The Way Things Appear

Commanded to go to Zarephath, Elijah makes an 80-100 mile trip from Cherith to his new destination. Worn from travel and likely dehydrated, he carries a strong promise that a widow will provide for him there. He arrives at the city gate. There is indeed a widow there but she doesn’t seem to know he is coming.

She gathers a couple of sticks as Elijah asks her for a cup of water. As she goes for the water he further requests a small morsel of bread. We learn of her plight. She has only a handful of flour in her bin and a little oil in a jar. She will cook this final meal for herself and her son and then they will die.

In addition to not knowing he would come, she also does not seem to have God’s promised supplies. Was Elijah shaken, even tempted to ask the Lord if he really arrived at the right place? Things appear very different between what God had told him and the way things were.

Despite appearances Elijah remembers how God had supplied at Cherith. Having experienced that strengthens him to trust God for the impossible situation before him. Elijah does not wait long before God’s word comes. He instructs the widow not to fear, but to make a small cake for him first and afterward to feed herself and her son. A test of faith for him also means a test of faith for her. He promises "the bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth." (1 Kings 17:14).

God’s assurances often test our faith. Our perception does not always match what we believe He has said to us. These continuous examinations throughout life reveal our heart’s state. Elijah’s life points us to the attitude we must have. Will we trust the Lord or the way things appear? 
　

　

Before Whom I Stand

"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand." (1 Kings 17:1).

Elijah and his successor Elisha used this oath. It was spoken during times when they encountered evil influence. Each time courage was necessary and compromise could be possible. They reached back to their Lord’s commission, invoking the name of their invisible Master and their loyalty to Him.

"Before whom I stand" was the assertion of a slave declaring his allegiance and servitude to his master. When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon she referred to his servants as those "who stand before you and hear your wisdom." (1 Kings 10:8). God’s Old Testament priests were "to stand before the Lord to minister to Him." (Deut. 10:8). They were the ones who "shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood." (Ezek. 44:15).

Elijah uses the expression while beginning his public ministry. Delivering his unpopular pronouncement of God’s judgment to Ahab, he declared this allegiance--"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years, except at my word." (1 Kings 17:1).

Returning to Israel from Zarephath he meets with Obadiah, the king’s fearful servant. Elijah assures Obadiah that he will meet Ahab. "As the Lord God of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today." (I Kings 18:15).

Kings from Israel, Syria and Judah came to Elisha to inquire about a battle. Elisha wanted no part of it and replies as such. "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you." (2 Kings 3:14).

Naaman, a commander of the army from Syria came to seek healing from the prophet Elisha. Offered a reward for the healing he received, Elisha responds, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." (2 Kings 5:16).

Retreating for his life and discouraged after the threat of Jezebel, Elijah receives a new dictate from the Lord. God returns him to his calling through similar words, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." (1 Kings 19:11). There "standing before the Lord" Elijah receives a fresh vision of God and a new assignment to serve Him.

We are called slaves or servants throughout Scripture. We serve our Master just as these two prophets did. When we face opposition throughout our lives, we must return to our living God and reaffirm the same conviction of God being the one "before whom I stand." There we will find our strength and vision to walk faithfully as they did.
　

　

　

　

　

A Widow?

"See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." (1 Kings 17:8).

Widows were among the most vulnerable in Bible times. The many commands throughout the Old Testament (Ex. 22:21-24, Deut. 16:11, 14, Jer. 7:5-7) to provide for them shows just how often they could be taken advantage of. The loss of the man in a patriarchal society meant hardship. Their plight was often poverty. It was difficult for them to find employment and often they were left to beg. Sometimes their great hope was found in their son who could earn a trade and then support them.

Further optimism might be found through the kindness of others. Job was a man who had "caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy" (Job. 29:13). Harvesters were instructed to leave grapes, grain and olives for them to glean (Deut 24:19-21). Tithes were to be given to them every third year (Deut 14:27-29). The wicked were stopped from taking their garment as a pledge (Deut. 24:17).

Far too often, however, evil people oppressed widows (Isa. 1:23, 10:2, Ps. 94:6, Ezek. 22:7, Mal. 3:5). Even in Jesus’ day the scribes devoured widow’s houses and in exchange for it made long prayers (Mk. 12:40).

With God’s care for the stranger, fatherless, and the widow laid out so clearly in the law, Elijah may have been surprised, even embarrassed that God would tell him to seek provisions from a widow. God did not say "I have commanded you to take care of a widow" but " I have commanded a widow to provide for you." Further amazement may have been his when he heard that this was not an Israelite widow but one from a country steeped in idolatry. Her country did not obey the Lord’s precepts regarding the widow’s treatment and she may have been poorer because of that.

The Lord often uses those who have little to support his messengers. As a missionary evangelist some years ago I was often sobered to see the names of my supporters printed out on the donation sheet. While I know God also uses the wealthy to give, so often it was through those who didn’t have much that I paid my bills.

Elijah’s next benefactor would not be ravens but a Phoenician widow. With God’s word revealed to him, he left Cherith and began his journey to Zarepheth. 
　
　

The Refining Fires of God

"Many shall be purified, made white, and refined" (Daniel 12:10)

The name Zarephath means "refinement, fuse metal, smelting-place, crucible." While certainly that definition referred to the actual historical activity associated with the town, it also reflects a new phase of Elijah’s life. Elijah still has much to learn in God’s school. He will face greater trials and be forced to trust God in new ways. He will see miracles but only after facing the impossible.

Having passed his first examination at Cherith, he will now graduate to another level at Zarephath.

God’s work in Elijah’s life is a mirror to show us how God will operate in ours. The Apostle Peter described the process in the New Testament--"that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7).

