A Hero Comes Onto the Scene

1st Kings 17

I love comic books. I love reading these characters that battle evil, they have integrity, people do not understand them. I always wanted to be a superhero. Now I know that I can not fly, run as fast as light, stop bullets with my tough skin. These types of heroes are good and fictional but there are Heroes of the Faith. People that went against the odds of the nation and stood up for God and what he has called them to live. These heroes of the faith were rejected by the people by not rejected by God. They had left behind an example to follow. 

In this chapter we are introduced to one of the greatest Old Testament heroes of the faith, Elijah. I hope you guys enjoy reading about this man who loved the Lord.

Elijah on Scene

We have no formal introduction to Elijah other than he was a Tishbite from Tishbe. We do not know about his childhood nor his calling from God. We start with a scene of Elijah confronting king Ahab about his idolatrous ways. He said, “There will be no dew or rain until I speak.” He pronounced judgment before the king. Think about how intense this would be, a guy who could easily have you killed by motioning a hand, was told that there would be no rain. Elijah was the man, he was not afraid of Elijah for he feared only God and did what God told him to do.

God then spoke to Elijah to go and hide out by a brook called Cherith. There he would spend some alone time with God and God was providing for him. He would be feed by birds coming and dropping off food and he would drink water by the brook. Even though he was being obedient the brook of water was drying up.

God’s Way

As Elijah may have been wondering about his calling and the necessities were running low God told him to go to Zeraphath to find a widow. So Elijah goes and there was a widow and he asked her to bring him some water and food. Remember there was a drought and with a drought means no food because crops would need water and animals would need water and the crops to survive. Food was scarce and he asked this poor widow for some food. She tells him I do have a little flour left and I was waiting to make my son and I our last meal as we eat it and wait to die. How sad, she literally was saying this was their last meal. Elijah told her not to worry because the God he serves is bigger than some flour, water, or drought.

She had faith and made the food and guess what? The jar of flour and the jug of oil never went out. God showed himself again. HE is Jehovah Jirah, the provider. He said, what do you not think I am capable of making flour and oil never run out. 

Death in the Joy of Victory

Life probably was seeming good. Elijah was staying in the widow’s home, food was not an issue, life was good. He may have told them all that God had showed them and how awesome God is. Then something terrible happened, her son became ill and died. Oh man, she blamed Elijah by wondering why this happened? Why did he bring this upon her? Elijah could have said, “Woman, are you kidding, God is sovereign and in control.” Instead he prayed to God and was the mediator between the boy and God. He cried out for God to listen to his request and healed the boy. 

There is so much we can learn from this one chapter, we see God who controls the weather and elements. We see God who is the provider for his children. We see God even in control of life itself. The one thing that I would like for us to look at is Elijah just following after God. We do not need to know about his past, we just need to know that he was obedient to God. Are you obedient to God? Are you following after his will? Are you been a faithful Christian? God’s glory was shown to the widow and her son and those in that town as Elijah was obedient. Matthew 5:13-16 tells us to be light and salt to this world so that people may see our good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. That is why we do these things and be obedient, so that others can see who God is. Elijah was a hero a faith because he loved God and did not compromise; may you and I learn from him.