Heartbreak and Hope (1 Kings 17:17-24)

Introduction

· Do you like scenic drives? You may want to add the Hana Highway on the island of Maui to your bucket list.

· One travel agent explains: “Those who are unfamiliar with the Hana Highway aka the “Road to Hana” will look at their map and say, “Oh, it’s only 52 miles. We can make it to Hana in about an hour.” Well, not unless you’re flying, literally…the Road to Hana has an exhausting, and many times harrowing 617 hairpin curves and 59 unforgiving one-lane bridges… This white knuckled road of blind corners narrows to one lane along steep cliffs and can feel like you’re playing chicken on every …bridge.” But the travel site goes on to explain why this is one of the top five most scenic drives in the world, “Those who live here know that the road to Hana is not just a road with great views. [It] is a road trip back to the ways of old Hawai’i; it’s a lifestyle that is centuries old yet it has fairly modern attributes if you know where to look.” You will be “mesmerized by all of the incredibly beautiful waterfalls, local handmade jewelry, fragrant flowers and leis, fresh pineapple, banana bread and a host of other Hawaiian culinary delights to be discovered at the roadside stands.” (source: https://www.tourmaui.com/road-to-hana/)

· Sometimes, life itself can feel like the Hana Highway. It hides many delights, but is full of gut wrenching twists and hairpin turns. Even the most seasoned travelers can feel a bit nauseous at times.

· Maybe you’re feeling that way today. Such was the case for a poor widow in 8th century BC in a little town called Zarephath. We met this woman last week.

· Quickly retell story. A time of severe drought. Prophet Elijah instructed to leave the Brook of Cherith and travel to Zerephath. There he met a widow, preparing for her last meal. But God used Elijah to multiply her flour and oil so she had an unlimited supply.

· >>But now, a new trial, even harder than the one before. (Read the passage)

LIFE LESSON #5

· No breath left (17)

· LIFE LESSON #5 HUMAN SUFFERING WILL OFTEN APPEAR RANDOM AND UNFAIR

· Here a little boy has lost his father, nearly starved to death, but then suddenly dies of an unexplained illness. Meanwhile, Ahab and Jezebel sit in their palace, cursing God, an living in luxury. Something is terribly wrong with all of this. So often, life just isn’t fair.

· King Solomon struggled with the problem of evil. Ecclesiastes 4:1–2 .. I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.

· All humans suffer, but children seem to bear an especially heavy load. They carry a disproportionate of evil and injustice. Children are so frail, so defenseless. How many unborn children are aborted every year? A single one would be too many. But there are millions. How many fight hunger and poverty because their parents are drug addicts, or because of corrupt political regimes? How many minors are killed by drunk drivers? How many kids are the victim of domestic violence? How many become slaves through human trafficking? Unable to fend for themselves, they are uniquely vulnerable. They are like tiny nails struck down by the sledgehammer of suffering in this sin-sick world.

· Let me tell you about a sweet young girl named Hailie I met a couple years ago. 11-year old. Liver cancer, terminal. Chemo injections. Weakened immunize system. Not allowed to leave home except to hospital. Her neighbor across the street asked if I would visit her. Our visitation team showed up at her house, knocked on her door, and were let in. But Hailie was not in the house. She was staying in a small trailer RV in the back yard, in quarantine from the rest of the family members. Only her mom was allowed to stay in the same room with her. We were led through the living room, out through the kitchen, through the backyard, and then into the RV. Invited to sit down, but kept our distance. We learned that Hailie had terminal liver cancer. She wore a face mask. Hailie and her mom were questioning God. Yet she did want to believe, and wanted to be baptized. I did not claim to have all the answers, but I shared the gospel with her, then asked if she would like to pray to receive Christ. She said yes. We prayed, and with tears in their eyes, she and her mom thanked us. Shortly after, Hailie and her mom moved out of state, and I have not heard from them since. But I still think about them and pray for them from time to time.

· I wish we had all the answers, but we simply don’t. We can’t. When we grapple with the mysteries of suffering, we are seeing only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. A puzzle that will not be revealed until the end of time.

· This little boy is but an innocent bystander in a corrupt and pagan world. And suddenly he dies. Yesterday, he was smiling, and skipping, and cuddling with his mother. Now he lies dead and cold in his mother’s arms. It is a truly heartbreaking scene.

