God´s Perfect Ordering

Elijah´s route looks kind of like our furlough pattern…all over the place and often times re-working back to places near where we’ve been.

Thankful for...

God’s provision

Connections in the Kingdom

Encouragement rallying us on in our mission

Connecting kids with the Passport country

Have to wonder how it might have been for this prophet in a country that used to believe in the one true God but had been ruled by a succession of leaders who led the people astray.

1º Reyes 16.30–33 NASB95

Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria. Ahab also made the Asherah. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

It was the Worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was NOT the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was NOT the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was NOT the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was NOT the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had nothing before us…AND were all going direct to HELL.

Had things gotten as bad as Sodom and Gamora? Had their sin become so exceedingly grave that it reached God´s threshold of patience?

The comforting thing is that threshold of patience seems to be remarkably high when God’s righteous ones are pleading for the Lord on behalf of their people.

Abraham:

Génesis 18.23–26 NASB95

Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”

This negotiation continued with the Lord… “What about 40, 30, 20 and then

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 18

Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?”

Oh how we wished we knew the exact population of these cities. Ok 10 over 100,000 equals .01%. I could come out with a best selling Christian book of the year showing how of the 325.7 million we would only need 3,257,000 Christians to remain afloat and continue to live the American dream.

God’s math is different than our own. Though Elijah thinks he is alone he tells him He tells him

(NASB95) — 18 “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

-I am going to use Jehu, Acab’s official to destroy Acab, Jezebel, and all of unfaithful Israel..yet

1º Reyes 19.18 NASB95

“Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Jehu turned out not be the greatest king either. His motives were less to please the Lord as having power.

What we know though is God stands outside of this present moment, sees the upcoming future exile to Assyria during Hosea’s day but for some reason leaves a window of hope.

He wants relationship. God is not static and uneffected rather he risks so much to extend his love to us.

If Scripture teaches us anything, it is that God is not static. Just as he can affect our lives, we affect the Lord’s. Notice through redemptive history how the Lord Almighty is moved when we follow his lead and hurt when we don’t. We can provoke him to anger as we can cause his heart to delight in us to the point he sings over us, Zephaniah says.

We can provoke him to anger as we can delight his heart to the point he wants to sing baladas over us as Zephaniah says.

Shows him his purpose

Tell Ahab Thus saith the Lord

Shows him provision

Now go hide

Kerith Ravine

Maybe a Medicine Park retreat

Near Tishibi

Bread and Meat

Meant to think of his provision for Israel in the desert

Different than the manna and quail

evening and morning

Elijah is being fed by ravens not being fed ravens

There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", and these appellations have been assigned to different species chiefly on the basis of their size, crows generally being smaller than ravens.

Wikepedia

I’ve heard crow is fairly foul, hence the idiom, “I had to eat crow,” to express humble yourself

Elijah is being well taken care of Oscar Myer meat and Kroger’s fresh baked bread twice a day

However the Lord teaches daily dependance on him. Just like the manna…Elijah had to wait and trust it would come again.

And why, (vs. 7) did the brook dry up?

Well the text tells us, because there was no rain

Deeper issue though for sure was to strengthen Elijah’s trust in Yahweh.

Woman, Outsider, Widow, and WAY OUT OF THE WAY

Zarephath, Sidon 60-80 miles away ON FOOT

Elijah is out of his comfort zone

Still affected by the drought

Would have been one of the most unlikely sources to go for help

Woman, Gentile, and Widow

Notice God is wanting to protect this alien, non-Israelite, though she is not from God’s select people

Jesus’ main point in his Nazareth sermon

Lucas 4.26 NBLH

sin embargo, a ninguna de ellas fue enviado Elías, sino a una mujer viuda en Sarepta, en la tierra de Sidón.

Lucas 4.25–26 NASB95

“But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

Why her?

God’s protection of the weak

She is desperate

Santiago 1.27 NIV84

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

1º Reyes 17.12 NASB95

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.”

