ELIJAH: SENT TO THE WIDOW
The
churches of
Christ Greet You (Romans
Text: 1 Kings 17:8-9
Introduction
1.
First Kings 17:8‑16 continues God's testing of the Prophet.
a. He will now
be tested at a place called
Zarephath –
b. which
actually means "a smelting
place."
2.
But here, another important element is added
a. to the
scenario of Elijah's life
b. as it is
recorded for us in Scripture.
c. It's the
element of personal ministry or
outreach to others.
3.
The testing and needs of the Prophet
a. became a
means of ministry
b. to a poor
widow and her son.
4.
Let us again stress this point:
a. The events
of our lives,
b. even our
everyday and seemingly mundane
affairs,
c. are not
without importance.
5.
They are certainly not without God's providential care
a. as the One
who works all things
b. after the
counsel of His own will (Eph.
6. But
important to this truth of Scripture
a. is the need
of God's people to consider this
fact
b. against the
varied events of their lives.
c. We must
think, trust, and act accordingly.
7.
The events of life are tools and agents of the Almighty.
a. He uses
these to get our attention,
b. to change
our values, character, priorities,
pursuits, and above all,
c. to change
our sources of trust for security and
happiness.
8.
But let's never lose sight of the fact
a. that the
same events that test us
b. often become
the means by which
c. God is able
to use us in ministry to others.
9.
In other words, our trials often become vehicles for ministry,
a.
opportunities to manifest the life of Jesus
Christ
b. and the
reality and power of God (Read 2 Cor.
4:8‑15).
10.
This is precisely what we see in this episode in the life of Elijah.
a. His need
became a means of meeting needs
b. in the lives
of the widow and her son.
11.
Does this not serve to remind us
a. that we are
not here for ourselves,
b. even in our
pain and need?
12. God cares for us,
but not just for us alone.
a. He cares for
others too,
b. and often
seeks to minister to the people
around us
1. through the
character changes He is seeking to
bring about
2. through our own suffering or need.
13.
Christlikeness means that even in our pain
a. we are to
think of others and how God may want
to use us.
b. This goes
totally against the grain of human
nature
c. and
especially against our self‑centered
society.
14.
Ours is a society that is focused on what is best for me
a. regardless
of what it could mean to others.
b. What's best
for my career, my happiness, my
security,
c. my
significance, my____, my____, my ____!
15. But let us turn now and study this revelation to Elijah...
I. The Revelation to Elijah (Read 1 Kings 17:8‑9)
1.
A Word From the LORD‑‑COMMUNICATION (verse 8)
a. The first
word we see is the little connective,
“and”
b. or in some
versions, "then.”
2.
It continues the story and points us to what happened next
a. in the
sequence of events ‑‑
b. Elijah
received a word from the Lord with
instruction.
3. But the
sequence here is resultant; it
points to a consequence.
a. In the
context, this revelation to the prophet
is undoubtedly
b. the result
of two spiritual facts.
4.
First, there is the faithfulness of God.
a. The brook
had dried up
b. but God had
promised to supply Elijah's need.
c. So the Lord
comes to Elijah's rescue.
5.
Second, Elijah had met the tests of the brook in faith.
a. He waited on
the Lord.
b. He had not
run ahead, nor run away to do his
own thing,
1. nor
complained in
discontent.
2. So now, God
comes to
his rescue and gives new instruction.
6.
We see in this the principle of Luke 16:10,
"He who is faithful in a very little thing
a.
is faithful
also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing
b.
is unrighteous also in much."
7. The
Point Being: Elijah had been faithful in
the matter of dwelling by the brook.
a.
Now God was
moving him out
b.
of this place
of solitude and testing
1.
into a small, but important ministry
2.
(because all ministries are important).
8. From his
faithfulness at Zarephath
greater things would come.
a. God was
building Elijah's faith, his capacity
for ministry,
b. and using
him to comfort the widow and her son
at the same time.
9.
The Principle Being: What a person does with a small task
a. is an
indication of how he will handle a large
one.
b. We may think
that the small things are not so
important ‑‑
c. that they do
not really matter.
10.
However, faithfulness in the small things
a. prepares us
to handle the larger things when
they come.
b. Even the
small things of life are tests of
one's faith
c. and of who
is really in control of one's life.
11. The
next words of verse 8 are:
a. "The word of
the Lord came to him,
saying."
b. Let's note a
couple of things:
12.
