Elijah: Faith, Provision, and Miracles in Crisis
Summary
### Summary
In today's exploration of 1 Kings 17, we delve deeper into the life of Elijah, a prophet raised by God during a time of severe spiritual decline in Israel. The nation, led by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, had turned to worship Baal, a pagan god. Elijah's mission was to challenge this idolatry and demonstrate the true power of God. He declared a drought, directly challenging Baal's supposed control over the weather and fertility.
Elijah's journey took him to a ravine where God provided for him through a brook and ravens. However, the brook eventually dried up, symbolizing how God's blessings can sometimes seem to vanish. This drying up was not a sign of God's abandonment but a call to deeper faith and reliance on God Himself rather than His gifts. Elijah's obedience led him to Zarephath, a town in enemy territory, where he met a widow. Despite her dire circumstances, she obeyed Elijah's request for food, and God miraculously provided for her and her son.
The story takes a dramatic turn when the widow's son falls ill and dies. Elijah's fervent prayer brings the boy back to life, marking the first resurrection in the Bible. This miracle solidifies the widow's faith and demonstrates God's power over life and death. The narrative underscores that God's timing and methods are often unpredictable, but His presence and provision are constant.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Provision Beyond the Brook:
God's blessings, like the brook that sustained Elijah, can sometimes dry up. This isn't a sign of His absence but an invitation to seek Him more deeply. When the brook dried up, Elijah received a new word from God, showing that while the method of provision may change, God's presence and guidance remain constant. [33:42]
2. Faith in Action:
The widow of Zarephath's willingness to obey Elijah's seemingly unreasonable request for food, despite her own dire need, exemplifies faith in action. Her obedience led to God's miraculous provision, teaching us that stepping out in faith, even when it doesn't make sense, can open the door to God's blessings. [47:25]
3. God's Unpredictable Timing:
God's timing often doesn't align with our expectations. The phrase "sometime later" in the story highlights how periods of waiting and uncertainty can test our faith. Yet, these times are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God's perfect plan. [33:06]
4. Miracles in Unexpected Places:
The first resurrection in the Bible occurs in Zarephath, a place known for Baal worship, through a widow who initially didn't believe in God. This shows that God often works in the most unlikely places and through the most unexpected people, emphasizing His grace and power. [54:14]
5. Persistent Prayer and Hope:
Elijah's persistent prayer for the widow's son teaches us the importance of perseverance in prayer. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, we are called to pray with boldness and hope, trusting that God hears and can act in miraculous ways. [50:12]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:30] - Introduction to Elijah and Israel's Idolatry
[29:02] - Elijah's Challenge to King Ahab
[29:26] - God's Direct Confrontation with Baal
[29:51] - Elijah's Provision by the Brook
[30:15] - The Brook Dries Up
[31:28] - The Danger of "Sometime Later"
[33:42] - God's Word Comes to Elijah
[36:29] - Elijah's Journey to Zarephath
[37:27] - Encounter with the Widow
[38:08] - The Significance of Zarephath
[41:00] - Obedience and Provision
[45:47] - The Widow's Faith Step
[49:41] - The Widow's Son Falls Ill
[50:12] - Elijah's Prayer and the Resurrection
[54:14] - God's Miracles in Unexpected Places
[57:13] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Kings 17:7-24
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the brook drying up for Elijah, and how did he respond to this change? ([30:15])
2. How did the widow of Zarephath initially react to Elijah's request for food, and what was her situation at that time? ([36:59])
3. Describe the miracle that occurred when Elijah prayed for the widow's son. What was the outcome? ([50:12])
4. What does the phrase "sometime later" signify in the context of Elijah's story, and how does it relate to God's timing? ([33:06])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Elijah's journey to Zarephath teach us about obedience and faith in God's provision, even in difficult circumstances? ([36:29])
2. How does the widow's willingness to share her last meal with Elijah demonstrate faith in action, and what can we learn from her example? ([47:25])
3. In what ways does the story of the widow's son being brought back to life illustrate God's power over life and death? ([50:12])
4. How can the concept of "sometime later" challenge our understanding of God's timing and our patience during periods of waiting? ([33:06])
#### Application Questions
1. Have you ever experienced a "dry brook" moment in your life where a blessing seemed to vanish? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([30:15])
2. The widow of Zarephath took a significant step of faith by giving Elijah her last bit of food. Is there an area in your life where God is calling you to step out in faith, even when it doesn't make sense? ([47:25])
3. Elijah's persistent prayer for the widow's son shows the importance of perseverance in prayer. Is there a situation in your life where you need to pray with more persistence and hope? ([50:12])
4. God's miracles often occur in unexpected places and through unexpected people. Can you think of a time when you witnessed or experienced God's work in an unlikely situation? ([54:14])
5. Reflect on a period of waiting in your life. How did it test your faith, and what did you learn about God's timing and provision during that time? ([33:06])
6. Elijah's journey to Zarephath required him to trust God completely. Is there a "journey" or challenge in your life right now that requires you to trust God more deeply? ([36:29])
7. The widow's faith grew stronger after witnessing the resurrection of her son. How has witnessing or experiencing God's power in your life strengthened your faith? ([50:12])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Provision Beyond the Brook
When Elijah found himself by the brook, he experienced God's provision through the water and the ravens. However, when the brook dried up, it was not a sign of God's abandonment but an invitation to seek Him more deeply. This drying up symbolized how God's blessings can sometimes seem to vanish, but it also showed that God's presence and guidance remain constant. Elijah received a new word from God, directing him to Zarephath, demonstrating that while the method of provision may change, God's care and direction do not. [33:42]
1 Kings 17:7-9 (ESV): "And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.'"
Reflection: Think of a time when a source of provision in your life dried up. How did you respond? Can you identify a new direction or word from God that emerged from that situation?
