A Widow’s Blessing

- The Kingdom Divided

Continuing in our survey of the Major Character in The Bible,

We have come to the Monarchy of Israel.

If we recall, Samuel was the prophet of The Lord, when Israel told him they no longer wanted to be under the rule of Judges, but of a King.

Then God rose up King Saul,

Then King David,

Then King Solomon.

We learned through our survey that Solomon was blessed with wisdom and riches unlike any of the Kings before him.

After reigning 40 years, Solomon died.

And his son Rehoboam takes over as king.

But a proverbial wrench was thrown into the mix by God during end years of Solomon due to his disobedience and disregard for the Lords commands.

Just before his end, a young man named Jeroboam showed promise and was on the rise so-to-speak

Solomon praised him and elevated him in rank until one day

A prophet of God met Jeroboam and told him he would be king soon.

Naturally when Solomon heard that, he tried to have him killed.

So, Jeroboam running for his life, he ran to Egypt.

But when Solomon died, his son Rehoboam succeeded him on the throne.

The people came to Rehoboam and asked that he lighten the burden on the people now that Solomon was dead.

The Bible tells us that Rehoboam consulted with both, the older wiser men that served his father,

And his younger friends, you know, His boyz!

History tells us that he ignored the advice of his wiser counsel for that of his boys.

1 Kings 12:8 (CSB)

8 But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and attended him.

This caused the people to rebel.

And young Jeroboam was among the crowd when they rebelled and they made him king over Israel.

Fulfilling the words of the prophet Ahijah.

Effectively renting the Newly established Kingdom in two.

The kingdom to the north was called Israel, with Jeroboams capitol in Shechem.

and the kingdom to the south was called Judah with it’s capitol in Jerusalem

And a civil war ensued for years.

The Kingdom pf Judah in the south continues an unbroken line from David on down through each perspective reign.

But the kingdom to the north endures several changes in the succession.

Jeroboam’s line also fades into history for his disobedience.

- The Birth of Samaria

Until we get the King Omri.

Things start to pick up a bit in intensity with Omri.

King Omri was the first of the northern kings to successfully establish a ruling monarchy at the beginning of the ninth century BC

(Faithlife, LLC. “Omri (king).” Logos Bible Study, Computer software. Logos Bible Study Factbook. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, LLC, July 24, 2024. https://ref.ly/logos4/Factbook?id=ref%3abk.%23Omri.1.)

King Omri is the king that made the capitol of the northern kingdom, Samaria.

1 Kings 16:23–24 (CSB)

23 In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king over Israel, and he reigned twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah, 24 then he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for 150 pounds of silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samaria based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

For the purpose of our message today its not so much who Omri was,

But whom was his son

You seem after Omri died, his son, King Ahab took the throne.

- King Ahab, The Worst King

How many of you have hears of King Ahab?

Well, King Ahab was the absolute worst king Israel had.

(Martin, John A. “Micah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.)

1 Kings 16:30–33 (CSB)

30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him. 31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not enough, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and bow in worship to him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

It was King Ahab that married Jezebel.

How many have heard that name before?

- Jezebel, TheMost Wicked Person In Scripture

Jezebel was the most wicked person in all of the Bible.

She was a Sidonian princess of a Pagan Priest/King.

And she was a fervent believer in baal worship

Together, her and King Ahab made baal worship the official religion of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Depending on which period in history, and geographical locations, baal was thee god.

Asherah was believed to be his consort.

Using all sorts of blasphemous things in worship to baal, the god of rain, weather, fertility.

Including asherah poles, dedicated to Asherah the supposed consort of baal.

To be clear, there is no evidence to suggest that they outlawed worship to Yahweh, but only that they condemend the notion of

Only Yahweh or the Monotheistic belief of Judaism,

Meaning, only one God.

They aimed to make Israel Polytheistic.

Meaning the belief in many gods.

And she was murderous in her attempt to force it by killing many of the Lords prophets.

Her and Ahab attempted to change the national identity of Israel who God’s people into a polytheistic nation believing in many gods.

It doesn’t sound to far off from what we see happening right here in the good ole USA does it?

Many say the spirit of Jezebel is still active right here,

Changing this nation from what was once a Christian nation to a nation of many gods.

And now they are starting to kill those who oppose them just as in those days.

But praise be to God Amen!

Because He knew what was happening all along and he was preparing his response to Ahab and Jezebels attempt to corrupt their national identity.

- Precise Timing

When I was in Bible College, Yadi and I went through a money problem spell.

The rent was due, and our furniture was broken down, and we had no money left over from our bills.

This went on for a few uncomfortable weeks,

Then one evening as I left for class, I said something like, It’s all in God’s hands or something to that effect.

When I got to class, I checked my student mailbox,

To my surprise there was a check for over $1600 dollars, as a refund of over payment on tuition.

I called Yadi and told her the good news.

We paid the rent and bought humble furniture.

