Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” The word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” 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. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. “For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’” So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 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.
BACKGROUND
“The better to understand [Elijah’s] history, let us briefly consider the condition of affairs when Elijah made his appearance. Ahab had taken Jezebel, a Canaanite woman and daughter of Ethbaal, for his wife. Of a weak and yielding character, he allowed Jezebel to establish the Phoenician worship on a grand scale—priests and prophets of Baal were appointed in crowds—the prophets of Yahweh were persecuted and slain or only escaped by being hid in caves. It seemed the last remnants of true religion were about to perish. Jezebel had also induced Ahab to issue orders for the violent death of all the prophets of Yahweh who, since the expulsion of the Levites, had been the only firm support of the ancient religion.” (1)
At this time, Ahab and Israel were living in covenant disobedience. This means that they had rejected the Mosaic covenant and instead of being under God’s blessing, they were under God’s curse, including the punishment of drought. God had promised this in Deuteronomy 28:23-24, “The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust.”
In contrast, Baal was a Phoenician rain god. So, when Elijah declared there would be no rain, it was a direct challenge to the supremacy of Baal, whom Jezebel worked so hard to promote through Ahab. “Yahweh has shut up Baal’s heavens. (According to an early Phoenician [Ugaritic] myth, when drought is upon the land Baal is dead, but when he lives “the heavens rain oil, the wadis run with honey.” (2) God was showing that Baal was more than dead, he was false, and only Yahweh controlled the heavens.
This passage shows us a contrast of obedience and disobedience. Ahab and Israel were living in covenant disobedience. So, God sends judgment—no rain. Ancient Israel relied completely on rain to water their crops and provide food for them and their animals. The lack of rain would later prove to have devastating effects on Israel’s survival.
Though Israel was in covenant disobedience, look who obeys. First, Elijah obeys by going to Cherith—which was on the edge of Ahab’s authority. Then he obeys by going to Zarephath, a non-Israelite city where Baal was supreme. Then, at nothing but Elijah’s word, the widow of Zarepheth obeys Elijah’s request for food though she is at her end of her means. She gives her last bit for survival to the prophet. The result is that God blesses and provides. Jesus mentioned her when speaking at his home synagogue in Luke 4:25-26.
EXAMINATION
(V.1) Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”
WHAT IS REMARKABLE ABOUT THIS STATEMENT FROM ELIJAH?
This is a remarkable statement by Elijah, but not just about withholding rain. Normally, a prophet began his speech by saying, “Thus says the Lord,” then proceeded to prophesy. But this is not how Elijah begins. He invokes the authority of the Lord by saying, “As the Lord God of Israel lives,” then says the miracle will happen, “By my word.” He immediately sets up a confrontation between himself and Ahab.
No other prophet spoke like this. Once, when Moses did speak like this at the waters of Meribah, God rebuked him and punished him (Numbers 20:8-13).
There is also another interesting comparison with Moses and Jesus and water. When Moses confronted pharaoh he said the water of the Nile would be turned to blood. This was a judgment on pharaoh. Elijah proclaimed no rain. A judgment on Ahab and Israel. What was Jesus’ first act of ministry? To be baptized in the Jordan River, which was a proclamation of salvation. In addition, according to John, Jesus’ first miracle was to turn water into wine (John 2:1-11), which was also representative of salvation.
We should note that Elijah did not appear before Ahab on his own initiative. His saying, “As the Lord God is Israel lives, before whom I stand,” indicates that he was sent there by the Lord. And he obeyed though it was dangerous to confront a powerful and ungodly king.
(V.2-3) The word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.”
WHY DO YOU THINK GOD SENT ELIJAH AWAY?
The brook Cherith was fifteen miles from Jezreel, which Elijah would have walked. The fact that God told Elijah to hide indicates that after his declaration of no rain, thus defying Baal, Ahab, and Jezebel, that Elijah was in immediate danger. The brook Cherith was in the territory of Gilead, which was where Elijah was from, so this would have been familiar territory for him.
Why did God tell Elijah to go to a brook? Because no rain was coming and Elijah would need water until it would run dry.
(V.4) “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”
What’s interesting about this is that Ravens were listed in Leviticus 11:15 as an unclean bird. This was because ravens are primarily carrion eaters, which was forbidden to the Israelites. God chose what was traditionally forbidden to be the means by which Elijah would survive.
This is similar to Peter’s experience in Acts 10:14 when God commanded him to eat unclean animals. God was showing Peter that no one is to be regarded as unclean. So it is with Elijah. He is eating from the unclean, and God would later call him to be provided for by a person who traditionally would have been an enemy.
(V.5-7) 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. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
What happens when the brook dries up? What does this signal about the unfolding story?
Notice, Elijah immediately obeys the Lord and goes to Cherith. Regarding the meat he would eat, this wasn’t a filet from Texas Roadhouse. This was likely meat torn from dead animals. Likely, also unclean.
Elijah’s time at the brook was limited, though he may have been there for some time, possibly for as long as a few months. Eventually, without rain, the brook dried up and Elijah needed a new place to go.
It’s interesting that the Lord provided bread and meat. This is what he did for Israel during the exodus, mana and quail, everyday.
