I Kings 17 Commentary: Faith in the Face of Famine
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
I Kings 17 marks the dramatic entrance of Elijah the Tishbite, a prophet whose name, fittingly, means "Yahweh is my God." Throughout the remainder of 1 Kings and the opening chapters of 2 Kings, Elijah, alongside Elisha, will share the stage with the kings of Israel, serving as a powerful voice for God in a time of deep spiritual crisis. This chapter sets the stage for a series of confrontations, miracles, and lessons about God's sovereignty, provision, and the power of faith.
A Prophet's Bold Declaration (I Kings 17:1)
King Ahab, influenced by his wicked wife Jezebel, had led Israel into rampant idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, a fertility god. God's prophets typically emerged when His people strayed spiritually, often linked to idol worship. Elijah's sudden appearance at Ahab's court signified a spiritual crisis of monumental proportions. He stood as a final appeal before God's direct intervention, an intervention that would inevitably bring judgment.
Elijah burst onto the scene with a word from the Lord, declaring a drought that would last until he himself announced its end. This was no mere weather forecast; it was a direct challenge to Baal, whose followers believed he controlled the rain and thus the fertility of the land. Elijah's pronouncement demonstrated that the Lord, not Baal, held ultimate power over the natural world.
This drought served as a stark reminder of God's warnings through Moses in Deuteronomy 11:16-17. God had cautioned the Israelites against turning to other gods, warning that disobedience would result in a closed heaven, a barren land, and swift destruction. The author of 1 Kings, well-versed in Deuteronomy, underscores how Israel's covenant unfaithfulness was directly linked to the withholding of God's blessing of rain.
Provision in the Wilderness (I Kings 17:2-9)
Elijah's bold declaration placed him in immediate danger. God instructed him to flee to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. There, in a secluded wilderness, God would provide for him. Surprisingly, God commanded ravens, considered unclean birds, to bring Elijah food. This unconventional provision highlights God's ability to use even the most unlikely sources to care for His own. This also foreshadowed the Gentiles who would later help Elijah.
Elijah obeyed, trusting in God's promise. He drank from the brook and received his daily sustenance from the ravens. However, as the drought intensified, the brook eventually dried up. Just as God allows provision to dry up in our lives, He often does so to lead us into a new season, a new direction, and a deeper reliance on Him.
God then directed Elijah to Zarephath in Sidon, a Gentile territory, the hometown of Jezebel (see 16:31). God was sending Elijah into enemy territory, into the heart of Baal worship, to demonstrate His sovereignty even in the "Baal Belt." He would use a Gentile widow to provide for His prophet, showing that His grace extended beyond the borders of Israel and that even in the most unlikely places, He could elicit praise.
Faith Tested in Zarephath (I Kings 17:10-16)
Zarephath, like the rest of the region, was suffering from the severe drought. When Elijah arrived, he encountered a poverty-stricken widow gathering sticks. He asked her for water and a piece of bread. While she readily provided water, she explained that she had only a handful of flour and a little oil left – barely enough for one last meal for herself and her son before they starved.
Elijah's request was a test of her faith. He challenged her to use the last of her flour to bake him a small loaf of bread first, promising that the Lord, the God of Israel, would ensure that her jar of flour and jug of oil would not run dry until the drought ended.
The widow's response was a remarkable act of faith. Despite her desperate circumstances, she chose to believe God's word through Elijah. She obeyed, baking bread for the prophet first. As promised, the Lord miraculously provided for her, her son, and Elijah for many days. The flour jar never emptied, and the oil jug never ran dry. This story powerfully illustrates the principle that when we give to others, especially in times of need, God often multiplies our resources (see Luke 6:38).
Sorrow and Resurrection (I Kings 17:17-24)
After this period of provision, tragedy struck. The widow's son became ill and died. Overwhelmed with grief, she questioned Elijah, believing that his presence had somehow reminded God of her past sins, leading to her son's death. She recognized the holiness of God through the miracle of provision and felt her own unworthiness.
Elijah, though perhaps perplexed by this turn of events, acted decisively. He took the boy from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. He then cried out to the Lord, questioning why God would bring such sorrow upon a woman who had shown him such kindness.
Elijah's prayer demonstrates that even those who are close to God can struggle to understand His ways. However, Elijah knew that God was sovereign and had the power to restore life. He stretched himself out over the boy three times, fervently pleading with God to return the child's life.
God, in His infinite grace and compassion, answered Elijah's prayer. The boy's life returned to him! Imagine the widow's joy and astonishment when Elijah brought her son down from the upper room, declaring, "See, your son is alive!" This miraculous resurrection confirmed her faith in the Lord as the one true God. It also undoubtedly strengthened Elijah's faith, preparing him for the challenges he would face as he returned to confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal.
This chapter reminds us that remembering God's past faithfulness can serve as a foundation for trusting Him in future trials. It also shows that we can sometimes draw strength from the faith of others when we need God to resurrect something in our own lives. Ultimately, I Kings 17 is a powerful testament to God's unwavering provision, His boundless grace, and the transformative power of faith in the face of adversity.