God knew ahead of Time, and He planned for our delivery.

In the same spirit, let me give you a quick peek into what happened on our recent mission trip.

I noticed when we arrived that the church was downcast.

Meaning, I could feel their sense of defeat emanating from our interactions.

As I briefly mentioned last week that they suffered a ministry loss, and their numbers weren’t climbing,

I found also that they were struggling with volunteers who honored their committment.

Meaning for instance, they were supposed to help during our visit, but some didn’t show.

So, they were discouraged.

But, then Anna First Baptist Church showed up, energetic and excited to be a part of God’s plan for that city,

We became to them like a fresh anointing, and through our interactions with them, they became

Re-invigorated, re-motivated, resuscitated, back to life,

You see, God knew three years ago, that This church would suffer discouragement,

He knew three years ago that the pastor would be on his knees in prayer asking, Lord what will we do?

God knew all along and was preparing the answer to their prayers.

God sent Anna First Baptist Church, with all it’s own struggles to deal with, to be a life line,

To a struggling church, in some far off corner of remote Mexico.

Have you ever heard the term, kill two birds with one stone?

God does a lot of that.

By sending Anna First, He not only blessed those to whom we were sent, but God also blessed Anna First, and it’s missionaries by giving them a first hand experience in the moving of the Spirit of God.

We see God moving like this throughout scripture,

Moving into focus on our next Major Character in scripture,

God moves abruptly in history to answer the growing threat of

King Ahab and Jezebel bringing Israel into polytheism.

- Enter Elijah

Abruptly, the narrative shifts from the terrible king and queen, to a prophet named Elijah.

1 Kings 17:1 (CSB)

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”

Out of nowhere, this prophet barges onto the scene proclaiming that there will be no rain until he commands it.

Then, just like that, he leaves.

1 Kings 17:2–7 (CSB)

2 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. 4 You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”

5 So he proceeded to do what the Lord commanded. Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. 6 The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the wadi. 7 After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

From here we read that God instructs him to go to the very land where the murderous baal priestess, prostitute queen Jezebel is from and find a widow.

To Zarepath, in Sidon.

Now, again we see the hand of God showing up at just the right time.

This poor widow is at her wits end,

As far as she is concerned, it’s over for her and her son.

She’s given up, she is ready to die.

But then this strange man comes to town and changes her life.

1 Kings 17:8–16 (CSB)

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.” 10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.” 11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”

12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”

13 Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, 14 for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’ ”

15 So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days. 16 The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Elijah.

She was ready to die, But God showed up at just the right time and changed her life

The oil and flour were valuable, I assume she was able to live on the endless supply until the rain came again as said Elijah.

Brothers and sisters of Anna First Baptist Church, and those watching around the world,

God knows what you are going through, and guess what.

It didn’t catch Him by surprise

He has already been working on your problem since before your problem started.

Because He already knew, AMEN

Nothing catches God off guard.

Not even this upcoming election, nor the wars and rumors of war,

Nor do your illnesses, problems, or addictions.

Nothing.

And If you hold out faith,

Right at that moment, just when you can’t seem to take another minute of it.

God will send a messenger, AMEN!

Elijah, is an interesting character in Biblical history.

You know, Elijah is one of two people who haven’t died yet.

Enoch was taken, and was no more,

And Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind of fiery chariots.

He never died a human death.

He was also the first to raise a dead person back to life.

You’ll hear more about this prophet as we inch ever closer to the end of days.

Elijah was one of the two witnesses who joined Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration with moses

Many, including myself believe he will be one of the two witnesses of

Revelation 11:6 (CSB)

6 They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.

Notice they will have the power to hold back the rain?

Elijah held back the rain on his arrival on the Biblical scene.

It goes on to say they would have the power to call down fire from heaven.

Well, Elijah did just that when he challenged the prophets of baal to a contest.

To see which God would answer,

The priest of baal performed their ritual, a ritual that included them cutting themselves and letting their blood run.

You know, that practice is still going on?

Especially among our youth.

Some of our young girls. When they get depressed or emotionally disturbed, they too cut themselves.

This is demonic.

They need to know what is driving this temptation.

Nevertheless,

They could not succeed in calling on baal because he doesn’t exist.

But when Elijah called on God, fire came down from heaven and burnt up everything including the altar.

1 Kings 18:37–39 (CSB)

37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.”

38 Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”

Wow!

- The Spirit of Elijah

In the new testament, his spirit was said to have been on John the Baptist.

Luke 1:17 (CSB)

17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

The very last prophecy in the Old Testament was given about Elijah coming back before the last days.

Malachi 4:5–6 (CSB)

5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

So remember, God shows up at the precise time

It may seem like “Just in the nick of time” to you and I.

But, God knew about your problem before it even surfaced,

So we can confidently rest assured that what ever our problem is,

It didn’t catch God off guard, and it should be comforting to know, He’s been working out your solution before you were even born for just this specific time.

Switch screens

Invitation

Offering