Are You “There”
1 Kings 17:1-24
As we look in this seventeenth chapter the key word in this chapter is the word “there”.
1 Kings 17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
1 Kings 17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
1 Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
There were a lot of brooks in Israel but the ravens would have fed Elijah nowhere else. There were a lot of widows in Israel but only one that would sustain him.
There is the place of God’s presence.
There is the place of God’s provision.
There is the place of God’s power.
We can never allow the circumstance to hinder our work for God when we are there. Elijah’s circumstance was not always what man would desire. We find him;
By a dry brook
By a depleted barrel
By a dead boy
Elijah experienced God’s presence, provision and power in each circumstance.
I. The Personality of Elijah (vv. 1-7)
A. The prophet = Elijah appears before King Ahab, saying 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. It was God who Elijah. Note how God calls and sends man John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
B. The plan (vv. 2-5).
1. The call (vv. 2-4). Elijah is told by God to go to the brook Cherith.
2. The consecration (v.5). Elijah obeys the voice of God.
C. The provision (v. 6). The ravens bring Elijah bread and meat and he drinks from the brook. God always provides for His children Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
D. The problem (v. 7). The brook dries up. God at times dries up our brooks to have our dependence all in Him. When we look to God he can solve the problem.
II. The Provision for Elijah (vv. 8-16)
A. Plan (vv. 8-9). Elijah is told to go to Zarephath and that a widow would sustain him there. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (vv. 10-12). The widow has enough food for one small meal. She would prepare this for her and her son, then wait to die. Now Elijah asks her for food!
B. Promise (vv. 13-15). Elijah promised the widow that her provisions would not fail. 1 Kings 17:14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
C. Provision (vv. 15)The widow obeys. Note how she ate for many days. 1 Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
Give and God gives in return. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
D. Power (v. 16). She and her family had plenty to eat. 1 Kings 17:16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
III. The Power of Elijah (vv. 17-24)
A. Problem (v. 17). The widow's son dies. 1 Kings 17:17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
B. Probing (v. 18). The widow thought God was punishing her for something in her life. 1 Kings 17:18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
C. Power (vv. 19-22). Elijah takes the dead son, breathes into him, and life returns. 1 Kings 17:22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
D. Prophet (vv. 23-24). The widow says, "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God." The power of God in Elijah's life showed the power of God.
God Provides for all of our needs when we serve and follow him. He never said He would supply our wants, but He did promise our needs would be met.
Sometimes we want things that will hurt our relationship with Him or things that will hinder our service. I am glad God withholds these.
God knows our needs and will always provide Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.