Elijah the prophet

1 Kings Chapter 17


Elijah was from Gilead and he told the King Ahab that there would soon be no dew or rain for the next few years, unless he gave the word. Then the Lord told Elijah to go to Kerith Brook where it enters from the Jordan. Drink from the brook, God said, and eat what the ravens bring for you. Elijah did as the Lord instructed, but after a while, the brook died up and there was no rainfall.

Then the Lord told Elijah to to live in the village of Zarephath where a widow would feed him. So he went to Zarephath and a woman brought him drink.She insisted that all she had in the house was a handful of flour and a little cooking oil. He told her to cook the "last meal" but bake a small loaf of bread and there would be plenty of food. So she did as he said and Elijah, she and her son, continued to eat a meal for many days.For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in containers; just as the Lord had promised.

Later the old woman's son became sick. He grew worse and finally died. She said to Elijah, "have you come to punish my sins by killing my son?" Elijah took her son's body and carried him to the upper floor and cried out to the Lord. He stretched himself over the child three times and cried to the Lord, "My god, please let this child's life return. The Lord heard and the child returned to life. The woman said to Elijah, "Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Elijah was the first in a long line of important prophets sent to Israel by God. Israel the northern nation had no faithful kings throughout its history. Each king was wicked and led people to worship pagan gods. Few priests from the tribe of Levi existed. Most had gone to Judah. The priests the kings appointed were corrupt. No faithful King throughout history was without wickedness, so the prophets were there to rescue Israel from its moral and spiritual decline. For 300 years men and women would rescue Israel from moral spiritual and moral decline and encouraging the people to turn back to God.

King Ahab was probably shocked when Elijah told him there would be no dew or rain for the next few years. He was probably a king who worshiped Baal the god who brought rains and bountiful harvests. King Ahab had many powerful priests, but they could bring no rain.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Imagine you are down to your last meager meal and a man appears and tells you to prepare a small meal and trust in God. How would you react? This woman trusted Elijah completely. She had great faith. Would you believe as she did? And when her son died, she was in anguish and blamed Elijah. Just when we believe our troubles may be over, a miracle can appear. Miracles happen today all around us. We just need to look. Pray that God never stops letting us depend on him.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.