Lesson 296 - Junior

Memory Verse

"And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD"  (I Kings 17:16).

Notes

Sin and the Sinner

In the Book of Genesis we read that the wickedness of man was so great upon the earth that it repented the Lord that He had made man. He said, "I will destroy man whom I have created” [GEN:6:7]). We remember studying about the Flood that destroyed all people except Noah and his family. God's heart is still grieved at sin, and someday He will again send destruction upon sinners. In today's lesson we learn that King Ahab "did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” [1KG:16:33]).

God's faithful Prophet Elijah, about whom we shall learn a great deal, became concerned about the sin and idol-worship in Israel. Fearing not the face of man, one day he announced to the king: "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” [1KG:17:1]). Sin must be put down, and Elijah was willing to suffer, if necessary, in order to cause people to turn to God.

Rain Withheld

How thankful we are for fearless men of God who take their stand for the right! Moses stretched his rod over the sea, and the waters were divided [EXO:14:21]); another man, Joshua, gave a command to the sun and the moon, and they stood still. Elijah gave the word, and all rain and even dew was stopped. He knew that God would withhold the rain. But his faith was to be tested. Drought always brought food shortage, and a famine in the land of Israel would affect him, also. Can you trust God, Elijah?

God was right there to tell him where to go, now that things were drying up and food was becoming scarce. The wicked king was searching for Elijah. "You are to blame for all this drought,” no doubt the king said.

Elijah fared very well, safely hidden away from the king, as he drank water from a sparkling brook, and ate bread and meat, which were brought him by the ravens every morning and evening. We are sure it was God who directed the ravens where to get the food. But wait, there are still trying days ahead. The water in the brook becomes less and less, until one day there was not even a trickle. Now you have done it, Elijah! Your word has withheld the rain; now your water supply is gone. What now, Elijah?

The Widow and Her Son

We do not believe Elijah became discouraged, as he waited for orders from the Lord. Perhaps his throat became parched as he looked longingly at the creek bed, now so very, very dry. Just in time came the voice of God to him, "Arise, get thee to Zerepthath, . . . and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee” [1KG:17:9]).

"What manner of man is this! for he commandeth . . . and they obey him” [LUK:8:25]). The ravens obeyed God's command; the widow obeyed His command. The winds and water, the whole earth, the sea and sky, the animals, too, obey the voice of Him. Only sinners refuse to obey His commands!

The long, weary journey to Zarephath, possibly about 100 miles, meant trusting God every mile of the way. After all, he was a man who became hungry and thirsty as we do today [JAM:5:17]). But as he entered the city, there was the widow gathering sticks. Tired and thirsty from the journey, and no doubt almost starved, Elijah said to her, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” As she went, he called to her again and said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.”

Obedience Rewarded

Water she had, but her food was almost gone. She told him she had only a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse, which she was planning to prepare for herself and son, "that we may eat it and die.” Then Elijah spoke those two encouraging words, which are found so often in the Bible. In [GEN:15:1], we read, "Fear not”; in [REV:1:17], "Fear not.” Many times in the Bible we read, "Fear not.” How thankful we are for those words! Don't you think the heart of the poor widow rejoiced at those welcome words?

She hurried to obey Elijah. First she made a cake and brought it to him; then a cake for herself and her son. If one thinks of others first, the blessing of the Lord is sure to follow. And it truly did follow this widow, for she and her whole house had plenty to eat a long, long time. There was meal in the barrel and oil in the cruse until the famine was ended [1KG:17:14-16]). Don't you suppose the little boy stood and watched his mother as she took meal from the barrel, wondering from where it came? and don't you believe the mother told her boy that God was adding to it because she had been kind to His Prophet?

Another Test

Then one day the little boy became sick, and died. The poor mother had lost her husband, and now her son, too. It almost seemed that the Lord had turned against the widow, but this was only a means of proving to her that Elijah was truly a man of God. At once she went to Elijah for help. He took the child and carried him up to his own room and laid him upon his bed. This was another test for Elijah's faith, but God had been faithful to him; he had eaten the bread and flesh sent by ravens; he had drunk water from the brook; he had eaten at the widow's table.

Alone in his room he prayed earnestly unto God for the child. Again God heard his prayer in this hour of need and restored the child to life. "See, thy son liveth,” he said as he brought the boy to his mother. "And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth” [1KG:17:24]). She had thought he was a man of God when the meal and the oil increased, but now she knew that Elijah truly was a man of God. Her eyes of faith could see beyond the man unto the God whom he served. Surely He had sent him to her, for we read that there were many other widows in Israel in those days, when great famine was in the land, but unto none of them was Elijah sent [LUK:4:25]). God knew that this woman, almost ready to die, would obey Elijah's command. God saw the unselfishness of her heart, the gratitude and love she would show unto Elijah. He knew that she would believe in the miracles performed by the man of God. And she did.

Trusting God

A woman testified in a service that she had never as yet had the privilege of going hungry for the Gospel. If we were put to the test as Elijah was or as the widow of Zarephath, could we trust God? Jesus said, "Consider the ravens: . . . God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” "Consider the lilies . . . If then God so clothe the grass, . . . how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” [LUK:12:24], [LUK:12:27-28]). There we have promises for food and clothing. We are also told: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered” [MAT:10:30]); "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” [MAT:10:31]). In [PS:147:9], we read, "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” If God is thoughtful of the ravens, how much more will He supply the needs of the widow and fatherless, [PS:146:9]) and all of us. Can we trust Him in hard places?

Questions

1. Where was Elijah told to go and hide?

2. What kind of birds brought him food?

3. Find another passage of Scripture that speaks of these birds.

4. Where was Elijah sent when the brook dried up?

5. What was his first request of the widow? His second?

6. How long did Elijah say the meal and the oil would last?

7. Tell what happened when the widow's son died.

8. Why do you think Elijah was sent to this particular widow?