She is one of the trio of unfortunate ones that the Lord has a special eye on.

Deuteronomio 10.18 NASB95

“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.

(NIV84) — 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. God’s habit of using the weak things in this world to shame what we would uphold as strong.

Santiago 1.27 NIV84

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Widow, Gentile, Woman

God is arranging this faith encounter to bless her as much as the prophet who is cared for

1º Reyes 17.9 NASB95

“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 17

behold, bI have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 17

behold, bI have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 7422 צָוָה

צָוָה (ṣā·wā(h)): v.; ≡ Str 6680; TWOT 1887—1. LN 33.323–33.332 (piel) command, order, tell, instruct,

Same verb used in v. 3.

—Notice God’s ordering of all creation. Ravens and Rations, Prophets and Widows, You and I are all under God’s perfect ordering

God first, Dios primero…this is a saying that I hear often among the believers in Ecuador. It communicates the lesson James gave his readers, (James 4:15)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

What was God’s will for these two?

Arise, Go to Zarephath. Stay there with a widow (vs. 9)...So he arose and went (vs. )

So he arose and went (vs. )

1º Reyes 10 NBLH

Cuando la reina de Sabá oyó de la fama de Salomón, por causa del nombre del Señor, vino a probarlo con preguntas difíciles. 2Crón 9:1-12 Llegó a Jerusalén con un séquito muy grande, con camellos cargados de especias, y gran cantidad de oro y piedras preciosas. Cuando vino a Salomón, habló con él de todo lo que tenía en su corazón. Y Salomón contestó todas sus preguntas; no hubo nada tan difícil que el rey no pudiera explicárselo. Cuando la reina de Sabá vio toda la sabiduría de Salomón, la casa que él había edificado, los manjares de su mesa, las habitaciones de sus siervos, el porte de sus ministros y sus vestiduras, sus coperos, y la escalinata por la cual él subía a la casa del Señor, se quedó sin aliento. Entonces le dijo al rey: “¡Era verdad lo que había oído en mi tierra acerca de sus palabras y de su sabiduría! “Pero yo no podía creer lo que me decían, hasta que he venido y mis propios ojos lo han visto. No se me había contado ni la mitad. Usted supera en sabiduría y prosperidad la fama que había oído. “Bienaventurados sus hombres, bienaventurados éstos sus siervos que están delante de usted continuamente y oyen su sabiduría. “Bendito sea el Señor su Dios que se agradó de usted para ponerle sobre el trono de Israel. Por el amor que el Señor ha tenido siempre a Israel, le ha puesto por rey para hacer derecho y justicia.” Entonces ella dio al rey 4.1 toneladas de oro, y gran cantidad de especias aromáticas y piedras preciosas. Nunca más entró tanta abundancia de especias aromáticas como las que la reina de Sabá dio al rey Salomón. También las naves de Hiram, que habían traído oro de Ofir, trajeron de allí gran cantidad de madera de sándalo y piedras preciosas. Con la madera de sándalo, el rey hizo pilares para la casa del Señor y para el palacio del rey; también liras y arpas para los cantores. Esa clase de madera de sándalo no ha entrado más ni se ha vuelto a ver hasta hoy. El rey Salomón dio a la reina de Sabá todo cuanto ella quiso pedirle, además de lo que le dio conforme a su real magnificencia. Después ella se volvió, y regresó a su tierra con sus siervos. El peso del oro que llegaba a Salomón en un año era de 22.6 toneladas de oro, 2Crón 9:13-24 sin contar lo de los mercaderes, las mercancías de los comerciantes, de todos los reyes de Arabia y de los gobernadores de la tierra. El rey Salomón hizo 200 escudos grandes de oro batido, usando 600 siclos (6.84 kilos) de oro en cada escudo. También hizo 300 escudos de oro batido, usando tres minas (1.7 kilos) de oro en cada escudo; el rey los puso en la casa del bosque del Líbano. El rey hizo además, un gran trono de marfil y lo revistió de oro finísimo. Había seis gradas hasta el trono, y por detrás, la parte superior del trono era redonda, con brazos a cada lado del asiento y dos leones de pie junto a los brazos. Doce leones estaban de pie allí en las seis gradas a uno y otro lado; nada semejante se había hecho para ningún otro reino. Todos los vasos de beber del rey Salomón eran de oro, también todas las vasijas de la casa del bosque del Líbano eran de oro puro, ninguna era de plata; ésta no era considerada importante en los días de Salomón. Porque el rey tenía en el mar las naves de Tarsis junto con las naves de Hiram, y cada tres años las naves de Tarsis le traían oro, plata, marfil, monos y pavos reales. Así el rey Salomón llegó a ser más grande que todos los reyes de la tierra en riqueza y sabiduría. Y toda la tierra procuraba ver a Salomón, para oír la sabiduría que Dios había puesto en su corazón. Cada uno de ellos traía su presente: objetos de plata y objetos de oro, vestidos, armas, especias, caballos y mulos; y así año tras año. Salomón reunió carros y hombres de a caballo; y tenía 1,400 carros y 12,000 hombres de a caballo, y los situó en las ciudades de carros y junto al rey en Jerusalén. El rey hizo la plata tan común en Jerusalén como las piedras, e hizo los cedros tan abundantes como los sicómoros que están en el llano. Los caballos de Salomón eran importados de Egipto y de Coa, y los mercaderes del rey los adquirían de Coa por cierto precio. Un carro de Egipto se importaba por 600 siclos (6.84 kilos) de plata, y un caballo por 150 y de la misma forma los exportaban a todos los reyes de los Hititas y a los reyes de Aram.

