What's the Point?

1 Kings 17:2–24 NASB95

The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. “For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’ ” So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah. Now it came about after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, “What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!” He said to her, “Give me your son.” Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed. He called to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 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 is alive.” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

INTRO: Do you ever wonder what God is up to when your life and situation make little sense?

ILL: I have a friend who has had a seemingly bizarre circumstance lately. He took a step in faith to follow God by quitting his career and going to Bible College. Bible College is great, but his wife, the now breadwinner, got terribly sick and spent over 3 weeks in the hospital and has been out of work for over 6 weeks… Surely he could ask, “God? Is this really how it’s supposed to be? Are you sure this is right? What are you doing”

I think Elijah could have asked the same questions. And, while we have no such record of him asking these questions, his circumstances in his obedience are curious.

Now, as we look at our passage together, it’s interesting to note that smack in the middle of a historical review of kings and leaders of God’s people, there is somewhat of a rabbit trail following Elijah after his seemingly abrupt entrance into the presence of King Ahab as we saw last week.

Elijah speaks, and now he’s off to his next assignment. But, it’s not what one would expect… indeed it would be tempting to just simply skim ahead to find Elijah’s next encounter with Ahab or some other exciting detail to which our appetite for adventure and entertainment would be satisfied. Instead, this passage follows the steps of this great prophet and brings us a message of hope and encouragement.

This morning, as we examine this passage, we are going to see 3 aspects of God’s sovereignty that will help us answer the question we often face in life’s most uncertain times. That question and the title of our message today is simply, “What’s the Point?”

If you picked up a bulletin, I invite you to follow along in the sermon guide as we learn together. Let us begin.

The first aspect of God’s sovereignty we see is:

God’s Peculiar Plan

I say ‘peculiar’ not because God is weird or His plan is weird, but rather because He is mysterious and His thoughts and ways are higher than our ways. Thus we often do not comprehend what He is doing in the moment.

Let’s look at this:

Elijah was called by God to deliver a message of judgment to King Ahab (1), and then the very next step, we see in. V. 2-3 (READ)

Go to this region where you will HIDE because otherwise you’ll likely die. (Ahab and Jezebel were none too pleased…)

Now, don’t get me wrong, that’s a compelling reason to hide, but why not just give Elijah supernatural protection from Ahab?

Surely, you and I would question this plan.

Moreover, this was going to be a period where he would just be waiting… waiting on the next move, the next step.

Hey, can I just pause here and acknowledge that sometimes God’s plan for us is that we would be still and wait. This is not wasted time. God’s plans are perfect, but they might seem peculiar.

ILL: I remember when I surrendered to ministry. God called me, but He didn’t give me the whole picture. I just took that step and enrolled in Bible college… no mission, no 5 year plan… just waiting to see what was next.

I’m reminded of the words of the psalmist:

Psalm 37:23–24 NASB95

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

When God does finally give Elijah another step, it’s been something like 2-3 years and the next step is just as peculiar. Look at v. 8-9 (READ)

Now, Elijah was headed to an unfamiliar town (out of the nation!), but still no ‘mission’. Why Zarephath? Why not some place else?

Folks, when God is leading our way, we very well might find that all we know is the next step… and God is not limited by boundaries. He’s God in Israel, and still God in Sidon. And no matter how little we understand, what is important is that:

GOD HAS A PLAN for your life! This peculiar aspect of God’s sovereignty should give us great hope in what is ahead! Could it be that God is telling you to take an uncomfortable, maybe even terrifying step this morning? Will you trust Him?

Discuss: Is God calling you to take an uncomfortable step? Will you?

The next aspect of God’s sovereignty is

God’s Impossible Provisions

Now, as peculiar as these steps may appear to us, let me highlight a few minor details that give us a fuller picture.

The region of Cherith was evidently not a very hospitable area. In fact, we can deduce that there was no food or even suitable meat to eat where he was going. (This sounds like a bad plan. If I was going to have to hide out for my life for a few years, I would much prefer a stocked bunker.)

BUT God commanded ravens to bring food to Elijah twice a day.

Y’all, this sounds crazy… ravens… let’s read that again. (READ 4-6)

Oh, but here is where God demonstrates His authority. He not only shut the skies from bringing rain, but He was showing Elijah how He commands all of creation! There is no area- land, water, or sky that is not under the authority of Yahweh, the God of the Bible!

