For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
1 Kings 17
God told Elijah a pretty incredible thing. He sent him to a specific location to hide and said, “I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” (1 Kings 17:4b). Really? The ravens?? So Elijah laughed and said, “God, you’ve got to be kidding me!!” Oh, wait..I think that might be what I would have said. Elijah, on the other hand, “proceeded to do what the LORD commanded.” (1 Kings 17:5a). Those Old Testament prophets truly lived by faith!
I have mentioned before that I have begun to see faith as being open to the possibilities. Like being fed by ravens. It sounds ridiculous and impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. Or ridiculous. The faith that allowed Elijah to trust and obey God in that command is the same faith that led him to boldly ask for the widow’s son’s life to return to him. As far as I know, there is no record in the Bible of such a thing happening prior to this instance. So what made Elijah even think to ask for it? Faith. He knew the God he served and fully believed that nothing was beyond God’s reach.
1 Kings 18
Ahab addressed Elijah as, “you troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:17b). Elijah responded, “I have not made trouble for Israel, but you and your father’s family have.” (1 Kings 18:18a). True, the severe famine was a direct result of Elijah’s prayer. However it was the direct consequence of Ahab’s choices. He failed to recognize the part his own sin played in his current circumstances. Truth be told, he is far from alone in that failure.
We humans want to believe that we can go our own way and still end up somewhere good. We don’t want to believe that life is a two-way street; there are really only two directions you can go. If we lived west of the beach, we wouldn’t be surprised that taking a westward road didn’t land us at the beach. Yet we scratch our heads and throw tantrums and accusations at God when we choose a path that leads away from Him and end up in a bad place. Like Ahab, we so often cause our own trouble, then want to point a finger at the God we rejected.
1 Kings 19
Elijah was afraid. I don’t know why. He could have easily been killed facing up to all those prophets the way he just did. So why run from Jezebel’s threats? Then, after he ran he actually prayed to die! If he really wanted to die, maybe he should have just stayed put. I think what Elijah really was, though, was tired. His was no easy life, and there was no end to the conflict. So in this moment, he was being very human.
What I love about that is God’s response. God did not reveal Himself to Elijah in the fierce wind, the mighty earthquake, or the raging fire, but in the gentle whisper. God dealt with Elijah’s limitations gently. Yes, He asked one more mission of Elijah. But in that mission He gave closure by initiating the fall of Ahab’s house, escape by appointing a successor, and encouragement by letting Elijah know he did not stand alone. What I see in that is that God directly addressed all of Elijah’s concerns. And He did so gently, without judgment or reprimand. It is comforting to know that the God who controls the fierce wind, the mighty earthquake, and the raging fire holds us so gently in His capable hands.