Series: Elijah, #2 Text: I Kings 17:2-16 Valley Community Baptist Church May 9, 10; 2009 Avon, CT. Pastor Jay Abramson A Test of Faith Some Christian kids were asked, Why did God make mothers? One child said, She s the only one who knows where the Scotch tape is. Another said, To help us out of there when we were getting born. They were then asked, What ingredients are mothers made of? One little boy responded, God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. Finally, they were asked, Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? One child said, Because we re related. And another said, God knew she likes me a lot more than other people s moms like me. 1 On this Mother s Day we continue in our study of the prophet Elijah. We find in our text today, three instances where his faith was tested. Moms here today, does your faith ever get tested? And in each of these instances, there is a life principle that applies to all moms and all the rest of us as well. So, let s begin. The first principle is I. If we don t live by faith, we re part of the problem, not part of the solution. In James 5 we have this very interesting statement about Elijah: Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17, 18) How do you view the great and godly men and women of Scripture? Don t we tend to put them in a category beyond ourselves? Don t we think, Well, it s remarkable what Moses and Sarah and Esther and Elijah accomplished for God, but, I could never do that! Those were uniquely gifted people. It s wrong for us to think that way. James 5:17 makes it clear that you are made of the same stuff Elijah was made of. Exactly the same stuff! The Greek word translated, just like us, could be rendered, a nature like ours. It denotes someone with the same limitations we have. But as we saw last week, Elijah stood alone before the most powerful person in the region whose wife was killing prophets like him by the hundreds. So, if Elijah was a man just like us, how was he able to walk into the enemy camp and pronounce judgment upon them? We don t see ourselves doing that, so how could he do that? He could do it because he was living by faith. Hebrews chapter 11 is sometimes called the Faith Hall of Fame, because it lists Bible people who lived by faith. While it doesn t mention Elijah by name, it does refer to him by title. It says: And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword Then the writer is quick to note that not EVERYONE escaped the sword. He continues: Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they 1
were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated the world was not worthy of them God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Heb. 11:35-38a, 40) How was it possible for godly men and women just like us to do these things? Verses 1 and 2: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. (Heb. 11:1, 2) These men and women, who are just like us, could do these remarkable things because they were certain about things that they could not see. They were living by faith. Do you or did you have a mother or grandmother of faith? In what ways was she certain of things that she could not see? My grandmother on my father s side was a woman of great faith. She lived through the depression with five children in the house and a bed-ridden husband. But my dad remembers her praying out loud prayers of confidence that God would get them through. My dad was a teenager at the time and he and a friend told my grandma that they were hopping a train to go to southern Minnesota to pick potatoes which they did, only they didn t exactly get off in southern Minnesota. They rode the train all the way to California. When my grandma told us this story and that they didn t come home for a month, we asked her, Gramma, weren t just worried sick? She, said, Oh no, I trusted God. Besides, I knew they d come home when they got hungry. My grandma CHOSE to think about God s power, God s grace and God s provision for her son rather than worrying about things that MIGHT happen. You see, here s what we ve got to understand. The Bible says that the opposite of sin is not obedience. The opposite of sin is faith because we cannot obey without faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why Hebrews 11:6 says: without faith it is impossible to please God So, when we don t live by faith, we are contributing to the problems in this world, not the solution. And which path are you on today? Are you living by faith in Christ or in a world of worry, using your own logic to try to solve your situation? Elijah did the very illogical thing of praying FOR a draught. James 5:17 says: He prayed earnestly that it would not rain... Why would he do such a thing? Isn t that mean? Isn t that contemptible? Isn t that evil? No, actually, it s not. He didn t do it because it made sense or was politically correct. He did it because God told him to do it and he believed that God was a good God and would bring good from it. And as we will see in a few weeks, that s exactly what happened! Hundreds of thousands of people turned from their demonic worship of Baal, fell on their faces on Mount Carmel and cried, The LORD he is God! The LORD he is God! Even Ahab himself eventually repented!! WHY??? Because one man did the illogical, seemingly contemptible will of God. He lived by faith, not by sight and therefore was part of God s solution in this world. How will you choose to live this week? The second thing we need to see is this II. When we do live by faith, God will provide for our needs. After Elijah pronounces judgment on Israel, God told him what to do next: 2
