1 Kings 17
1 Kings 17 introduces the prophet Elijah, a significant figure in Israel's history. He confronts the wicked king Ahab and announces a drought as punishment for Israel's idolatry. The chapter showcases God's miraculous provision for Elijah, a widow, and her son, revealing His care for His people, even in times of judgment.
1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV)
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
Elijah boldly confronts King Ahab, declaring that a severe drought will come upon Israel as judgment for their idolatry and rebellion against God. His authority to announce the drought comes directly from God. By withholding rain, God aims to humble the nation and lead them to repentance. Elijah’s introduction as a Tishbite highlights his obscurity, but God uses him mightily.
1 Kings 17:2-5 (NKJV)
2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
4 And it will be that 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, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
After delivering the message, God instructs Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith. Despite the coming drought, God provides for Elijah by natural means (the brook for water) and supernatural means (ravens to bring him food). This highlights God's care for His servants, even in times of judgment, and Elijah’s obedience shows his trust in God’s provision.
1 Kings 17:6 (NKJV)
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
Here, God's miraculous provision is seen as the ravens bring Elijah food daily. In a land soon to be ravaged by drought and famine, Elijah is sustained. This act demonstrates God's power to provide even in the most unlikely ways, ensuring that His servant is cared for.
1 Kings 17:7 (NKJV)
7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
The drying up of the brook serves as a reminder of the severity of the drought Elijah had prophesied. Even though God had provided for him up to this point, Elijah now faces the effects of the drought personally, requiring further divine intervention to meet his needs.
1 Kings 17:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
God directs Elijah to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, in the region of Sidon. Remarkably, God chooses a widow to sustain Elijah, someone typically seen as vulnerable and impoverished, showing once again His ability to provide in unexpected ways. This also foreshadows the blessings that will come to Gentiles through God’s work.
1 Kings 17:10-11 (NKJV)
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”
11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
Elijah’s arrival at Zarephath coincides with the widow gathering sticks, illustrating her dire situation. Despite her poverty, Elijah asks for water and food. His requests test her faith and willingness to trust in God's provision. Elijah’s boldness in asking shows his confidence in God’s promise.
1 Kings 17:12 (NKJV)
12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, 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.”
The widow reveals her desperation, preparing for what she believes will be her final meal. Her acknowledgment of “the Lord your God” suggests some recognition of Elijah’s authority and the power of his God. This moment illustrates the extremity of her situation and sets the stage for God’s miraculous provision.
1 Kings 17:13-14 (NKJV)
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”
Elijah reassures the widow not to fear and instructs her to prioritize making him a small cake first. In return, he promises that her flour and oil will not run out. This requires the widow to act in faith, trusting Elijah's message and God’s promise. Elijah’s words declare God’s power over the natural world, even in times of famine.
1 Kings 17:15-16 (NKJV)
15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.
16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
The widow’s obedience brings about the fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy. Her act of faith results in a miraculous provision, sustaining her, her son, and Elijah throughout the drought. This miracle underscores God’s faithfulness to His word and His care for those who trust in Him, even in the most desperate circumstances.
1 Kings 17:17 (NKJV)
17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.
Tragedy strikes the widow’s household despite God's provision, as her son falls gravely ill and dies. This event introduces another opportunity for God to display His power. The death of the widow's son challenges her faith and reveals the tension between God's blessings and the suffering that still occurs in this fallen world.
1 Kings 17:18 (NKJV)
18 So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”
In her grief, the widow blames Elijah, believing that his presence has caused her past sins to result in the death of her son. Her reaction reflects the common belief that personal sin was directly tied to suffering or death. This moment exposes the widow’s struggle to reconcile the blessings she has received with the calamity that has befallen her.
1 Kings 17:19-21 (NKJV)
19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.
20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”
21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”
Elijah's response is immediate and compassionate. He takes the boy and fervently prays for God to restore his life, expressing his own anguish over the situation. Elijah’s act of stretching himself out over the boy three times is a physical symbol of his deep intercession and the intensity of his plea to God for the child’s life.
1 Kings 17:22 (NKJV)
22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.
God answers Elijah’s prayer, bringing the child back to life. This is one of the first recorded instances of resurrection in the Bible, emphasizing God’s power over life and death. Elijah's intimate relationship with God is evident as God responds to his intercession, further establishing Elijah as a prophet through whom God works mightily.
1 Kings 17:23-24 (NKJV)
23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”
Elijah returns the revived child to his mother, affirming God's power and his role as a prophet. The widow’s declaration of faith acknowledges both Elijah's divine calling and the truth of God’s word. This miracle solidifies the widow’s belief, confirming that Elijah is indeed a man of God, and God’s word can be trusted fully.