Summary of bible study on 1 Kings 17
During this time Ahab had become king of Israel. Ahab did more evil than any kings before him and to make matters worse he married Jezebel and begins to serve and worship Baal (her god and idols). This arouses the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel. So the prophet Elijah, announces on behalf of the Lord, to Ahab that there will be a drought in the land of his kingdom over the next few years. This is a direct challenge to Baal, who was supposedly considered a god of the weather. The Lord directs Elijah to the Kerith Ravine brook (symbol to the Spirit) to drink and where ravens (considered a dirty bird), supply Elijah with food. This is a picture of the Lord’s provision for those who do His will, as Elijah exercises his faith in the Lord. The brook eventually dries up and the Lord speaks to Elijah again, directing him to Zarephath where he will meet a widow to supply him with water and bread. The widow has obviously lost her husband, her provider and covering and only has enough flour and oil (both interestingly need to be crushed to derive the end product) to make enough bread for her and her son. But the widow operates in Elijah’s faith and is obedient to his command, and the oil and flour miraculously is not used up during the drought or famine. This could easily be considered a foreshadowing of the last supper, the bread of life – Jesus reference and God multiplying limited resources as seen later in the New Testament with Jesus and the loaves of bread and the fish to feed thousands. Then at a later point, the widow’s son becomes ill and dies. Quickly the widow forgets the amazing provision she has partaken in from the Lord (common theme throughout the Old Testament) and asks Elijah if her son’s passing is the result of her past sinful life as a form of punishment. Elijah takes the boy and prays to God to let the life return to the boy’s physical body and God grants Elijah’s cry. Elijah gives the boy back to the widow (a transfer of faith) and the widow makes the final declaration that she acknowledges this is all from God! (She has her own faith now in the One True God, the God of Israel).
This piece of scripture is significant in this season of my life because I can relate to being at a camp as somewhat of a dry or drought season of my life. However through unlikely sources God has provided in miraculous ways, from some of the individuals I have met, to material things that have been provided for me while I have been here over the last three months, and His spiritual provisions, with even providing a rainbow, sunrise or sunset sky at certain times to let me know He’s right there and is watching over me. And just like the grain or an olive that need to be crushed to produce flour and oil to make bread, so I have in a sense been “crushed” especially mentally and emotionally which has brought me into a closer relationship and dependence with the bread of life – Jesus. And with little bits of faith and obedience God can multiply or do miracles. I’m holding on to my faith in Him, giving thanks for what He has done already and what He’s going to do, miracles or multiplication that He will bless in and through my life. This may be realized immediately, or in reflection in another season…