First, Elijah did not move until there was communion with God.
a. He waited
until he had direction from the Lord ‑‑
b. He moved at
the Word of the Lord.
13. For
Elijah, this was direct revelation,
a. but the
principle is God leads and directs us
through His Word,
b. (which for
us is the Bible)
c. and through
our communion with Him in
Scripture.
14. Of course, the
Lord uses other things to give
us direction
a. such as open
and closed doors,
b. and our own
abilities, talents, burdens, and
interests.
1. He never
leads us, however,
2. contrary to
the principles and directives of
Scripture.
15.
Second, this reminds us just how important it is
a. for us to
commune with God in His Word
b. so we can
know the Word and use it for every
decision we face.
1. We
can be sure somewhere in Scripture
2.
there will be principles that apply.
16.
This is not a series on divine guidance, but let us illustrate:
a. Scripture
does not tell us where we should
cross the street.
b. But it does
tell us to obey the laws of the
land
c. and that we
are not to tempt the Lord.
17.
This means that we should not jay walk in a big city,
a. nor any city
where it is against the law
b. and where we
are endangering our lives.
1. God does not
care where we cross
2. unless we
are breaking these two concepts.
18. The
Bible does not tell us what kind of automobile to drive.
a. Frankly, we don't think God cares
b. unless we
ignore biblical principles of the
wise use of our income,
1. or we want
to own a certain automobile
2. because it
would make us feel important
3. and is an
attempt at finding personal
significance.
19.
Simply stated, we all need to do what is necessary
a. to know and
apply the Word.
b. This means
spending time in the Word daily,
c. and
gathering with other Christians for Bible
study and worship.
20. We need to learn new truth, review the old, and then apply it all.
1.
Direction From the LORD‑‑INSTRUCTION (verse 9)
"Arise, go to
Zarephath, which belongs to
behold, I have
commanded a widow there to provide for
you" (1 Kings 17:9).
2.
This verse has three commands, "arise," "go," and
"stay."
a. There is
also a promise of provision.
b. In each of
these there are tests for the
prophet.
3.
There are tests of faith or trust, of obedience,
a. of
availability and commitment;
b. a test of
vision for what God was doing in his
life,
c. and a test
of contentment.
4. The
First Command ‑‑"Arise."
Of course, before we can move on in the will of God,
a. we must
arise, not just physically but
spiritually.
b. Following
the Lord in obedience
c. is the
outcome of spiritual life and spiritual
awakening.
(Read Ephesians
5:8-10, 14-16).
5. The
Second Command ‑‑ (the natural outcome): "Go to
Zarephath."
a. "Go" or “get
thee” is the Hebrew word
halak
b. which means
"to go, walk."
1. In this case, it carries the idea of traveling or journeying,
2. which
included hardships and danger.
6.
We don't want to make too much of this,
a. but
spiritually speaking, to arise is to go.
b. It means to
wake up from our apathy and
sluggishness
c. and get
involved in God's will for our lives.
7.
Too often Christians simply sit and soak.
a. Because they
are not using what they know in
faith,
b. they also
eventually begin to sulk, and sour.
8.
Rather, God wants us to sit and soak up the Word,
a. but then, by
faith to strive for Him in the
power of Christ.
b. Paul said,
“Whereunto I also labour, striving
according to his
working, which worketh in me mightily (Col. 1:29).
9. This means our
availability to go wherever He
wants us.
a. It means our
involvement and commitment
b. and all of
these are included here.
10.
Remember Loved Ones: God's will usually test us in our faith,
a. our vision
for what He is doing,
b. our love,
availability, values, commitment, and
involvement, etc.
11. We
are sure when Elijah heard these commands his heart leaped,
a. and perhaps
he thought,
"whew, just in time
Lord, but that's sure cutting
it close!"
b. As this was
going through his mind, he then
heard, "to Zarephath."
12.
Zarephath comes from the Hebrew “tsaraph,”
a. meaning "to
smelt, refine, test."
b. The verb is
used metaphorically with the sense
of
c. "to refine
by means of suffering."
13.
Zarephath means "a smelting place, a place of testing."
a. God uses
various testings to refine us or purge
out the dross
b. as in the
refining of silver and gold (cf.
Malachi 3:2-3).
14.
When Elijah heard this name, he probably thought,
a. "Uh oh, here
we go again,
b. but the
battle is the Lord's and He is in
control."