1º Reyes 10 NBLH

Cuando la reina de Sabá oyó de la fama de Salomón, por causa del nombre del Señor, vino a probarlo con preguntas difíciles. 2Crón 9:1-12 Llegó a Jerusalén con un séquito muy grande, con camellos cargados de especias, y gran cantidad de oro y piedras preciosas. Cuando vino a Salomón, habló con él de todo lo que tenía en su corazón. Y Salomón contestó todas sus preguntas; no hubo nada tan difícil que el rey no pudiera explicárselo. Cuando la reina de Sabá vio toda la sabiduría de Salomón, la casa que él había edificado, los manjares de su mesa, las habitaciones de sus siervos, el porte de sus ministros y sus vestiduras, sus coperos, y la escalinata por la cual él subía a la casa del Señor, se quedó sin aliento. Entonces le dijo al rey: “¡Era verdad lo que había oído en mi tierra acerca de sus palabras y de su sabiduría! “Pero yo no podía creer lo que me decían, hasta que he venido y mis propios ojos lo han visto. No se me había contado ni la mitad. Usted supera en sabiduría y prosperidad la fama que había oído. “Bienaventurados sus hombres, bienaventurados éstos sus siervos que están delante de usted continuamente y oyen su sabiduría. “Bendito sea el Señor su Dios que se agradó de usted para ponerle sobre el trono de Israel. Por el amor que el Señor ha tenido siempre a Israel, le ha puesto por rey para hacer derecho y justicia.” Entonces ella dio al rey 4.1 toneladas de oro, y gran cantidad de especias aromáticas y piedras preciosas. Nunca más entró tanta abundancia de especias aromáticas como las que la reina de Sabá dio al rey Salomón. También las naves de Hiram, que habían traído oro de Ofir, trajeron de allí gran cantidad de madera de sándalo y piedras preciosas. Con la madera de sándalo, el rey hizo pilares para la casa del Señor y para el palacio del rey; también liras y arpas para los cantores. Esa clase de madera de sándalo no ha entrado más ni se ha vuelto a ver hasta hoy. El rey Salomón dio a la reina de Sabá todo cuanto ella quiso pedirle, además de lo que le dio conforme a su real magnificencia. Después ella se volvió, y regresó a su tierra con sus siervos. El peso del oro que llegaba a Salomón en un año era de 22.6 toneladas de oro, 2Crón 9:13-24 sin contar lo de los mercaderes, las mercancías de los comerciantes, de todos los reyes de Arabia y de los gobernadores de la tierra. El rey Salomón hizo 200 escudos grandes de oro batido, usando 600 siclos (6.84 kilos) de oro en cada escudo. También hizo 300 escudos de oro batido, usando tres minas (1.7 kilos) de oro en cada escudo; el rey los puso en la casa del bosque del Líbano. El rey hizo además, un gran trono de marfil y lo revistió de oro finísimo. Había seis gradas hasta el trono, y por detrás, la parte superior del trono era redonda, con brazos a cada lado del asiento y dos leones de pie junto a los brazos. Doce leones estaban de pie allí en las seis gradas a uno y otro lado; nada semejante se había hecho para ningún otro reino. Todos los vasos de beber del rey Salomón eran de oro, también todas las vasijas de la casa del bosque del Líbano eran de oro puro, ninguna era de plata; ésta no era considerada