"his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.” ~1 Kings 17:17b
This week, we conclude our look at 1 Kings 17. It is still the time of drought across the land. So far, Elijah has been fed by the mouth of ravens and through the power of God, he has miraculously provided a single mother and her son with enough food to last them until the drought ends. Even though these are hard times everything seems like it's going to turn out all right.
That is until towards the end of the story comes a dark twist. The young boy becomes sick and dies...
At first, it seems as if God has saved the mother and son from starvation, which He has, but once her boy dies, the woman asks Elijah was this just some cruel joke. Did you come here to just remind me of my sins and take the punishment out on my son?
When things are looking up and then all-of-a-sudden come crashing down, it's easy to question whether God has pulled the rug out from underneath us. Are we being punished or taught a lesson?
In this fallen world, things happen in life that are out of our control. Sadly, loved ones pass away, we lose our house in a natural disaster, we lose our job, etc. If they're out of our control does that mean God is in control? No. God isn't our puppet master directing every facet of our life. These things happen as a side effect of a sick world. But as Christians, we have access to the doctor. God comes to our aid through our prayers and the intercessory prayers of others.
Think of the story this way. What if Elijah hadn't come along? Well, the woman and her son probably would've starved. But let's say they figured out how to get more food--the boy likely still would've died. And if Elijah hadn't come along or never even prayed over the boy he never would've been resurrected. See, God directed Elijah into the lives of the woman and her son not because they needed food, "man does not live on bread alone," after all, "but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4). God directed Elijah into their lives because they needed the transforming, healing power only God can provide; not just the healing of the physical but more importantly the renovation of our heart.
Once Elijah revived the son, the mother said, I know "that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.” This scenario wasn't a bizarre test of God's power but a marvelous example of how God directs people into our lives for certain reasons at certain times, how through intercessory prayers He listens and answers us, and how much He loves His creation.
2,000 years ago on the cross, at first it seemed to those who loved Jesus his death was a dark twist ending to a beautiful ministry. But with God, things are not always what they seem. God never leaves us on a cliffhanger; through faith in the resurrected Jesus, we too can experience that miraculous twist ending.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Always improve the present moment.
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