1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, 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.
2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24 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.
Chapter 17 of 1 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a significant and pivotal chapter in the Old Testament. It is the beginning of the story of the prophet Elijah, who is one of the most well-known and revered prophets in the Bible. This chapter is divided into two main sections, the first being the account of Elijah's encounter with King Ahab, and the second being his time spent in Zarephath with a widow and her son.
The chapter begins with the introduction of Elijah, who is described as a Tishbite from the town of Gilead. He is sent by God to confront King Ahab, who is the ruler of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Ahab is described as a wicked king who has turned away from the worship of the one true God and has instead embraced the worship of the false god, Baal. This has caused great distress and suffering among the people of Israel, as they have been plagued by drought and famine.
As Elijah approaches King Ahab, he boldly proclaims that there will be no rain or dew in the land for the next few years, except at his word. This is a direct judgment from God upon Ahab and the people of Israel for their disobedience and idolatry. This declaration by Elijah is significant because rain and dew were essential for the survival of the people, and the lack of it would bring about great hardship and suffering.
After delivering this message, God tells Elijah to flee and hide by the brook Cherith, where he will be fed by ravens. This is a miraculous provision from God, as ravens are known to be scavengers and not providers. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and power over all creatures and His ability to provide for His servants.
As predicted, the land experiences a severe drought, and the brook Cherith dries up. God then directs Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town in Sidon, where he will find a widow who will provide for him. This is significant because Sidon is a region outside of Israel, and the people there were known to be enemies of Israel. However, God's providence and sovereignty are again demonstrated as the widow welcomes and takes care of Elijah, despite their differences.
When Elijah arrives in Zarephath, he meets the widow, who is gathering sticks to make a fire and prepare her last meal for herself and her son. She explains to Elijah that she has only a handful of flour and a little oil left, and after she and her son have eaten, they will surely die. This is a dire situation for the widow, as she is on the brink of starvation and death.
Sensing the widow's desperation, Elijah assures her that if she makes him a small cake with what she has, her flour and oil will not run out until the drought is over. This is a significant act of faith on the widow's part, as she trusts in Elijah's words and the promise of God's provision. As promised, the widow's flour and oil do not run out, and she, her son, and Elijah are sustained throughout the drought.
Tragically, the widow's son falls ill and dies, causing her to question why this has happened. Elijah takes the boy and prays to God, asking Him to bring the boy's soul back into his body. God hears Elijah's prayer, and the boy is miraculously revived, demonstrating God's power over life and death. This event causes the widow to proclaim that Elijah is a man of God and that his words are true.
Chapter 17 of 1 Kings is rich in meaning and symbolism. It is a story of faith, obedience, and God's sovereignty and provision. Through the story of Elijah, we see the consequences of disobedience and idolatry, as well as the power of God's judgment. We also witness the faithfulness and provision of God, even in the midst of a severe drought.
Elijah's encounter with the widow of Zarephath is a powerful example of God's ability to provide for His servants, even in the most dire circumstances. The widow's act of faith in trusting Elijah's words and God's promise is a testament to the power of faith. It also serves as a reminder that God can use anyone, regardless of their background or nationality, to fulfill His purposes.
The story of the widow's son being revived by God through Elijah's prayer is a foreshadowing of the power of resurrection and the ultimate victory over death through Jesus Christ. It also serves as a reminder that God is the giver and sustainer of life.
Overall, Chapter 17 of 1 Kings is a powerful and meaningful chapter that highlights the sovereignty, provision, and faithfulness of God. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and idolatry, as well as the importance of faith and obedience in our relationship with God.
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