importante en los días de Salomón. Porque el rey tenía en el mar las naves de Tarsis junto con las naves de Hiram, y cada tres años las naves de Tarsis le traían oro, plata, marfil, monos y pavos reales. Así el rey Salomón llegó a ser más grande que todos los reyes de la tierra en riqueza y sabiduría. Y toda la tierra procuraba ver a Salomón, para oír la sabiduría que Dios había puesto en su corazón. Cada uno de ellos traía su presente: objetos de plata y objetos de oro, vestidos, armas, especias, caballos y mulos; y así año tras año. Salomón reunió carros y hombres de a caballo; y tenía 1,400 carros y 12,000 hombres de a caballo, y los situó en las ciudades de carros y junto al rey en Jerusalén. El rey hizo la plata tan común en Jerusalén como las piedras, e hizo los cedros tan abundantes como los sicómoros que están en el llano. Los caballos de Salomón eran importados de Egipto y de Coa, y los mercaderes del rey los adquirían de Coa por cierto precio. Un carro de Egipto se importaba por 600 siclos (6.84 kilos) de plata, y un caballo por 150 y de la misma forma los exportaban a todos los reyes de los Hititas y a los reyes de Aram.

This lesson is for me and other prophets here in this assembly who doubt how our witness can really be carried along by daily seemingly insignificant actions …

We will not always have Mt. Carmel days, God can use the small, seemingly insignificant things to accomplish his perfect ordering.

God has a global vision

That was the case for King Zerubbabel when people saw the size and grandeur of the new temple did not compare to the temple Solomon built.

Jesus’ main point from his sermon in Nazareth was to tell us that God has his eye on all people. It’s what made the Jews so upset.

The New International Version (1984) The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

10 “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

Video?

Spokesmen who need to trust in God’s global mission

Jesus’ main point from his sermon in Nazareth was to tell us that God has his eye on all people. His heart is that all draw near to his love and purpose fro them.

It’s what made the Jews so upset.

How is he wanting to expand our own focus. It ok for the Marcums to go to off to South America and do there thing with those people, but how is he wanting you and I to see and minister to his people here at home…people he made in his image, but different than you and I?

Have you stopped to think how the mission field is here at our doorstep?

I want to tread lightly here, because it is a sensitive, hot-button issue that has a lot of complications.

It’s what made the Jews so upset and many of us when we we think about illegal entry to the country.

Even through legal means. We have many Arabic people, refugees from violent areas of the world coming to the U.S. for asylum.

Obviously there needs to be standards as well as enforcing those norms of entry.

Obviously there needs to be standards as well as enforcing norms of entry.

But, my question is whether you and I would benefit to reframe the whole issue in light of God’s desire to protect and reach his world with his love.