· The widow is angry, and she blames Elijah. In times of intense suffering and grief, questions will enter your mind. Even accusations and a feeling of guilt. Wounded and limping, you can become an easy target for the enemy, and need much grace to take your thoughts captive and not spiral into despair.

LIFE LESSON #6

· LESSON #6 - God Has Power Over Life and Death

· So life, and suffering, may seem totally random, but of course it is not. The widow is on the right track, that someone did indeed “cause the death of her son” (v. 18). And Elijah takes it one step further in his prayer, “you brought calamity even upon the widow, by killing her son” (20).

· Although there are a host of secondary causes that may have led to this tragic event (perhaps a virus he was exposed to, or a bacterial infection, or a genetic defect). But who was ultimately responsible? God. This is confusing, may even seem harsh. But in reality, knowing that God is in control over life and death is the only truth that will sustain us in difficult times.

· You don’t want a God who is surprised by suffering, outsmarted by Satan, or dethroned by death. That God would be no God at all. You need a sovereign God, who is in control over life, but also over death. He dispenses health, but also sickness. This does not mean he enjoys watching people suffer. (And let us remember that all suffering is ultimately a consequence of the Fall in Genesis 3). But God is either God over everything, or he is God over nothing.

· Hannah was right when she prayed 1 Samuel 2:6–7 “The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.”

· We can echo the words of Job 1:21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

· And he is about to turn this tragic loss into unspeakable gain.

· Elijah’s desperate plea to God (19-21). As a man of prayer, he goes to God. Stretch out – a symbol of humility, respect.

· The boy’s life returns (22-23)

· First resurrection recorded in the Bible. Elijah’s successor, Elisha, will perform a similar miracle in 2 Kings 4 for the son of a Shunnamite woman. Paul will raise Eutychus from the dead. Jesus will raise a little girl, then Lazarus, and eventually raise himself from the dead. But this is one of the rare occurrences of this most amazing miracle. And these miracles are each a faint glimpse at our own coming resurrection.

· >>Leads to a confession by the woman

· LIFE LESSON #6

GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH

· Widow’s confession: “now I know” (24). Of two things she is now certain. He is a man of God (a true prophet) and his words are true.

· Not feelings. Not philosophy. Not even science.

· The urgent need for truth, facts, reliability. Who can I trust to get accurate information? What friends seem well informed? What news sources seem the least biased? What preachers can I trust, who actually handle the word accurately?

· NBC Article. MIT Study. “Falsehood diffused significantly farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth in all categories of information, and the effects were more pronounced for false political news than for false news about terrorism, natural disasters, science, urban legends, or financial information,” the team, led bySinan Aral of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in the journal Science. “It took the truth about six times as long as falsehood to reach 1,500 people.” Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fake-news-lies-spread-faster-social-media-truth-does-n854896

· Even with COVID.

· This widow is right. And this confession was something the people of Israel seemed unwilling to accept. There were false prophets then, just as there are many false teachers now. Matthew 7:15–20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. (cf. 2 Pet. 2:1-2)

· There are many reasons we know the Bible is true. (summarize quickly) We know the Bible is true because…

It claims to be true. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. It claims to be true. And when a trustworthy, authoritative source makes a claim, that claim must be accepted.

Fulfilled prophecy. Hundreds of prophecies have been fulfilled with exact precision. Babylon was replaced by the Medo-Persia, and ruled by a king named Cyrus. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, would be betrayed, and would rise again.

Accurate anthropology. Beautiful, intelligent, and created in God’s image, yet capable of unspeakable evils. Like a mirror, showing us who we truly are.

Transformed lives. Has changed me, you. Starting with the disciples all the way to the present day.

Many miracles. Prophets and apostles. The resurrection. This widow’s testimony.

Historical evidence. Much history, external documents, and archaeology confirm what the Bible says.

Internal testimony of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the Spirit himself testifies to its reliability and truth.

· Conclusion: Martin Luther – “You must follow straight after Scripture, accept it, and not speak even one syllable against it, because it is God’s mouth.”

Conclusion

· Review of all life lessons so far: (1) God takes sin very seriously. (2) God sends trials to refine our character and prepare us for greater service. (3) God Supplies Our Needs While Stretching Our Faith (4) God Specializes in Divine Reversals. Today, we have added two more. (5) Human Suffering Will Often Appear Random and Unfair (6) God has power over life and death (7) God’s Word is Truth.

· Life may indeed feel like the Hana Highway, but God will get you through!