophets of Baal. After a while, the brook dried up. This must have been a test of his faith as he saw God's provision beginning to disappear. All of these events were preparation for what was to occur. With the brook drying up, other people would have been less likely to come there for water. Thus, God was also keeping Elijah's hiding place secret. God always knows the best way to proceed when a person's source of help and supply is cut off. God will provide your daily bread and He will reveal the way for us to go step by step. I have said for years, "We are on a need to know to basis. When we need to know, God will let you know."
The third section is, "God Provides by a Widow" vv. 8-16. When the brook stopped flowing, God also stopped the ravens. He told Elijah to go to Zarephath. This was a small village outside of Israel in the territory of Jezebel's father (she was the idolatrous wife of Ahab). Ahab would not have thought that Elijah would go there! In Zarephath, God would use a widow woman with very little means. Elijah met her and asked for water and bread. She stated she had only a little and was going to make a it for her and her son and then die. Let's take account of the resources in this portion of Scripture. We have Elijah who is running from Ahab so he has little means or thing of tangible value. We have the widow woman and her son who have only a little food for them to eat and die. This took great faith on Elijah's part to believe that God was going to use a poor widow in a foreign land to sustain him. This took great faith on the woman's part because she had to believe that Elijah's words were true that the barrel of meal and cruse of oil would not fail unto it rained again. Elijah and the woman needed each other to bring about this miracle. In life, we generally need other people to help bring about God's plan for our lives. Truly, man's extremity was God's opportunity. Both Elijah and the woman passed the test. Those who trust in God will find that He Himself is their exceeding great Reward. Real faith causes obedience, and brings blessings.
The Golden Text is: "What things soever ye desire, when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24) "Faith is the soul, prayer is the body; both together make a complete man for any service." A condition of our receiving is to pray, believing. Prayer is the principle duty of a Christian.
My summary points:
1. The preacher and teacher must be faithful and deliver God's message at any cost.
2. God can use any means He chooses to meet our needs if we are obedient.
3. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.
Next week: "The Prophet of the Lord" 1 Kings 18: 30-40. I will post the daily devotional reading for the lesson on this afternoon or Monday.
Please read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
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