Often the storms of life and the blessings of God go hand-in-hand. God specializes in restoring the fragments of a broken life in order to make something more beautiful. During Elijah’s time in Zarephath and following God’s miracle of providing for the widow and her son, a tragedy strikes:
17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.
18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"
19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.
20 Then he cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?"
21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!"
22 The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.
23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth."
“WHY?”
It is natural to ask God “why?” during the storms of life. Sometimes God answers the question, and sometimes He doesn’t. Regardless, God does not fall off of His throne because of our questions, and He will receive glory despite the calamity. In response to the widow’s attack on him, Elijah provides an example for every believer to follow in the face of calamity:
Elijah did not defend himself or try to correct her faulty theology.
Elijah knew that her pain was causing her to lash out.
19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.
Elijah saved his questioning of God until he was alone with God.
Elijah did not allow for the widow, a doubting new believer, to hear his own doubting prayer:
20 Then he cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?”
Intense, persistent praying according to the will of God will make a difference.
God responds to believers who pray according to the will of God.
Elijah went to the place where he communed with God daily.
Elijah offered the calamity on the same altar as he offered his praise to God. All believers ought to have such a place to daily meet God in a special way.
In response to Elijah’s intense prayers, God performs the first resurrection recorded in Scripture. The widow declares her faith in God, and the chapter closes as Elijah is fully prepared to face the prophets of Baal.
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The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987.
Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector.
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18 сен 2024