15.
Then he heard, "Which belongs to
a. He probably thought, "Lord,
b. that old
prostitute of Baal worship.
1. Lord, this
is the center of Baal worship
2. that is now
being promoted in
16.
Yes, I know Lord, it's still your battle
a. and you know
what you are doing.
b. But this
sure seems like strange
directions."
17. The
Third Command ‑‑ next he heard, “And stay there" -
a. Heb. yashab,
"meaning to live, or dwell
there.”
b. He might
have thought, "This really takes
the cake."
18.
And, as if these were not enough,
a. he then
heard something even more strange
b. that had to
be a tremendous challenge
1. to his
commitment, trust and vision
2. as a man of
God who was seeking to serve the
Lord.
1.
The Promise ‑‑ Verse 9b, "Behold, I have commanded a widow
woman there
to sustain thee” or “to provide for you."
a. Note the
very next word, "Behold."
b. This is the
Hebrew hinneh, a demonstrative
particle
1. used to
arrest the attention
2. or to focus
the reader's (or hearer's)
attention on something important.
2. The Lord was
dramatically pointing out
a. Elijah’s
reason for being sent to Zarephath.
"I have
commanded a widow there to provide
for you."
b. Elijah's
provision would come by human hands,
not by ravens this time,
c. but they
were the most unlikely hands he could
have imagined.
3.
You see, everything about this was a test for Elijah.
a. Please note
the following:
b. "I have
commanded a widow woman" is
an interesting statement.
1. Had the Lord
spoken to this Gentile widow?
2. Was she
waiting for Elijah to come?
4.
The content of the text suggests this was not the case.
a. We don't
think she was aware at all of her role
in God's plan.
b. Rather, we
believe this expresses the divine
will of God.
5.
It shows that God commands or wills things to take place and they do.
a. He uses the
conditions and dispositions of men
and women
b. and brings
things to pass.
6.
Illustration: Let's say you
need a job.
a. When you
find a job, it will be because God
commanded it.
b. Your new
employer may not be aware of it
1. unless he or
she is a believer,
2. but it will
be because God willed it so.
7. The Bible
says, "He sits in the
heavens, He does what He pleases"
(cf. Isa. 10:5‑6 with
vs. 7, and Gen. 50:19‑21).
8.
"Provide" or “sustain” is the Hebrew word, kuwl.
a. In Aramaic
and Arabic this word means
"measure, measure out."
b. The basic
meaning is "calculate," or
"contain" as does a vessel.
9.
For instance in Isaiah 40:12 the prophet writes, "who hath calculated
(or contained) the dust of the earth by a measure?"
a. Mainly this
verb is used in a causative stem
and means
b. "to cause to
contain, supply."
10. It
came to be used in the sense of "support, sustain, provide for”
(cf. Ps. 55:22; Gen.
50:21; Neh. 9:21).
11.
While the Hebrew word used is different,
a. we are
reminded of one of the Names of the
Lord,
b. "Jehovah
Jireh" or "Yahweh
Yireh,"
c. meaning "the
Lord will provide" (Gen.
22:8 and 14).
1. It comes
from the Hebrew ra`ah, "to
see"
2. as the Lord
foresees and thus provides.
1.
The Lord's Supply ‑‑ PROVISION
2.
First, God would provide for Elijah through a woman.
a. While women in
b. than among
their Gentile neighbors,
1. this was
highly irregular,
2. for it was
the man's place to provide for
women.
3.
Second, this was a Gentile woman,
a. a woman
outside the circle of God's own people.
b. In fact, she
was from the pagan nation of the
Sidonians
1. (or
Phoenicians) who, at that time,
2. represented
the forces arrayed against God's
kingdom.
4.
Third, she was a poor, destitute, depressed widow facing starvation.
a. She wasn't
exactly the kind of person you would
go to for support,
b. but she was
the person whom God had chosen to
be Elijah's support
c. and the
instrument of God's glory.
1. Elijah
didn't know her plight as yet,
2. but he would
soon find out and his response is
remarkable.
5.
Let’s Make An Application:
Remember what God said through Isaiah (55:8-9):
a. (God's ways
are not our ways...his ways are so
much higher than ours).
b. We might
also remember 1 Corinthians 1:27‑29,
"But God has chosen
the foolish things of
the world to shame the wise, and
God has chosen
the weak things of the world to
shame the
things which are strong,
and the base things of the world
and the
despised, God has chosen,
the things that are not, that He
might
nullify the things that are, that no
man should boast before God."