What did Elijah do with his time by the brook? We learned in our previous lesson that Elijah was a solitary man. He likely spent long bouts in prayer, seeking the Lord, or remained in quietness. In our days of busyness and diversions it’s hard to imagine having weeks or months with nothing to do but seek the Lord. But it was these alone times that prepared him for the challenges to come.
(V.8-9) Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
WIDOWS IN ELIJAH’S DAY WERE USUALLY POOR. WHY WOULD GOD SEND ELIJAH TO BE CARED FIRST BY SOMEONE WHO IS WITHOUT RESOURCES?
It’s interesting that God sent Elijah to Zarepheth, a city near Sidon. Jezebel, wife of Ahab was the daughter of king Ethbaal of Sidon. God sent Elijah to take refuge in the very land that Jezebel was from. That’s ironic.
The journey from Cherith to Zarepheth was 80-90 miles, which Elijah would have walked.
(V.10-11) So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”
Gathering sticks is a way of saying the widow was poor. Probably very poor. She wasn’t gathering blocks of wood, but sticks to start a small fire. She was destitute.
“Since a widow had no inheritance rights, special provisions were typically made for them under the law, allowing them to glean in harvested fields and protecting them from being oppressed. They needed protection under the law because they were powerless to protect themselves and were often dependent on charity for survival.” (3)
Notice again Elijah’s obedience. The Lord told him to go, and he went, even into an enemy land.
(V.12) But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.”
She testifies that she is destitute. She has enough for one small meal, then expects to die of starvation. This is because there was no rain and the crops she might normally glean in were not growing or restricted because there was so little growth.
Notice the widow was a follower of Yahweh in a pagan land. She said, “As the Lord your God lives.” The last person to say this in our passage was Elijah, to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives.” Using this language calls upon the authority of the Lord. The widow is calling upon God to testify that she is preparing to die. But Elijah will save her.
(V.13-14) Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. “For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’”
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ELIJAH SAYS TO HER IN THIS PASSAGE?
Notice Elijah’s first word to her, “Do not fear.” Elijah spoke from experience. He had to flee Ahab and hide at Cherith. Before that he took his life into his hands to confront Ahab, who could have easily had him killed. Many times in the scripture when people are called to do risky things, Gods tells them, “Do not fear.” Just like to Joshua to whom God said, “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6).
Grain and oil were the chief commodities of Zarepheth. The fact that they were in short supply shows just how dire the situation with the drought really was. It extended beyond Israel into Phoenicia.
God was providing for this widow and Elijah in the heartland of Baal worship. Whereas Baal can do nothing to help, Yahweh can provide in the heartland of his so called territory.
Elijah promises God’s provision through the entire drought.
(V.15-16) So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 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.
Relying on the promise of Elijah, she obeys his request and the Lord rewards her obedience. There may have been another two years of drought to go before the rains would come. God provided, the scripture says, “for many days.”
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
- While Ahab and Israel disobeyed the Lord, Elijah obeyed his command to confront the king.
- Though he was in hard times, Elijah obeyed the Lord’s instructions about where to go and what to eat, even if it was unclean.
- The widow of Zarepheth obeyed Elijah’s word in a society that had no regard for the God of Israel.
INTERPRETATION
What is the author’s big idea? Obey the Lord, even in risk or difficulty. He will reward your obedience.
By sending Elijah to Ahab, God was bringing difficulty into Elijah’s life. By calling for a drought he brought difficulty on Israel, Elijah, and the widow. But he still required obedience. Sometimes, the Lord brings the difficulty and demands obedience in the midst of it—even when he caused the difficulty.
WHO ELSE DID THE LORD BRING DIFFICULTY TO AND REQUIRE OBEDIENCE?
Paul was one person upon whom the Lord brought much difficulty. He said in Acts 9:16, “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” God called Paul to places and into situations where his life and well-being were constantly at risk. But Paul always obeyed for one reason. He loved the Lord.
How far will your love of Christ take you in your walk with God?
What sacrifices of what you hold dear are too big to take in obedience?
When Jesus Christ is the supreme affection of our lives nothing is too great to lose for his name’s sake.
APPLICATION
Determine in your heart that you will obey the Lord no matter the situation. Begin with obeying the moral commands of scripture. Then move to things of higher devotion like how you present your testimony as a Christian to others. As time goes by the Lord will lead you into situations where you must make a sacrifice. Determine in advance to do it. Eventually, the Lord may call you into specific service. Building a life of obedience now will help you to say yes to God later, for that greater thing.
If you’re dealing with a command of scripture or the leading of the Spirit that you do not want to obey, then confess it to God and ask for the strength to change. Sometimes to obey we need the help of others. When God called me to Mongolia I did not want to go. But my wife fixed my determination with her willingness to make the sacrifice and go. Find a partner that can help you steal your determination to obey.
Look at other times in your life where you have obeyed the Lord and build upon those times like foundation stones to obey the next task that Gods places before you. When you say no to something it’s easier to say no again. But the same is true when you say yes. The more you trust God and see his provision the easier it will be to say yes to what comes next.
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(1) Unger, Merrill Frederick, R. K. Harrison, Howard Frederic Vos, Cyril J. Barber, and Merrill Frederick Unger. 1988. In The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Rev. and updated ed. Chicago: Moody Press.
(2) Stek, J. H. 1979–1988. “Elijah.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 2:64. Wm. B. Eerdmans.
(3) Matthews, Victor Harold, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton. 2000. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Electronic ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.