How God Sustains His People

Introduction

For some time, we’ve been going through on Wednesdays our Bible Character study on the Kings of Israel & Judah. But in our studies therein, we must pass up some really important and impressive text and people intermingled within.

Tonight I wanted to begin a series on two great prophets that much is written about about during the times of the kings - Elijah & Elisha.

Some of the stories that we’ll address will be well known, others not as much, but still much to learn from them.

Tonight I believe would fall into that category. It’s the first mention that we have of this man by the name of Elijah. Elijah comes on the scene and pronounces a drought!

The first thing that we need to examine, is God’s Predicament

I. God’s Predicament

A Wayward Nation

Elijah was a prophet sent primarily unto the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

One thing that we can instantly point out is that God sends His people where they are needed - not necessarily where they are WANTED, but where they are needed. And the Northern Kingdom of Israel needed the LORD.

(HISTORY) The Northern Kingdom rebelled against the united tribes and formed a kingdom unto themselves, when the plea of Jeroboam mercy fell on Rehoboam’s deaf ears. 10 of the tribes would break off and form the ‘Northern Kingdom of Israel’. Once they departed, Jeroboam, the first king of divided Israel instills Idol worship in the land (Read 1Ki. 12:25-29) At this point in their history, approx. 50 years has passed, and that Kingdom is on their 3rd dynasty. Jeroboam’s lineage was killed off, Baasha’s lineage was killed off, and we are now on the 3rd dynasty - the Omri dynasty - begun by Ahab’s daddy.

While many things has changed over the course of time, one thing has remained consistent - Israel’s idolatry - and it was fixing to get worse!

Omri would usher in a time of political & economical prosperity - and so on the surface, things were looking up for the Northern Kingdom, but Spiritually, they were struggling.

This was a nation who was struggling where it mattered most.

Make no mistake - economic prosperity is great camouflage for Spiritual decay. We see it in this kingdom, and we’ve lived through it in America.

This was a Wayward Nation - and a Wicked Ruler

A Wicked Ruler

As mentioned, Ahab was the king at this time. One thing that made Ahab stand out was the great depravity of his wife Jezebel. They were the tag-team combo from Hell.

We see it in their actions: Naboth’s vineyard (Told in 1Ki. 21)

Naboth owned a vineyard by the palace in Samaria - Ahab tried to buy it, but it wasn’t for sale. So what did he do? He laid on his bed pouting till his wife came to check on him. 1 Kings 21:5–7 “But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

She would put into action a plan to have Naboth killed and his vineyard seized.

This church is illustrative of the depravity of these people - but the worst is that Jezebel brought with her a different religion that permeated the nation - Baal worship.

This is the situation that God is faced with concerning the Northern Nation of Israel.

But as you know, our God is wisdom and would deal with this situation appropriately. So how did He deal with it?

We see God’s Predicament

God’s Predicament

II. God’s Power

God - by the mouth of Elijah would cause a terrible drought in the land.

Notice though, God’s Power - it’s an Awesome Display of that Power!

An Awesome Display

Over the last few weeks, we’ve experienced some warmer weather and a spattering of rain intermingled in. For the few weeks prior to that, we had rain all day - every day with a spattering of sun intermingled in.

We all here have experienced dry spells. But church, can you imagine NO rain nor dew for three years? That’s something that we find it hard to imagine. Day after day, month after month, year after year the sun would rise, then would go back to it’s hiding place again - and not ONE TIME does the clouds bring forth it’s rain!

What an Awesome display of Power!

Church, I think too often we sell God short, don’t we? We have a problem considering the vast power of our God - after all, how to you rationalize infinity? You can’t. While it is impossible to wrap our minds around the greatness of God, I still think we can do better in realizing that God is greater than anything we can imagine!

Consider the power of God in Joshua 10:12–14 “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, And hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”

Church, this is a God who had the power to lay down His life - and the power to take it up again! He’s God!

I know some things it seems like God just is not able - BUT MY GOD IS ABLE! Trust in Him & His provision!

For God who stay the rain for 3 years was an Awesome Display of Power

An Awful Discipline

God stayed the rain as a means of chastisement upon that wayward people and wicked ruler. Now, as we consider this, I think that are a few things to look at:

First, the Superficial Consequence

The Superficial Consequence

We can look at God’s withholding of rain in the superficial / shallow sense that it was punishment for Israel’s disobedience. And you wouldn’t be wrong in that. They were a wayward people under the influence of a wicked ruler - so God brought down Chastisement upon them.

