A Drought A Prophet and a Widow
A Drought, A Prophet, and A Widow
I KING 17:8-15: -15: 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, the Barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
INTRODUCTION
1. Lessons are important. For in many ways and by many methods and avenues do we learn lessons.
When I was a young boy, I remember learning a lesson about a wasp. I don't know if you've ever been stung by a wasp before or not. But I have. An I learned that you can avoid getting stung by leaving their nests undisturbed. There's a wasp nest about eight feet from my office door but I haven't gotten stung yet. Do you know why? I haven't disturbed their nests.
I learned my lesson, lessons are important.
2. In our text we learn lessons from:
A Drought, A Prophet, and A Widow
A Drought is "A long period of dry weather, lack of rain". A Drought was considered one of the most devastating calamities of the East. The people would suffer; The animals would suffer; The plants and crops would wither; Rivers and lakes would dry up; and Protracted suffering for just about everybody and everything was inevitable.
Our text today unfolds against the backdrop of such a travesty. Gilead and neighboring regions were suffering because of the lack of rain. Now this was no ordinary drought. It had been inflicted by God through the prophet Elijah.
1 KINGS 17:1: 1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
In that verse we find Elijah telling Ahab that there would not be a dew nor rain these years. Except according to his word. Perhaps one might be interested enough to wonder why God would prescribe such a catastrophic situation. It was not because God was moody or stingy. It was because Israel had fallen into idolatry, worshipping Baal an God chose to get their attention by holding the rain back. And I believe that there are some lessons to be learned by this drought.
"Lessons from A Drought, A Prophet, and A Widow"
The First lesson we learn from the drought is that God is in control, and Ahab wasn't in control. Jezebel, his wicked wife, wasn't in control, and neither was Elizah in control. God was in control. Elijah was just an instrument but God was in control. Sometimes I think God holds things from us to remind us that he is in control. The weather man didn't control the rain; The Magicians didn't control the rain - God controlled the rain! God has always controlled the rain.
GEN.7:4: 4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
When God was preparing to destroy the earth with a raging flood, he said "I will cause it to rain."
ISAIAH 55:10: 10For as the rail cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
God said that the rain and the snow cometh down from heaven.
MATT:5:45: 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Jesus, he (The Father) sendeth the rain. And what this says is that God is in control!
3. Secondly, the drought teaches us that sin and rebellion will not go unpunished.
ROMANS 6:23: 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul said "For the Wages of Sin is Death"
GAL. 6:7-8: 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall be also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.
Soweth that shall he also reap (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption --
Yes, Sin will not go unpunished.
For Jesus said in the 5th chapter of John, verse 28, "marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, come forth, they that have done good. Unto the resurrection of life,"
And friends, sin will not go unpunished. when the Isrealites turned to idols, God was watching. And it would do us well today, to know that God is watching everything we. And when we turn our backs on him to serve other interests - will stand before God and give an account.
II COR. 5:10: 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And sometimes we suffer in this life as a result of sin.
An example of this inescapable truth would be Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.
ACTS 5:1-11: 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles, feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, how is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at this fee, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Ananias and Sapphira suffered and died as a result of sin!
"LESSONS FROM A DROUGHT, A PROPHET, AND A WIDOW"
4. The Third lesson we learn from the drought is that sometime we are the cause of our own calamities. For the Isrealites could not blame Elijah. He hadn't bowed his knees to Baal. They were the cause of their own calamities. There are some today who are suffering as a result of their own actions. There are thousands of people who are suffering from Lung Cancer because they chose to smoke. There are many who are suffering from Liver disorder because they chose to drink. There are those who are suffering from Aids because they chose to live a promiscuous life style...Sometimes we are the architects of our own calamities. And there are some who are suffering spiritually because of their own actions. In Luke the 15th chapter, we find that the Prodigal son's horrific situation was brought on by his decision to go to the far country. He couldn't blame his father. He couldn't blame his brother. He couldn't blame his associates. He was hungry, broke and ashamed because of his won actions. And this was the case with Isreal. They were the conspirators of their own calamity by rejecting God so he punished them by going on strike with the rain.
5. The Fourth lesson we learn from the drought is that, sometimes, our actions, not only affect us but many times our actions affect others! Look at the Isrealites-They bowed their knees to Baal, yet the crops were suffering. They bowed their knees to Baal yet the ground was suffering. What had the animals done? What had the crops done? What had the ground done? Absolutely nothing. Yet suffering was being incurred because of what the Isrealites were doing. And so it is in our world today. Many children are suffering because of what their parents are doing. Many parents are suffering because of what their children are doing? It's sad, but undeniable fact that sometimes when we go astray, it adversely affects others. Look at all the things we suffer from as a result of Adam and Eve's transgression in the garden of Eden, Gen. 2 and 3. God did not plan for us to get sick! God did not plan for us to labor like we do! God did not plan for women to bear children in pain! All these burdens were cast upon us, not because of what we did,but because of what Adam and Eve did in the garden. So, the point should be well taken that sometimes we cause others to suffer as a result of our wrong doing.
"LESSONS FROM A DROUGHT, A PROPHET, AND A WIDOW"
II. LESSONS LEARNED FROM A PROPHET
The First lesson learned from this Prophet is that God will provide, with his life in eminent danger after announcing the coming drought that involved his participation, God instructed him to go and hide himself in a brook. Not just any brook called cherith! too many times we try to generalize where God has specified! Some generalize when it comes to worship contending that it doesn't matter how we worship, but God has specified worship.
JOHN 4:24: 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him just worship him in spirit and in truth.
Some try to generalize when it comes to churches saying it doesn't matter what church we God to as long as we go. But Jesus has specified concerning church membership!
MATTHEW 16:18: 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it.