The same God who gives breath to his creatures, gives direction to them also. The same God who provided manna from the skies and water from the rocks for Moses and the Israelites displayed to His servant the impossible circumstances that He would bring Elijah through!

Then there is Zarephath -By the time Elijah is headed here, the people are already suffering the effects of the drought. None more than the poor.

YET, it was to the poor widow whom God sent Elijah and commanded that she provide food for him.

Talk about impossible. Look with me at verse 10-12 (READ)

This lady was in absolute despair herself. She had no extra, no abundance. She was scraping her last bits to eat one final morsel before surrendering to the inevitable death that awaited her.

BUT GOD provided. Not only did He provide for Elijah, but He provided for the widow and her son as well. (READ 15-16)

Let me point out that this widow was no believer in Elijah’s God… but God directed her to trust this stranger anyway. Elijah promised this poor widow life in the face of death if she would only believe and take that step of faith.

ILL: I imagine if you or I were that poor widow, we’d be hard pressed to take that step. But friend, that is the kind of faith that God requires!

Just as Elijah went obediently to each of these regions, and just as that widow obediently served Elijah first, you and I are called to trust that where God guides us, He will provide for us.

These impossible provisions for Elijah and for the widow are merely shadows of the great provision that God provides for us. As a church, if God has called us to change the world, He will give us every provision we need! Do we need resources? Wisdom? Volunteers?

Nothing is impossible with God. His plans might seem peculiar, but where He leads, He makes impossible provisions.

Discuss: What might your response be if you were Elijah?

Finally, the last aspect of God’s sovereignty found here is

God’s Purposeful Preparation

This truth is less obvious than the other two, but nonetheless of great value.

Elijah could obey God because God was faithfully preparing him to take each step. Let me explain:

Elijah was given a word to deliver to King Ahab- When he arrived to speak God’s truth, he was able to do exactly as God had commanded because God had provided him with access to the king, boldness and clarity in his message, and safety to depart.

Having experienced God’s faithfulness, the next step was to retreat a barren region. Here, during the waiting, God prepared Elijah for the ministry that lie ahead.

How do you think he was so confident in approaching this widow for food? How could Elijah be so sure that God would provide for her? How could he face the desperate situation with her son?

As he waited, he daily experienced God’s faithfulness and learned to trust Him. He knew that God was working out the next steps, all he had to do was listen and obey.

As we look on, we see that not only was Elijah being prepared for his ministry, but preparation was taking place in the life of the widow as well. In verse 12, the widow is preparing to die in desperation, but God was preparing her for life!

When her son became ill, she immediately recognized her own sinfulness and reckoned that God was bringing judgment upon her. She had to get to this point in order to receive the Word of God as truth. Look at v. 24. (READ)

In God’s sovereignty, he prepares you and I in the same ways. He allows us to exhaust our own capabilities, so we are able to see Him. He leads us to lean on Him more and more, preparing us to be vessels for His glory.

As the story of Elijah unfolds, we see that this preparation is ongoing. What Elijah experienced here was all being knit together to enable him in the future, even to the point of eternity. You see, as he trusted and obeyed God, he was being prepared for glory.

But is that not the preparation we need as Christians? Do we not see how God stretches us and grows our faith in order that we might testify to the world the majesty and wonder of Jesus Christ?!?

If you will give up that which you are holding onto- that which leads to death, I will show you the way to life.

Christian, whatever you are walking through right now, I believe that God is preparing you for what is next. Are you learning the value of His kingdom? Are you learning to see life in light of eternity?

Today, you might be experiencing a pressure or a strain, but tomorrow you may be walking another to trust in the God that saw you through it all.

As we draw our time to a close today, I ask that you ponder what God is doing in your life right now; And trust Him!

He has a plan; You may not understand it, but God’s plans are always perfect.

And where God guides, He provides. You don’t know how you will have the courage or the wisdom or the resources… but God is a God of the impossible.

And as you obey His voice, know that He is preparing you now for greater things tomorrow.

What is God asking you to do right now? Will you trust Him enough to take that first step?

[Pray]

Discuss: How does God use our situations to prepare us for the future?