Church, the Chastisement of the LORD is not a bad thing… it’s a good thing. The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 3:11–12 “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; Neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

(Read Heb. 12:6-11)

The superficial consequence is that God was giving unto them what they deserved - punishment for their estrangement.

That’s the Superficial Consequence, but I want you to notice the Intended Conclusion

The Intended Conclusion

God wasn’t withholding the rain just to make them thirsty.

God wasn’t withholding the rain just to punish them for their ungodliness.

There was a PURPOSE for the punishment

There was a PLAN for the punishment

Had it not been the drought in Chapter 17, there’s been no showdown in Chapter 18.

(Read 1Ki. 18:17-19)

An important verse is found in 1 Kings 18:21 “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

The people were of two minds.

Then we see the showdown begin to take place: After this we have the praying down the fire from Heaven

The whole point of the drought was to prove unto the people who the True God really was, to cleanse the land from those false prophets (1Ki. 18:40)

Church, God is not a sadist in that He simply enjoys hurting mankind. He doesn’t - desire to hurt man, but help them! The nation was on a terribly dangerous path - and it was God’s desire and intention to get them back on track!

We see the Intended Conclusion

God’s Predicament; God’s Power

III. God’s Provision

Through this terrible drought brought by the LORD because of their disobedience, I want you to notice how God supplied throughout it all.

Is Sure for the Faithful

There were many people who needed water in those days that didn’t get it. But let me tell you someone who didn’t lack - Elijah!

Elijah was smack dab in the middle of that drought & famine just like everyone else, but do you know what? Elijah didn’t want! God supplied his needs!

Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.”

No matter how dire and bleak it may seem, God is able to supply every need for His people.

Paul said: Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 7:7–11 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

What’s the saying - when He’s four days late, He’s still on time?

God will most certainly is WILLING and ABLE to supply your needs!

God’s Provision is Sure to the Faithful

Is Supplied by Following Direction

We see that Elijah was taken care of at the brook Cherith.

Does anyone know where that brook is? I don’t either - but Elijah knew. And all Elijah had to do to get fed was to go where God told him to go. That’s it, it’s that simple.

In the midst of this life-changing drought and famine, all Elijah had to do to be sustained through it all, was to follow the direction of the LORD.

Church, Elijah wouldn’t have been fed had he went elsewhere.

(Ill.) Yesterday we brought home some food from the Jug and I carried it in. Dad asked me where it was, and I said ‘Right there’ and pointed to the island. Dad proceeds to turn around and looking on the countertop. I said ‘No, there in front of you’ - he looked somewhere else. Guess what? he didn’t find the food but where I told him.

Church, if you’re going to get fed in a drought, you must follow the directions of the LORD - which leads me to this…

We all will face droughts & famine in our lives. Not necessarily the physical kind, but of the Spiritual. How many of us have gone through dry spells & seasons as Christians? (All of us), do you know what we need to do during those times? Follow the direction of the LORD.

Be present at the House of God:

Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Be purposeful in our studying:

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Faint Not:

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Praying Always:

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Think on ‘These Things’

Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

If we will follow the Direction of the LORD during those dry seasons, we will find refreshment!

God’s Provision is supplied by following direction

Might Come in Surprising Fashion

Lastly, you might be surprised at how God provides for you during that time. As surprised as Elijah was (I’m sure) by God using the Ravens to feed him.

As some of you know, a while back, I adopted the Raven as the emblem for my ministry. This passage is one of the passages for the basis for it.

The others are Lev. 11:15 which speaks of my Depraved Nature

Leviticus 11:15 “Every raven after his kind;”

Psa. 147:9 speaks of my Dependence upon God

Psalm 147:9 “He giveth to the beast his food, And to the young ravens which cry.”

Then here in 1Ki. 17:4; 7 which speaks to my Desire to be Used of God

Church, understand that there is nothing beyond God’s ability to use.

God used the Ravens to feed Elijah - and God can use you in mighty ways to sustain others as well.

God’s Providence might come in Surprising Fashion

Conclusion

Where are you tonight? How can this message help you?

Maybe you need God to move in a mighty way, but your faith has been failing.

God is BIG ENOUGH to supply that need!

Maybe you need God’s Provision, but you’ve been looking in the wrong places for them

God will supply, if you’ll only follow direction

What do you need from God today?