Elijah Fed by Ravens and a Widow
[ READ ] 1 Kings 17:1–16
Elijah Predicts a Drought
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
The Widow of Zarephath
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
The Widow of Zarephath
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Elijah appears on the scene, prophesying a drought. It is the God of Israel, not any other gods or Baals that provide for the flourishing of mankind. Sidon is a remote and difficult place, and the Lord is the one who sends Elijah there and provides for him there. Where the Lord sends us, He will also there provide for us.
I’ve been thinking recently about the reality that God is the one who provides for us and how He promises us His presence with us in all things. It’s a comfort to know that the Lord who loves us and died to restore us is with us and knows our needs.
This passage also reminds us that sometimes the Lord uses others to provide for us, or uses our acts of faith to provide for others (if you consider the story from the woman’s perspective.) And in providing for Elijah, she also receives a blessing of supernatural provision for herself and her household. May we also choose to walk in faith and trust in the Lord’s provision.
- Monica Godfrey
I’ve been thinking recently about the reality that God is the one who provides for us and how He promises us His presence with us in all things. It’s a comfort to know that the Lord who loves us and died to restore us is with us and knows our needs.
This passage also reminds us that sometimes the Lord uses others to provide for us, or uses our acts of faith to provide for others (if you consider the story from the woman’s perspective.) And in providing for Elijah, she also receives a blessing of supernatural provision for herself and her household. May we also choose to walk in faith and trust in the Lord’s provision.
- Monica Godfrey
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The false gods that Israel had turned to, especially Baal, claimed to be the source of rain and fertility. How does God challenge the false gods’ power in decreeing a drought?
+ How does God provide for Elijah? Does this remind you of any other supernatural provisions in the Old Testament?
+ What is the state of the widow and her son when Elijah meets them? How does that impact the way you view her decision to help Elijah?
+ The false gods that Israel had turned to, especially Baal, claimed to be the source of rain and fertility. How does God challenge the false gods’ power in decreeing a drought?
+ How does God provide for Elijah? Does this remind you of any other supernatural provisions in the Old Testament?
+ What is the state of the widow and her son when Elijah meets them? How does that impact the way you view her decision to help Elijah?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What does trusting God to provide look like in your life?
+ Are there acts of faith that you sense the Lord prompting you to take?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What does trusting God to provide look like in your life?
+ Are there acts of faith that you sense the Lord prompting you to take?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, we thank you that you are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. We thank you that You are the one who cares for us and You are more powerful and real than any other power or thing we seek for our sense of security. Give us the eyes of faith to see you at work and to trust you to provide for us. We thank you that you are a good Father who loves to give good gifts to your children. Thank you for making us your children and watching over us. Make us bold in your Spirit to trust you more for You alone are infinitely trustworthy. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
God, we thank you that you are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. We thank you that You are the one who cares for us and You are more powerful and real than any other power or thing we seek for our sense of security. Give us the eyes of faith to see you at work and to trust you to provide for us. We thank you that you are a good Father who loves to give good gifts to your children. Thank you for making us your children and watching over us. Make us bold in your Spirit to trust you more for You alone are infinitely trustworthy. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Share one way that you can see the Lord’s provision in your life.
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Share one way that you can see the Lord’s provision in your life.
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