JESUS SAID "UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH"
Jesus specified in EPH 5:23: 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Paul Teaches that Jesus is the savior of but one body, and that body is the Church.
EPH 1:22-23: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
"AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET,
AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS
TO THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE HIS BODY."
So, we should not generalize where God has specified! When we go back to the text, we find that the first lesson learned from the Prophet is that God will provide! God told Elijah not to concern himself about his eating arrangements. For he had commanded the ravens to bring him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening. God will provide! If you don't believe Elijah as Abraham and he'll tell you that the LORD will provide.
GEN 22:1-14: 1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2And he said, Take now they son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains, which I will tell thee of. 3And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not with held thy son, thine only son from me. 13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In that mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Yes the Lord will provide!
THE PSALMIST SAID IN PSALMS 37:25: 25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread..
"LESSONS FROM A DROUGHT, A PROPHET AND A WIDOW"
The Second Lesson Learned from the Prophet is that God Looks for us.
God Knew that Elijah was in danger so he instructed him to hide himself by the Brook. I don't know about you but it makes me want to clap my hands and stomp my feet when I think about how God looks out for me. He was looking out for me when he sent his only begotten son into the world.
JOHN 3:16: 25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the reighteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
The Third Lesson from the Prophet is that it doesn't hurt to be in solitude sometimes. The word "Cherith" means "seperation" and I contend on this occasion that amidst all the hustle and bustle of society, sometimes it's difficult to find peace and solitude. We meditate on the things of God - that we might mediate on his word - that we might pray to God without distraction. I suggest that you find yourself a place of solitude! When Jesus prayed he was often times in the mountains alone!
Are you moving too fast to find you a place? When Jesus mentioned the closet in connection with prayer, I don't believe he was restricting our prays to the confines of a closet but rather, that he wants to have SOLITUDE!!!
Yes, the Prophet teaches us that solitude can be good sometimes.
The Fourth Lesson from the Prophet is that we don't always have to speak to be heard.
When you look at the inspired record, you fine very few words for Elijah himself - even as great as he was. I really don't know how much preaching he actually did but if indeed it is true that he didn't say much, the lesson is that we don't always have to do a lot of verbal preaching to be heard. Elijah let his actions speak. You see Elijah didn't have to tell the Isrealites that Jehovah was the word's sustainer. He just let the dead cattle preach. Every time a person lost a sheep to thirst it was as if Elijah cried and said, "Jehovah is our sustainer"!! Every time they saw a cloud that yielded no rain it was as if Elijah cried and said, "Jehovah is our sustainer." No, you don't always have to do a lot of talking to say a lot. We can let our actions speak! Paul told the Corinthian Church "Ye are our Epistle. Known and read of all men".
II COR 3:2: 2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
The Corinthians were not saying much verbally but their very existence in Christ - their very lines served as an open letter to all men. Yes we can preach without talking a lot. This is what ELIJAH did. He let his actions speak.
"LESSON FROM A DROUGHT, A PROPHET AND A WIDOW"
The fifth lesson from the Prophet is that there should be something about us that tells people that we fear God.
Notice that the widow referred to God as HIS God vrs 13 "As they God liveth."
QUESTIONS
How did she know Elijah was connected with God?
Was it his Accent?
Was it his Dress?
Was it his outward Ethnicity?
What was it???
Whatever it was, it suggested to her that he is associated with GOD!
And I maintain on this occasion that people should be able to look at us and associate us with God. When the outside world looks at some of us, it's sad that they wouldn't think we know God. It was something about Elijah that allowed the widow to connect him to God!
JESUS - JOHN 13:35: 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
LESSON FROM A DROUGHT, A PROPHET AND A WIDOW"
LESSON FROM THE WIDOW
The first lesson from the Widow is that you never lose by obeying God!
VRS 8,, God told Elijah, "I have commanded a Widow woman to sustain Thee:
Ask Abraham Gen. 22 - Isaac
Ask Noah Gen. 6 - Ark
Ask Joshua Joshua 6 - Wall of Jericho
Ask Naaman 1 King 5
ACTS 5:39: 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest happy ye be found even to fight against God.
ECC. 12:23: 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
MATTHEW 7:21-24: 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
The Second Lesson from the Widow is God can bless the needy by the needy if you examined the test Elijah was in need and the Widow was in need. Elijah needed some food and water and a place to stay. The Widow needed some groceries and she also needed a MAN! Elijah got some water and a meal. the Widow got an unfailing supply. Yes, God can bless the needy by the needy. When we gather on the Lord's day we have the needy ministering to the needy. One person needs one thing and another person needs something else. I might need a son and you might need a word.
SOME NEED EDIFICATION, ACTS 20:32: 32And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace. which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
And some need RESTORATION. GAL 6:1: 1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
The Third Lesson From the Widow is that you Faith will always be Blessed by a Reward.
She received Elijah and God blessed her by placing a prophet in her own house.
The Fourth Lesson From the Widow is that sometimes you get ahead by putting others first. Elijah said, "make me a cake first" she stepped out on faith and obeyed the man of God and received a BLESSING.
The Fifth Lesson From The Widow Is That We Never Know WHo We Are Going To Need.
We need to be careful about saying who we don't need. We never know whom we'll need!This Widow didn't know that she was going to need Elijah, but she did because her son became ill and died. But the man of God raised him up. Be careful how you treat people. Suppose she had refused Elijah. Suppose she had been rude to him - He wouldn't have been around when her SON died. Whatever you do stay in good with God. Something is bound to happen.
Sickness
Unemployment
Whatever you do stay in good with God - He's alright.
Ask Elijah - Ask the Widow...yonder is a trail of dust and within is a rugged prophet and I can see the inquisitive look on the widow's face. Who is this? Finally, as the dust settled...