(NASB).
6.
God uses sources and instruments we would never choose,
a. but in His
wisdom He chooses them to accomplish
His own purposes
b. and to do
exceeding
abundantly beyond all we could ask or think (Eph.
c. We should
not be surprised then with the tools
God sometimes uses.
7.
What would we choose?
a. We would
choose a hero kind of figure,
b. a well‑known
athlete, a rich man or a
king,
c. but the Lord
chose a destitute widow.
8.
We would choose someone brilliant, powerful,
a. perhaps
someone in the king's palace.
b. But God
chose a woman from Zarephath of the
9.
Sure, sometimes God uses the powerful and wealthy
a. as he did
with King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2),
b. or Joseph in
the latter chapters of Genesis.
10. The
question is, what is our response
a. when He
chooses to use the poor and the weak in
our lives?
b. Do we
despise them?
1. Are we
disappointed?
2. Or do we thank Him for what He is doing?
11. The
sources God chooses to use often test our submission and faith.
a. How could
God possibly supply through this
destitute woman?
b. The how is
not important.
c. God would
show that in time.
1. God only
wants us to trust Him
2. regardless
of how things look to us.
12. You
may have heard the story
a. about a dear
old lady who truly believed God.
b. One day
someone said to her,
1. "Mary, I
believe if God told you to jump
through the wall,
2. you would
jump."
c. She replied,
"Yes sir, I would.
1. If God told
me to jump, it would be my job to
jump
2. and His to
make a hole."
13. How
can we rest in God's supply in situations like this?
a. We need to
remember a simple but profound
concept.
b. Who would
supply Elijah's need, the woman or
the Lord?
1. The Lord, of
course!
2. The woman
was only an instrument.
14. The
Principle Being:
a. Never get
your eyes on the instrument or the
conditions.
b. Look beyond
the instrument to the real source
of supply ‑‑ the Lord.
15.
Read again the story of Abraham in Genesis 22.
a. He saw
beyond the immediate problem to the
Lord's supply.
b. Again, The
Principle Being:
1. Often God
either chooses the despised and the
small,
2. or He
reduces our resources -
3. all to teach
us that He
is really the One who supplies.
16.
Space and time won’t allow us to speak in detail about Judges Chapter 7
a. and the
illustration of Gideon and God's
instruction to him.
b. But briefly,
lest
1. the number
of men to go up against the
Midianites
2. was reduced
from 32,000 to 10,000 and finally
to 300.
17. The
Lord uses His sources of supply to humble us.
a. Doesn't He
really know how to take the starch
of
b.
self‑dependence and pride totally out of
our spiritual shirts
c. in order to
bring us to a place where we will
really trust Him?
18.
Here Elijah was receiving aid
a. at the hands
of a destitute widow
b. of the
enemies of
c. How humbling!
1. But also,
what an opportunity for the
manifestation
2. of God's
grace, love, and power.
19.
Finally, this teaches us God can use any of us.
a. He can take
whatever we have and multiply it
many times over
b. just as He
did with the meager resources of the
widow
c. or as the
Savior did when feeding the five
thousand.
20.
What was Elijah's response in verse 10 of 1 Kings 17?
a. We read, "So
he arose and went. . ."
b. No
questions, no arguments, no complaints ‑‑
just obedience.
21.
Undoubtedly, it was in the joy and expectation
a. of not only
what the Lord would do for him,
b. but through
him.
1. Elijah
realized he would be there
2. not simply
to be ministered to, but to
minister.
Conclusion:
1.
Let us ask each of you a few questions?
2.
We want you to think deeply on these questions...
a. Are you in a
spiritual condition
b. where you
can hear God's instructions? (Read
Mark 6:30-32.)
1. What are you
facing in your life right now
2. that needs
God's supply?
3. Are you resting in Him for your needs?
3.
Where is your focus?
a.
Are you
focused on the problem rather than the Lord?
b. Are you
seeing the agents of supply in your
life as totally inadequate
c. with the result you are questioning what God can do?
4.
Does your present condition look impossible?
a. Does it look
like there is no way God can meet
your needs
b. through what
He has brought about into your
life?
5.
Have you considered that before God meets your need,
a. or that in
meeting your need,
b. He wants to use you to meet the need of someone else?
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