AfterWords: "Old Stories-New Life: God's Provision"

 

I Kings 17:1-16

We begin a new series as we move into November—a look at some of the ancient stories from the Old Testament…stories that we give new life by coming back to them, that give us new life as we see them in new ways. Today, as we look at this brief narrative from the life of Elijah, we discover something of God’s provision.

Elijah prophesies in the northern kingdom—Israel. King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, have ignored God, chased false gods, and gave grief to anyone who served the One True God. So, Elijah prophesies, against their reign.

In the passage we come to today, Elijah prophesies a coming drought, a drought God hopes will turn Ahab back to God. So, Elijah predicts the drought, and God sends him to a stream where he’ll have water, and ravens will bring him food. The drought comes in earnest, and even the stream dries up. God sends Elijah out of Israel to Sidon, to the city of Zarephath to a woman whom God will use to keep Elijah alive. Provision.

What we find in the Old Testament is often a hint of things to come, of what God is yet to do in the future. This story of physical provision—food and water for the hungry and thirsty—is amplified in the New Testament, in the life and teachings of Jesus. In fact, we find that Elijah and this very incident shows up in Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus is just entering his ministry, he arrives at his hometown, Nazareth. At synagogue on Saturday, they hand him the scroll to read. And, the reading he selects is all about God’s provision, found in Luke 4:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Talk about ‘provision!’ Wow. That’s provision at a whole new level.

Then, Jesus gets to Elijah—looking back on God’s provision. God provides not only for Elijah but also for the widow and her son—a broad provision that crosses lines of race and culture and religion. We find that Elijah’s story is a preview of the broadness of God’s grace.

Our God is a God of provision in all areas of our lives when we live into the faith, hope, and love of our God. And, God makes it all possible through Jesus Christ.

Sunday, November 3, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Provision”
Watch/Listen: HERE