WAITING ON THE LORD, PART ONE: WAITING ON GOD S 1 KINGS 17:1-24 PROVISION

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1 WAITING ON THE LORD, PART ONE: WAITING ON GOD S 1 KINGS 17:1-24 PROVISION

2 The Prophet Elijah - Came on the scene in 874 BC. - Prophesied for nearly 40 years. - Began his prophetic ministry during the reign of King Ahab.

3 Ahab: A Wicked King He followed her in the worship of Baal- Melqart, officially instituting and propagating Baal worship throughout his kingdom. - R. D. Patterson

4 1 Kings 16:29-33, 29 Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him. 31 It came about, as though it had been a trivial

5 thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. 32 So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made the Asherah. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

6 Ahab rebuilt the city of Jericho. Joshua 6:26, Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates. 1 Kings 16:34, In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho; he laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

7 An example of his spiritual infidelity is seen as he granted to Hiel of Bethel the authority to rebuild Jericho as a fortified town, despite Joshua's long-standing curse. The undertaking was to cost Hiel the lives of his eldest and youngest sons, in accordance with Joshua's prophetic pronouncement (Josh 6:26). - Hermann J. Austel

8 1 Kings 21:25, Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.

9 WAITING ON THE LORD, PART 1: Text: 1 Kings 17:1-24

10 1). God s Protection Over the Prophet. God tells the prophet Elijah to leave Jezreel and in go eastward about 15 miles away and hide in the Kerith Ravine (brook Cherith) There, Elijah hides away from King Ahab and from his wife, Jezebel, who was killing off the Lord s prophets.

11 1 Kings 18:2-4, So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab called Obadiah who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly; 4 for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)

12 The God who protected the prophet Elijah from his enemy is the God who will protect you from yours! God sees you where you are and sees what is coming against you, and is able to place a hedge of protection around you and keep you safe from the attack of the enemy.

13 2). God s Provision for the Prophet. 1 Kings 17:5-6, 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.

14 At the command of God, the ravens brought him bread and meat twice a day.

15 God encouraged the prophet Elijah and let him understand that He was alone was Jehovah-Jireh; the Lord his provider. God wants to remind you that He is a God of provision. He wants to reminds you that He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our provider today!

16 One of the benefits of waiting on God s provision is that you grow closer to God, and you grow deeper in God and you get to know God more. Ask yourself, Have I been trusting God for my provision, or have I been trusting myself?

17 3). God s Power through the Prophet God directs him to Zarephath in Sidon where he had commanded a widow to feed him.

18 1 Kings 17:15-16, 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.

19 God s power flowed through the prophet and he raises the widow s son from the dead. 1 Kings 17:24, Then the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.

20 After three years, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah and told him to return to King Ahab and tell him that he was going to send rain on the land. The Challenge on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:30-41

21 Some Interesting Questions Why didn t God just have the challenge on Mount Carmel right away and kill off the prophets? Why the Kerith Ravine? Why the Ravens? Why the Widow in Zaraphath?

22 As Elijah waited on God s provision, God was building his faith and his character. As you wait on God s provision, God is using these waiting experiences to build your faith and build your character as well.

23 Isaiah 40:30-31, 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

24 WAITING ON THE LORD, PART ONE: WAITING ON GOD S 1 KINGS 17:1-24 PROVISION