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there. So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. (I Kings 17:2-5) Last week, we marveled at Elijah s obedience to come down from the hills, to come out of obscurity, into the spotlight of history and stand alone for God. But I have to tell you, I think what he does this week is even more remarkable. While he is IN the spotlight, God now sends him back into obscurity. He sends him away from the power center of the culture, off the national stage and tells him go hide in the Kerith Ravine. Talk about illogical? Does this make any sense? He s IN the palace, he s speaking to decision makers, why pull him out of the game? If WE were calling the shots, wouldn t we press the matter? After all, Elijah only spoke ONE SENTENCE! But God doesn t work according to our logic. His ways are higher than our ways. He sends Elijah away to hide. And Elijah goes. Verse 5, So he did what the LORD told him. Is that all it takes with you? Does God just have to tell you once what He wants or doe He have to tell you a dozen times? Are you willing to take the humble place as quickly as you are to stand in the spotlight? Years ago, Taylor University in Indiana welcomed its first African student, Sam. He was a bright young man with great promise and the school was honored to have him. When he arrived on campus, the President of the University himself gave him a tour of all the facilities. When the tour was over, the President in a great gesture of hospitality asked Sam, Of all the dorms you ve seen, you can take your pick. Where would you like to live? Do you know how Sam replied? He said, If there is a room that no one wants, give that room to me. The President later admitted privately that over the years he had welcomed thousands of Christian men and women to that campus and none had ever made such a request. This is the humility that Jesus is looking for in His followers: If there is a job that no one wants to do, I ll do that job. If there is a kid that no one wants to be friends with, I ll be friends with that kid. If there is a parking space that s far away from the church, I ll park in that space. If there s a service time that s less convenient for others, I ll worship then. If there s a ministry no one else wants because it s out of the spotlight, I ll do that ministry. 2 God was testing Elijah to see what kind of a heart he really had. He knew he was willing to step INTO the spotlight, but now He wanted to know something else. Now He wanted to know if Elijah loved God enough to step out of the spotlight as well. And it was here, out of the spotlight, in a hidden place that God provided miraculously for Elijah s needs. And the provisions weren t too shabby either! He not only got Poland Spring Mountain water, but he got fresh meat and home baked bread delivered daily by air mail! Can t get any fresher than that! As obedient as Elijah was, on his way out of the capital city of Samaria, he had to be thinking, Man, I m sure gonna miss the restaurants in this town. Lo and behold, God sends him to a mountain resort! He s safe, he s got free food and nothing to do but relax brook-side. And where was this taking place? This was happening east of the Jordan. In Elijah s day, east of the Jordan was a euphemism for the land of the dead. 3
It s like someone saying today, He bought the farm, he s pushing up daisies, he bought a pine condo, he went into the fertilizer business. God provided a place of refuge and retreat for his prophet in what other people considered the land of the dead. And Elijah had to go there to receive the protection and provision from the LORD. He couldn t stay in Samaria, he couldn t pick his spot. He had to go to the land of the dead. Where s God calling you? Some of you are not from New England. When God first called you here did you think, He s taking me to the land of the dead! With all the financial upheaval, God undoubtedly will call some of you somewhere else - maybe, even east of the Jordan. If you refuse to go, don t expect Poland Spring Mountain Water and clean, clear mountain air. God will always provide for His children but to get His BEST provisions, you ve got to be willing to go east of the Jordan. Lastly, we need to see III. When God Provides for us, it may also include a test. This is a remarkable story and a remarkable turn of events. First, things were great east of the Jordan, until one day the brook dries up. Don t you just hate it when that happens? No more brook, no more mountain retreat! Kind of like, No more subprime mortgages, no more rising stock market! The party is OVER! And God says to Elijah: Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food. (I Kings 17:9) Now, let s think about