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1 Kings 17

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1Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” 2Then Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, 3“Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4You shall drink from the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5So he went and did according to Yahweh’s word; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith that is before the Jordan. 6The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7After a while, the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 8Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, 9“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you.” 10So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her, and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12She said, “As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have a cake, but a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me a little cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. 14For Yahweh, the God of Israel says, ‘The jar of meal will not run out, and the jar of oil will not fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.’” 15She went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 16The jar of meal didn’t run out, and the jar of oil did not fail, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by Elijah. 17After these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!” 19He said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed. 20He cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” 21He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again.” 22Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, “Behold, your son lives.” 24The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that Yahweh’s word in your mouth is truth.”

World English Bible (public domain)

And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.'

1 Kings 17:13

Summary

In 1 Kings chapter 17, the prophet Elijah emerges as a central figure during a time of great apostasy in Israel. God commands Elijah to prophesy a drought, demonstrating His sovereignty over nature and judgment against Israel's idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal. Following this, Elijah is instructed to retreat to the brook Cherith, where God miraculously provides him with food through ravens and fresh water from the brook, showcasing divine provision and care in times of crisis. When the brook dries up, God directs Elijah to Zarephath, where he encounters a widow. Despite her dire circumstances and lack of food, Elijah reassures her with God's promise that her jar of flour and jug of oil will not run dry until the drought ends. This act of faith not only provides for the widow and her son but also illustrates God's faithfulness and the power of faith in Him. The chapter emphasizes key themes such as God's power over creation, the importance of faith and obedience, and His provision in times of need. Elijah's ministry serves as a reminder of God's continuous presence and care, even amidst challenging circumstances, and highlights the significance of trusting in divine provision. The theological implications of reliance on God over earthly resources are profound, inviting readers to reflect on their dependence on divine sustenance and grace during life's trials.

Key Themes

Divine ProvisionFaith and ObedienceGod's SovereigntyHope in Crisis

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What is 1 Kings 17 about?+
In 1 Kings chapter 17, the prophet Elijah emerges as a central figure during a time of great apostasy in Israel. God commands Elijah to prophesy a drought, demonstrating His sovereignty over nature and judgment against Israel's idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal. Following this, Elijah is instructed to retreat to the brook Cherith, where God miraculously provides him with food through ravens and fresh water from the brook, showcasing divine provision and care in times of crisis. When the brook dries up, God directs Elijah to Zarephath, where he encounters a widow. Despite her dire circumstances and lack of food, Elijah reassures her with God's promise that her jar of flour and jug of oil will not run dry until the drought ends. This act of faith not only provides for the widow and her son but also illustrates God's faithfulness and the power of faith in Him. The chapter emphasizes key themes such as God's power over creation, the importance of faith and obedience, and His provision in times of need. Elijah's ministry serves as a reminder of God's continuous presence and care, even amidst challenging circumstances, and highlights the significance of trusting in divine provision. The theological implications of reliance on God over earthly resources are profound, inviting readers to reflect on their dependence on divine sustenance and grace during life's trials.
What is the key verse in 1 Kings 17?+
1 Kings 17:13: "And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.'"
What are the main themes of 1 Kings 17?+
The main themes of 1 Kings 17 are Divine Provision, Faith and Obedience, God's Sovereignty, Hope in Crisis.

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