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
I Kings 17 marks the dramatic entrance of Elijah the Tishbite, a prophet whose name, fittingly, means "Yahweh is my God." Throughout the remainder of 1 Kings and the opening chapters of 2 Kings, Elijah, alongside Elisha, will share the stage with the kings of Israel, serving as a powerful voice for God in a time of deep spiritual crisis. This chapter sets the stage for a series of confrontations, miracles, and lessons about God's sovereignty, provision, and the power of faith.
A Prophet's Bold Declaration (I Kings 17:1)
King Ahab, influenced by his wicked wife Jezebel, had led Israel into rampant idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, a fertility god. God's prophets typically emerged when His people strayed spiritually, often linked to idol worship. Elijah's sudden appearance at Ahab's court signified a spiritual crisis of monumental proportions. He stood as a final appeal before God's direct intervention, an intervention that would inevitably bring judgment.
Elijah burst onto the scene with a word from the Lord, declaring a drought that would last until he himself announced its end. This was no mere weather forecast; it was a direct challenge to Baal, whose followers believed he controlled the rain and thus the fertility of the land. Elijah's pronouncement demonstrated that the Lord, not Baal, held ultimate power over the natural world.
This drought served as a stark reminder of God's warnings through Moses in Deuteronomy 11:16-17. God had cautioned the Israelites against turning to other gods, warning that disobedience would result in a closed heaven, a barren land, and swift destruction. The author of 1 Kings, well-versed in Deuteronomy, underscores how Israel's covenant unfaithfulness was directly linked to the withholding of God's blessing of rain.
Provision in the Wilderness (I Kings 17:2-9)
Elijah's bold declaration placed him in immediate danger. God instructed him to flee to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. There, in a secluded wilderness, God would provide for him. Surprisingly, God commanded ravens, considered unclean birds, to bring Elijah food. This unconventional provision highlights God's ability to use even the most unlikely sources to care for His own. This also foreshadowed the Gentiles who would later help Elijah.
Elijah obeyed, trusting in God's promise. He drank from the brook and received his daily sustenance from the ravens. However, as the drought intensified, the brook eventually dried up. Just as God allows provision to dry up in our lives, He often does so to lead us into a new season, a new direction, and a deeper reliance on Him.
God then directed Elijah to Zarephath in Sidon, a Gentile territory, the hometown of Jezebel (see 16:31). God was sending Elijah into enemy territory, into the heart of Baal worship, to demonstrate His sovereignty even in the "Baal Belt." He would use a Gentile widow to provide for His prophet, showing that His grace extended beyond the borders of Israel and that even in the most unlikely places, He could elicit praise.
Faith Tested in Zarephath (I Kings 17:10-16)
Zarephath, like the rest of the region, was suffering from the severe drought. When Elijah arrived, he encountered a poverty-stricken widow gathering sticks. He asked her for water and a piece of bread. While she readily provided water, she explained that she had only a handful of flour and a little oil left – barely enough for one last meal for herself and her son before they starved.
Elijah's request was a test of her faith. He challenged her to use the last of her flour to bake him a small loaf of bread first, promising that the Lord, the God of Israel, would ensure that her jar of flour and jug of oil would not run dry until the drought ended.
The widow's response was a remarkable act of faith. Despite her desperate circumstances, she chose to believe God's word through Elijah. She obeyed, baking bread for the prophet first. As promised, the Lord miraculously provided for her, her son, and Elijah for many days. The flour jar never emptied, and the oil jug never ran dry. This story powerfully illustrates the principle that when we give to others, especially in times of need, God often multiplies our resources (see Luke 6:38).
Sorrow and Resurrection (I Kings 17:17-24)
After this period of provision, tragedy struck. The widow's son became ill and died. Overwhelmed with grief, she questioned Elijah, believing that his presence had somehow reminded God of her past sins, leading to her son's death. She recognized the holiness of God through the miracle of provision and felt her own unworthiness.
Elijah, though perhaps perplexed by this turn of events, acted decisively. He took the boy from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. He then cried out to the Lord, questioning why God would bring such sorrow upon a woman who had shown him such kindness.
Elijah's prayer demonstrates that even those who are close to God can struggle to understand His ways. However, Elijah knew that God was sovereign and had the power to restore life. He stretched himself out over the boy three times, fervently pleading with God to return the child's life.
God, in His infinite grace and compassion, answered Elijah's prayer. The boy's life returned to him! Imagine the widow's joy and astonishment when Elijah brought her son down from the upper room, declaring, "See, your son is alive!" This miraculous resurrection confirmed her faith in the Lord as the one true God. It also undoubtedly strengthened Elijah's faith, preparing him for the challenges he would face as he returned to confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal.
This chapter reminds us that remembering God's past faithfulness can serve as a foundation for trusting Him in future trials. It also shows that we can sometimes draw strength from the faith of others when we need God to resurrect something in our own lives. Ultimately, I Kings 17 is a powerful testament to God's unwavering provision, His boundless grace, and the transformative power of faith in the face of adversity.