Hope In Our Droughts
I have found myself recently in a season of fear, discouragement, and spiritual drought. It has reminded me of a story in 1 Kings 17 where the prophet Elijah predicted a drought in Israel and the surrounding land. As a result, the LORD sends him to the region of Zarephath in modern day Lebanon for protection and care.
First, we hear of the prophet being fed by ravens who brought him bread and meat, and a brook that provided water for his thirst. But in the land, there was no one that would take him in and care for him. The prophet was rejected by his own people, and so the LORD sent him to a place that most likely was home to more Gentiles than Jews.
1 Kings 17:8-16 shares that the prophet Elijah goes and meets a widow who is living with her only son, and he asks the widow to prepare a meal for him before she makes any food for her own family. In fear the widow says that she only has enough flour and oil to provide a couple of meals for her and her son, and that she simply cannot give away any to this man of whom she does not know. She was prepared to fix and eat what she had, and then accept the suffering and death that the drought and famine promised. Her fear was making her afraid for her life, and as a result she failed to see the need of those around her. Elijah sees her concern and promises from the LORD that if she would share a small “cake” then her flour and oil would not run empty until the famine/drought was over.
The woman listens and does as the prophet says, and they all eat without ever seeing the supply run dry. Following this encounter the widow’s son falls ill, and the widow asks Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance an to cause the death of my son!” (17:18). Seeing the woman’s concern and pain, Elijah takes the boy and cries out to the LORD to bring him back to life. We read in v. 22 that the LORD listened to His prophet and restored the boy to health and life. It was in this moment that the widow cries out, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”
Incredible story, right?!
Here is a prophet rejected by his own people, a Gentile widow fearing her impending death, a child who had already lost his life. So why is this story GOOD NEWS?
This Old Testament account gives me such hope amidst my own fears and spiritual drought. Not because this story was intended for me to see myself in it, but because stories like these point us to the hope and truth we find in Jesus! Elijah spoke to the LORD and heard only the audible voice of YHWH; as believers today, we have both the Spirit to lead and guide us, and also the whole of Scripture that points us to the character of GOD, and the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus.
God’s Word is manna for our souls.
1 Kings 17:12 – 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.”
And in Matthew 4:4 we see Jesus being tempted by Satan when He says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This is a direct quote of Deuteronomy 8:6 where the writer is encouraging God’s people to remember the LORD their God. To repent and believe and be fed by His promises in our times of famine. [See also Psalm 33:4—“For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.”]
God’s sovereignty overcomes the curse of Sin
It was early in the story of the world that we see the curse of sin take hold of man in the Garden. Because of this curse, man is promised by God that they would die (Gen 2:17). In our story above, the widow’s son died despite having eaten of the bread prepared by his mother. Scripture tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). And Romans 6:23 lays out that “the wages of sin is death…”. But there is good news, because as in this story, as in the story of Lazarus (John 11:38-44), and in the story of Jesus (Luke 24:44-47), death was not the end.
In His sovereignty God sent Jesus to overcome death and the grave. When Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day (John 20:1-18) He overcame the grave. It is by this act that we can know that He was not just a “man of God” as the widow called the prophet Elijah, but that He was God’s Son! We can know that every word that He says is faithful and true. It was in His resurrection that “Death [was] swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15:50-56) and we can find this victory in Him.
God is for the Jew and the Gentile
Our story tells that the LORD was with Elijah. But also the LORD revealed Himself through the resurrection of the widow’s son to the Gentile as well. Her eyes beheld the miracle and believed. It was not her own works that saved her, but it was her faith. This is good news, because we read in Ephesians 2:1-13 that we all were once cut off, dead in our sins (or in my case fears), and it is only by grace that we have been saved through faith.
This Good News is for those who are close to the Lord, those whom He has saved, and those who are far from God. So believer, if you feel lost and far from God today, wandering through a drought or desert, turn to His word for the manna your soul needs. Unbeliever, if you are fearful and have reached the point of near death, the curse of sin has no power in His name. Repent and believe the Good News of the Gospel by faith. Believe that the LORD is faithful and that His word is trustworthy.
God does not count our sins against us
The widow mentions to Elijah that he has “brought her sin to remembrance” and that it brought death. The Good News of the Gospel is that if those of us who have sinned (which again, is all of us according to Ephesians) would turn from sin and believe in Jesus, He will forgive us. Jesus took the punishment for sin that we deserved, He paid the price, and as a result God we can rest in the promises of Psalm 103:11-12 which says: “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
It would be easy to remain discouraged in this season of life. It would be easy to turn away and reject my faith. But praise the Lord for His loving-kindness and goodness. He has provided all we need. Join me today in resting in His promises—He is faithful, His word is trustworthy!