1 Kings 17 - Elijah

Click to read 1 Kings 17

My apology for posting this late. I was traveling and was also caught up with the Chinese New Year activities.

Synopsis

Israel, the Northern Kingdom, had no faithful kings throughout. Every king it had led the nation into worshiping pagan gods. Most of the Levites had gone to Judah and those remaining were corrupted and ineffective. Without the guidance of godly kings or priests in Israel, God had to use prophets to try to rescue the nation from their moral and spiritual decline.

Elijah was the first a long line of prophets God used through Israel's 300-year history. Their principal role was to encourage both Israel and Judah to turn back to God. This chapter records some of Elijah's activities.

Major Verses

V1 - 5 - Baal was the pagan god which was supposed to control the rains and therefore the harvests. So when Elijah told King Ahab, who was an ardent Baal worshiper, that there will be no rain for several years, it shocked him. God was re-asserting His rightful ownership and sovereignty over His creation. By God's instruction, Elijah was setting the stage for the eventual confrontation and destruction of the multitude of Baal priests which will be described in the next chapter. Elijah was obedient and boldly brought the message to King Ahab. He was telling him in the face that the gods that he worshiped were useless. From the human perspective, Elijah was risking his life to bring such a message to the king, but he did it obediently. God also protected and provided for Elijah when he had to go away and hide for the season.

What I learn

When God asks us to do something, He will always make sure that we will not be harmed. He will also supply our needs. He values obedience. Hallelujah!

V7 -12 - The drought caused hardship to the people. There was no harvest and the people had little to eat. It is interesting to read what Elijah told the woman who was about to prepare the last meal for her son and her before being starved to death.

What I learn

Disobedience to God bring dire consequences. People suffer not because God creates the suffering, but because they do not want to seek after Him. Leaders can cause the nation to suffer because of their disobedience too.

V13 - 16 - While it seemed unsympathizing and selfish of Elijah to ask the woman to give him a piece of her bread, Elijah was demonstrating an important principle. Elijah proclaimed that God will provide an unending supply of food for her son and her but she had to pass a trying test first - learning to give up on what she had and to trust Him completely. She did just that and was aptly rewarded.

What I learn

It delights God that we honor and trust Him. When we seek His kingdom first, our needs will taken care of by our Heavenly Father. When we have to go through such situation, remember how this woman trusted and obey God.

V17 -24 - Despite the miracle of the unending supply of floor and oil, it took a near-death experience of her son before the woman finally proclaim that Elijah was a man of God.

What I learn

It is sad that many believers do not believe Him fully until something untoward happens. Let us build our faith based on His words of assurance to us so that we can truly proclaim that His is the true God. By so doing, we will be able to trust Him in all circumstances, good and bad.

Summary

God loves those who honor, trust and obey Him. In fact, He delights in His children who do that. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to honor, trust and obey Him daily.

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Next up....

The famous "battle" between Elijah and the Baal priests come next ... 18th Jan.