Instead of an infiltration into our country, we begin to notice the opportunities for speaking about eternal things.

He comes into our town and singles me out, she says. “It is as if he knows I am being put to the test. Oh you are about to prepare the last supper, Make my bread cake first,

Yes she had heard a voice. Or was it a vision? Something strong had been tugging at her heart in the midst of this crisis. It kept hinting of sacrifice but also of rescue. Could it be this hairy man with a leather belt around his waist? (2 kings 1:8) This prophet who has come into her town and now singles her out, to wait on him! It is as if he knows she was being put to the test. Will she be able to trust in the “thus says The Lord God of Israel

Could it be this prophet? The Prophet said, Oh you are about to prepare the last supper, Make my bread cake first,

1º Reyes 17.14 NASB95

“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.’ ”

It is easy for the reader to do a quick risk analysis, and conclude, “She has nothing to lose.” She is at her end already

But she is more than a literary figure isn’t she? She’s a mother, she has lost her mate, and is in full survival mode for her son.

She is more than a literary figure. She is you and I at one time or another

When we’ve been at our ropes end with seemingly there is nothing left to hang on to

Was it when our own loved one died?

Was it when our own sickness proved almost fatal?

Our perhaps a troubled marriage, job, or family situation ...just seemed that it was about about to come apart.

When did we hear God’s instructing us? “Thus says the Lord God?”

I don’t have to make a hard sell or wrap up this sermon to a grand finale prompting you the hearers to be moved to come forward. WHY?This sermon is for you only if God has already been doing his perfect ordering in your life. Prompting you to make a move of faith,

The Prophets who need to trust their witness is made great through the little things…God works!

We will not always have Mt. Carmel days, God can use the small, seemingly insignificant things to accomplish his perfect ordering.

The New International Version (1984) The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

10 “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

Has he asked you to trust him with something in particular

The

What are you called to let go of. Family? a big decision or change? What steps of faith has God already been prompting you to make?

My Job is just to say, “Thus saith the Lord God”

Because when a prophet like me comes to town and says, “Thus says the Lord God,”

You can respond. “O, of all the nerve prophet. Who does he think he is?”

Or you can listen to God’s voice and the promptings you have received before coming in here today.

Only you know what I’m talking about and and If you listen and act you will not be disappointed. Do a quick risk vs. cost analysis.

My great grandparents responded to a Gospel call made in this very town at a meeting done in the 30’s.

Many others of you have had faith encounters in this very spot. They may seem long ago, but God continues to challenge us that he wants to be involved in His perfect ordering of our lives.

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher, Ridin' on a midnight bus bound for Mexico One's headed for vacation, one for higher education, An' two of them were searchin' for lost souls That driver never ever saw the stop sign An' eighteen wheelers can't stop on a dime

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway, Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, It's what you leave behind you when you go

That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres, The faith an' love for growin' things in his young son's heart An' that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children: Did her best to give 'em all a better start An' that preacher whispered, "Can't you see the Promised Land?" As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker's hand

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway, Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, It's what you leave behind you when you go

That's the story that our preacher told last Sunday As he held that blood-stained bible up, For all of us to see He said "Bless the farmer, and the teacher, an' the preacher Who gave this Bible to my mama, Who read it to me"

God has made the call, you are invited to come forward as we stand and sing.

God´s Perfect Ordering

Intro: 1 Kings 17:1-24

Elijah´s Crazy Life

Elijah, Man of God in a Post-Yahweh nation

CHARLES DICKENS would have to rewrite his novel as a Tale of One City:

God desires relationship with his people.

I believe the Lord is working in the two characters of hour story today.

Elijah

Widow of Zarephath

God’s perfect ordering

God First:

God commanded a prophet to become a covert missionary.

Must not despise the little things:

Must remember God’s Universal vision

God instructed a struggling single mother to trust in this foreign God.

Must listen:

Must trust and act:

Conclusion

Hallowed ground.