this for a minute. Zarephath in Sidon isn t that where Jezebel, Ahab s wife is from? Isn t Jezebel s father, Ethbaal, the king of Sidon AND the High Priest of Baal worship there? So, God is now sending Elijah to a safe house in the very heart of enemy territory? Yes, that s exactly what He s doing. Why would God do that? I believe He was doing it for two reasons. First, it s a continuation of his basic training. It s a test. Elijah s confrontation with Ahab was not his last. In fact, his toughest confrontation is yet to come. This whole period in Elijah s life is like boot camp. Do you know what the purpose of the Marine s boot camp is? As a graduate of Marine boot camp, Chuck Swindoll made this observation: The disciplined regimen of boot camp brought about remarkable changes in each one of us we left that place completely different than we were when we arrived Almost without realizing it, while learning to submit to our leaders, we ultimately found ourselves physically fit, emotionally stirred, and mentally ready for whatever conflict might come our way even the harsh reality of facing the enemy in combat. 3 Boot camp isn t for relaxation and restoration. Boot camp prepares you for conflict. Secondly, Elijah is being sent to Zarephath not only for his provision but so that God can give provision THROUGH him. He goes to Zarephath and meets a woman at the town gate and asks her for a drink of water and a piece of bread. This was not an unusual request in those days. Most towns did not have Motel 6 for travelers, so being hospitable to travelers was and still is today, a cultural value in the Middle East. However, this single mom is so destitute, she has nothing to give. She replies: As surely as the LORD your God lives I don t have any bread only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. (I Kings 17:12) 4
But along the way from Cherith Brook to Zarephath, God must have been speaking to Elijah because he says to her: Don t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land. (I Kings 17:13-14) Now remember, in just the next chapter we learn that Jezebel has issued a shoot to kill order for all prophets of Yahweh. So God hides his number one prophet right under her father s nose. And he s boarding at the home of a woman who believes that God has a death sentence on her and her son! She s down to her last meal and a prophet of God says, Before you eat that last meal, give it to me and then my God will supply your need. So, we have two people under one roof, both of whom must be thinking, God, I m not sure I can pass this test! Have you ever thought that? Have you ever felt like you re down to your last meal, your last buck, your last ounce of strength; and then God asks for that too? Maybe you felt that way this past week? What should you do? There s a story behind this story of the widow of Zarephath. She is clearly not Jewish. She s a gentile. But what she is being asked to do is the very thing the Israelites refused to do for God. Their covenant with God, their number one requirement was what? The SHEMA: Love the LORD, your God, with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength. (Deut. 6:5) God promised that if they would do that, demonstrating that commitment by giving to God the firstborn of their children, cattle and crops, then He would bring them into, a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing (Deut. 8:9) But the people of Israel didn t pass the test. They broke this covenant which eventually meant the destruction of their culture. But now, this single gentile mom in Zarephath, down to her last buck, passes the test with flying colors! She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. (I Kings 17:15, 16) Does this have any relevance to our lives today? This week Rich Ainsworth, pastor of our sister church in Bloomfield, told me of a family in his church where the husband lost his job last June. After he was re-employed, his wife stood up in there worship service and spoke of God s faithfulness to them. She spoke of how at first she was tempted to panic, to stop giving to missions, to sell the house. Then, she prayed and realized that God wanted her to simply trust Him, to give it all to Him. During the next six months, she recorded 128 specific ways that God met their needs. She listed things like groceries, gift cards, refunds, free dental, free glasses, free second-hand clothes. When she put God first, the bread was not scarce and they lacked nothing. 4 What s your strategy for the impossible circumstances you re facing? Chuck Swindoll says that on our Christian journey of faith, all roads pass through Zarephath. Yes, your faith will be tested but if you put God first: the jar of flour [will] not used up and the jug of oil [will] not run dry Friends, this is the Word of the LORD. Amen. 5
1 PreachingToday.com Kids Answer Questions about Mothers 2 Bryan Wilkerson, in his sermon In God We Trust (Though We d Rather Pay Cash), www.preachingtoday.com 3 Chuck Swindoll, Elijah: Man of Heroism and Humility (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000), p. 21-22 4 Nancy Morganweck, Wintonbury Church, Bloomfield, CT., A Testimony of What God has Done. 6