1 Kings 17b Commentary
Elijah runs away and hides. It’s not always that the LORD instructs the saint to stand and fight. Running away and hiding from mad heads isn’t always a sign of cowardice. The LORD God may ask you to do it, as was the case with Elijah.
God directs the ravines, and God directs the window at Zarephath. The ravines don’t protest. Consequently, Elijah doesn’t have to provide any input into the provision.
The provision through the widow at Zarephath is a different situation. Yes, it’s a directive, but the widow has no idea about it. She protests the suggestion that she can provide food for Elijah. She has nothing! Elijah has an input into this provision: Faith or the word of the LORD.
She will not provide for Elijah from nothing. Of course, the LORD hasn’t mentioned it to her, but Elijah’s presence is in answer to her faithfulness. The LORD wants to provide for her. Not every task-request from the LORD is meant to impoverish you. To the contrary, many are meant to help you!
The directives of the LORD can be silent and nonverbal. No voice is heard. Zero awareness by the listener. Consequently, zero communication. But the directive remains in place, firm and unchanging. It determines the flow of events!
In these lines (the Book of Samuel, both volumes, and the Book of Kings, both volumes), the LORD God speaks and directs events in many ways; through the Ephod, by dreams, visions, prophets, through random events, through “confusion”, unspoken words, or even through “unregistered” communication. One thing is clear: The communication, whatever it is and however it comes, brings the individual to a point of decision.
The Book of Kings can also be called the Book of Prophets. From Nathan, who guides the succession process that brings Solomon to the throne, the Book of Kings highlights several other prophets delivering God’s word directly to Israel’s leaders: Ahijah, Shemaiah, the unnamed man of God from Judah, Jehu, Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah,.. Almost every king has a prophet or prophets delivering God’s word and guidance.
The generosity of the LORD is such that Ahab gets another chance to see the hopelessness of Baal. He has to see the substance of what he believes in. Baal won’t bring the rain – he would fail for three and a half years!
But there is another economy at Zarephath. Before Zarephath is the cave. Elijah’s cave isn’t the only cave during this time. Tomorrow, we shall learn about two other caves where Obadiah hid a hundred prophets of the LORD. The LORD provided for them from Obadiah’s privileged hand. The LORD has never failed to take care of His children!
The death of the widow’s son means things can go wrong amid the blessing of the LORD! You would imagine two angels arriving at the widow’s house. One brings flour and oil, while the other brings physical death. It is the purpose of prayer to plead with the LORD God for relief in zero areas of your life.
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