Lesson 61 - Elementary

Memory Verse

"He  hath  done  all  things  well"  (Mark 7:37).

Notes

Years Without Rain

Because the people had forgotten the true God and had begun to worship idols, God kept the rain from falling for about three years and a half. Everything was dry, and there was little water to be had anywhere, and food was becoming scarce.

Elijah was a good man who loved and worshiped God. We know that God never forsakes those who trust in Him. So God told Elijah to go down to a brook where there was water to drink, and He said that He had commanded the ravens to bring food to Elijah.

God's Care for Elijah

As God had commanded, the ravens brought him food – bread and meat in the morning and evening. He drank water from the brook; but this brook, too, dried up. God had other plans for the good man, and told him to go to the home of a widow.

God's Care for the Widow

When Elijah came to the gate of the city he saw the woman gathering sticks to make a fire. Elijah asked her to bring him some water. And then he asked her to bring him a little bread to eat. She was going to bring him the water, but she said she had just a little bit of flour and a little oil left, and she was gathering sticks to make a little bread for herself and her son. She expected that they would eat that bread and then perhaps starve to death.

Elijah told her not to be afraid to give him the bread first, and then she and her son should eat. He told her that God had said that the barrel would still have flour in it, and the jug would still have oil. She obeyed what Elijah told her to do, and she had food for many days.

Her Son Restored

The widow's son became very sick, and he even quit breathing. She told the good man, Elijah, what had happened to her son. Elijah carried the boy up to his room and laid him on his bed. Then he prayed to God to raise him up again. God heard his prayer, and Elijah brought the boy back to his mother and said, "See, thy son liveth.” How happy the woman must have been that she had been kind to the good man, and had done what God had told her to do and what the good man had told her! She had been well paid for it by having plenty of good, and by having her son raised up again. God takes good care of those who love Him.

Sharing with Others

We can all learn a lesson from this about sharing what we have with others. If this widow had disobeyed Elijah, and had kept the bread for herself and her son, instead of giving to Elijah, she probably would not have been taken care of as she was. Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” [LUK:6:38]). So if we share with others what little we have, God will multiply our blessings.

The Same God Today

A chaplain who served in the late war had an interesting experience during his younger days. It happened while he was a student at a religious college in the East. After completing his year in school, in order to save money he hitchhiked home to Los Angeles. He reached a small town in Colorado one evening and was wondering where he should spend the night. As he walked down the street he saw a church, in which a service was in progress. He decided to attend the service. At the end of the meeting the minister came to him and introduced himself, and asked the young student where he was going. When the minister heard the story, he asked the young man to come home with him to spend the night.

The minister's home was a humble place; the young student felt the warmth of Christian love in that home. The wife and children gathered around and visited with the student. The minister then told the wife to bring some food for the young man, who hadn't eaten much that day.

"You know, Daddy,” she replied, "we have only bread and jam in the house.” "Well, bring on the bread and jam then,” was the answer from the man of God.

The student found it hard to eat the food although it was delicious and wholesome; but he realized it was all they had, and perhaps even then the children were as hungry as he was. But it was given him in love, and he could not refuse it.

The children were sent to various neighbours to sleep that night so the visitor could have the bedroom. But before they left, the minister took down the Bible and read from it, as he was accustomed to do every night. Then before they prayed he said they should all agree upon just what they wanted to ask God for. "You know,” he told the visitor, "I believe we should be specific with God. If we want something from Him, it is our place to be definite in our petitions and we will receive it.”

The minister asked his wife what they needed for breakfast. "Well,” she said, "we could use some cereal, some eggs and bacon, and some milk. In fact, we have nothing at all and we need everything to make up a breakfast for this young man.” So they prayed that way -– they asked God for all the things they wanted. The student was doubtful, and feared he would have to start out the next morning with an empty stomach.

When the visitor awoke the next morning he found that the children were all present; an appetizing aroma was coming from the kitchen. Breakfast was called and he went to the table. He was very much surprised to see a table set with tasty food. "God sent it to us,” was the announcement of the minister. "He always does when we ask Him.” "But do you do this often?” the student asked. "Often we find ourselves in need, so we pray about it, and God always answers. We do not have to mention it to anyone but God. He takes care of us in a wonderful way.”

Then the minister told the whole story, how he found a sack of oats on the back porch, as he went out to do the chores. Later he went out the front door and found a package of eggs that a farmer had placed there on his way to market. They were eggs that had been cracked in handling, but strictly fresh. Along with the eggs was a package of side pork. At the front gate was a can of milk that another farmer had left on his way to market.

The young student minister enjoyed that meal as he had never enjoyed a meal -– it seemed to him like manna from Heaven. He learned a lesson that stood by him for many years. From that time forth he had many chances to prove the same God and found that the advice given by the humble man of God was good to follow in every way. Never again did he doubt God's interest in man's needs and His power to supply according to His riches in Glory.

Questions

1. What did the ravens bring for Elijah to eat? [1KG:17:6].

2. Who sent the ravens? [1KG:17:4].

3. Where did the Lord send Elijah when the brook dried up? [1KG:17:9].

4. Tell what happened to the widow's supply of food. [1KG:17:14-15].

5. Could Jesus do the same for us today? [HEB:13:8].