1 Kings 17

1 Kings 17:1

2. Elijah and the Drought (17:1-7)17:1 In chapter 17 we are introduced to the Prophet Elijah. His ministry extends through 2Ki_2:11. God spoke to His people through prophets during times of sin and declension. These prophets were really mouthpieces for Jehovah. They fearlessly cried out against idolatry, immorality, and all other forms of iniquity. They urged the people to repent and return to the Lord, and then warned of dire consequences if they failed to do so. Some prophets ministered primarily to Israel, some to Judah, and some to both. Since Israel was the more wicked of the two kingdoms, God accompanied the prophet’s messages to Israel with miracles and wonders. This left Israel without excuse. Elijah is mentioned in the Gospels in connection with the ministry of John the Baptist. John came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luk_1:17). Elijah came from Tishbe in Gilead, east of the Jordan River, and was thus called a Tishbite. His history is recorded only in Kings. We are told nothing about his background, family, or call to the prophetic ministry. But that he was a man sent from God no one could deny. He was God’s chosen instrument to bring adulterous and haughty Israel to her knees. His prayers could bring down blessing (rain) or wrath (drought and fire).

He served his generation as a fearless, embodied conscience. His first recorded act was to announce to Ahab that the land would suffer a drought. This was obviously a divine judgment against idolatry. God chose to use a severe drought to get the people’s attention. They did not care that idolatry had brought a spiritual drought upon the land, but they could not ignore the physical drought that typified it. 17:2-7 In obedience to the LORD, Elijah went from Samaria to the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. There he was sustained by water from the brook and by food which was miraculously brought to him morning and evening by ravens. After a while, however, due to the drought the brook dried up.

1 Kings 17:8

3. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (17:8-24)17:8-16 In obedience to the word of the LORD, Elijah journeyed to Zarephath, on the Mediterranean coast between Tyre and Sidon. There God had arranged that a Gentile widow would feed him. At first she hesitated because she had only enough meal for her son and herself. However, the prophet ordered her to make . . . a small cake for him first. By doing this she was, in effect, giving God the first place. When she obeyed, she learned the precious lesson that those who put God first never lack the necessities of life. Her bin of flour and jar of oil never failed. Jesus made note of the fact that Elijah was sent to a Gentile widow and not to any of the numerous Israelite widows (Luk_4:26). During the drought Jehovah provided for His prophet in most humbling waysfirst through unclean birds and then through a Gentile woman, and a poor widow at that. The king in his palace was hard-pressed, but Elijah had all he needed. God’s man, obeying God’s voice, will always have his needs met, despite the conditions that prevail around him. 17:17-24 Later the son of the woman was stricken with a serious sickness and died. Immediately the mother suspected that Elijah had ordered his death because of some sin she had committed. The prophet took the lad up to his bedroom, stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord. The boy revived and was taken down . . . to his mother in normal health. This convinced the woman that Elijah was a man of God and that the Lord’s word was the truth. As a Gentile, she showed faith in the God of Israel.