Day 2: Faith in Action
The widow of Zarephath's willingness to obey Elijah's seemingly unreasonable request for food, despite her own dire need, exemplifies faith in action. Her obedience led to God's miraculous provision, teaching us that stepping out in faith, even when it doesn't make sense, can open the door to God's blessings. This act of faith was not just about providing for Elijah but also about trusting in God's promise to sustain her and her son. [47:25]
1 Kings 17:13-14 (ESV): "And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth."'"
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where God is asking you to step out in faith, even though it seems unreasonable? What small step can you take today to act on that faith?
Day 3: Embracing God's Unpredictable Timing
God's timing often doesn't align with our expectations. The phrase "sometime later" in the story highlights how periods of waiting and uncertainty can test our faith. Yet, these times are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God's perfect plan. Elijah's experience teaches us that while we may not understand the timing, we can trust that God is working for our good and His glory. [33:06]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Reflect on a period of waiting in your life. How did it test your faith? What did you learn about God's timing and your trust in Him during that season?
Day 4: Witnessing Miracles in Unexpected Places
The first resurrection in the Bible occurs in Zarephath, a place known for Baal worship, through a widow who initially didn't believe in God. This shows that God often works in the most unlikely places and through the most unexpected people, emphasizing His grace and power. The miracle of the widow's son coming back to life solidified her faith and demonstrated God's sovereignty over life and death. [54:14]
Luke 4:25-26 (ESV): "But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow."
Reflection: Think of a time when you witnessed or heard about a miracle in an unexpected place or through an unexpected person. How did it impact your faith and understanding of God's power?
Day 5: The Power of Persistent Prayer and Hope
Elijah's persistent prayer for the widow's son teaches us the importance of perseverance in prayer. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, we are called to pray with boldness and hope, trusting that God hears and can act in miraculous ways. Elijah's fervent prayer and the subsequent resurrection of the boy highlight the power of persistent, faith-filled prayer. [50:12]
James 5:16-18 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
Reflection: Is there a situation in your life that seems insurmountable? How can you commit to persistent, faith-filled prayer for this situation, trusting in God's power to act?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "The brook dried up, but the source didn't. The gift was gone, but the giver was just getting started. And I wonder, do you find yourself, living sometimes more for God's blessings than for God himself? Because the God who gives the blessing is better than any blessing he could give." [33:42] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When God shows up in our lives in powerful ways, it can sustain us through the hardest times. But when the blessing, the blessing is gone, God isn't gone. And the thing that actually sustains you in the hardest of times is God himself, guiding you along the way, walking with you every step, meeting you with new mercy every single morning." [34:14] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sometimes the brook dries up, but it's better to know the voice of God than live by the brook your whole life. Elijah's blessing ran dry, but God's voice only grew louder. And Elijah had come to know and trust God, not just depend on the method that God used to care for him." [35:52] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you want to hear more from God, then act on what he calls you to do. In my experience in my own life and in seeing it in others, when God gets a hold of someone who proves they're going to act on his voice, he tends to have a lot more to say." [41:00] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you think you're not good enough for God to work in your life, then you're probably right where he wants you to be. If you think you've blown it and could never redeem it, then I think you're a great candidate. If you feel like you've tried and tried, but you just get so worn out from persevering on the way of Jesus, then you're exactly the kind of person he would love to strengthen." [55:47] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "Sometime later, the brook dried up. Have you ever received a blessing from God? Some kind of provision? Some kind of proof of his power in your life? His presence? Something from him? And it dried up. I imagine Elijah sitting by this brook and like almost seeing God's face in the reflection of the water. Like this is God's direct gift to Elijah. Elijah didn't just draw water from that brook. He drew joy and peace and hope from that brook. And sometime later, it dried up." [30:15] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sometime later, discouragement can creep in, can't it? Sometime later, laziness can creep in. Sometime later, cynicism can creep in. Sometime later, you just get bored with the same old prayer habits and the same old thing over and over. And it's just sometime passes and it's not what it used to be. I think our enemy loves to sneak into our lives sometime later because he can't stop God from doing amazing things." [33:06] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sometimes it takes flexibility on our part to be followers of God, doesn't it? He meets us one way for a while, then it doesn't work the same way anymore, but don't give up because God might be calling you to a new adventure." [36:29] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What do you need to do first? Sometimes I think God has really good things in store for us. Kingdom adventures for us. Amazing blessings waiting for us. We just need to be willing to take a step of faith first before we have all the answers. Elijah told this woman God would provide for her, but she didn't know that. I'm not sure she even knew God or believed in him at this point." [47:25] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "He might not always do it, but he always might do it. So we pray with boldness and courage and resolve and perseverance. We don't give up. We don't lose hope. And if it doesn't turn out like we hoped, we know who he is. So we'll come back again the next time. And if it does turn out like we hoped, then we turn that back to praise because we know who he is and we'll come back again the next time." [52:43] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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