The refining fires of God spare no Christian. God compares Himself to a master gold worker. He heats the metal. He hammers it. He molds it. He scrapes off all of the impurities. He has a purpose in mind. He will make a beautiful article of the gold, ultimately of us. Historically, the ancient Eastern goldsmith was said to have fired the ore until he could see his own face reflected in the liquid. Even so, God keeps us in the furnace until He can see the face of His Son Jesus Christ shining in us.

This He does not once but many times. Even when we hope it will stop, He applies the heat again. Despite the pain we feel, He knows what particular trial will shape us into His image.

Using a more modern illustration, Warren Wiersbe said, "When God permits His children to go through the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. If we rebel He may have to reset the clock; but if we submit, He will not permit us to suffer one minute too long. The important thing is that we learn the lesson He wants to teach us and that we bring glory to Him alone."1

Elijah was purified by God’s testing. Will we also surrender to that process?

1. Wiersbe, Warren W.   The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 2.  Wheaton: Victor, 1989, p. 393.

The Changing Times

"Arise, go to Zarepheth," (1 Kings 17:9).

The name Zarepheth means "refinement, fuse metal, smelting-place, crucible." Some 60-80 years before Elijah’s time King Solomon brought a man from Tyre named Hiram who was a bronze worker. He "was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work." (1 Kings 7:13). The ships of Hiram brought gold from the African country of Ophir (1 Kings 10:11). "The weight of that gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents." (1 Kings 10:14). That was 25 tons of gold yearly.

History records that Zarepheth was noted as a producer of fine glassware, made from the same sand which was found near Sidon. It was also a producer of the same famous dyes that other parts of Phoenicia produced. The Bible does not specifically say that Zarepheth was one of those supply cities but one can make a reasonable guess that it was.

Times have changed. Instead of a golden reign by a wealthy and wise king, Israel had turned sour towards God. The country had divided into two kingdoms. The northern part of that kingdom had not honored God in its short history and would not until Assyria finally destroyed it and took its residents into captivity.

Hiram’s descendants had been murdered by Ethbaal. There was still a relationship between Phoenicia and Israel but it was not a godly one. Ahab was married to Jezebel and evil prevailed. It was into this time, context, and these circumstances that Elijah had been born. It is in this time that he lives and serves the Lord God of Israel.

We, too, are born into a time period in which we must minister. The old memories often are forgotten as history defines us and shapes our uncertain affairs. As Elijah was equipped for a certain time frame, we today are also called to live our days with God’s particular anointing upon us. As we live in a specific era, we also have a distinct calling for that era.

The promise that God will care for us resounds throughout all history—"As your days, so shall your strength be." (Deut. 33:25). Our days may be wicked. Our generation may be rebellious but God fits us with strength to deal with it. Let us prepare ourselves to minister in our age. We may then find as Queen Esther did "who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:12).
　

Moving to Jezebel's Homeland

"Arise and go to Zarepheth, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there." (1 Kings 17:9)

If there was anything that described Elijah, it was his zeal for the Lord and his hatred of Baal worship. Everything he stood for was against idolatry. I wonder if in his mind, as we human beings are disposed to do, he had built a strong bias against Phoenicia.

If we check where Zarephath was on a map we will find it right between the two principal cities of Phoenicia, Tyre and Sidon. Truly, this was the homeland of Jezebel and her father Ethbaal. It was the origin and center of Baal worship.

Perhaps Elijah wondered, "How can God keep me in the middle of the idolatry I am to fight?" It was tantamount today of a Jew being told to go and live beside a nuclear plant in the nation of Iran. It was similar to a British citizen in the time of Hitler being ordered to live in Berlin, Germany. One could describe it as being an American living in Russia during the Cold War.

"Are you sure, Lord, you want me to live there?

From the standpoint of tactical warfare alone it may have been wise. Who would expect to look for Elijah in Jezebel’s back yard?

Whatever the reasons for God’s next instructions, Elijah didn’t have much choice. Living in Cherith was becoming impossible. His water was drying up and thirst alone may have driven him to obey. He had no choice again but to believe God and take that next step.

Many Christians have been faced with similar dilemmas. Leading from the Lord can surprise us and take us to places that we initially have no desire to go. The prophet Jonah exemplified such a stance when God called him to preach to an evil city called Nineveh. His prejudice sent him in the opposite direction to Joppa (Jonah 1:3). God dealt with Jonah and the entire city repented.

Whatever Elijah may have felt inwardly, he does not show it on the outside. His attitude is that of obedience. He goes, even if it is into the homeland of Jezebel.

The Drying of the Stream

"And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land." (1 Kings 17:7)

Because there had been no rain, the brook which had supplied Elijah’s water became dry. Undoubtedly, Elijah had watched it daily. He knew it was going down and he was forced to trust God in an increased measure for the next step in his life. Did the prayers that he had offered to God for the rain to stop haunt him now? It is hard to be in a difficult situation because one has received the answer to their prayer.

Elijah has another test before him. He’s lasted 6-8 months alone. A man can live without many things but he cannot live without water. What does he do? I think that if the temptation to move before God’s time ever arose, it came when the stream dried up. Did he think of following the wadi down to the Jordan River? The Jordan would be the last place to go dry. Perhaps his mind was filled with thoughts of disobedience. Did he ever think of moving from Cherith to nearby Syria and escaping the prophetic life?

Elijah doesn’t move. His last instructions were to go to Cherith and until he hears from the Lord, he is not moving. It is good that he doesn’t. Ahab & Jezebel are angry. They’ve got a price on his head, and disobeying may have been the last thing he ever did. Does he know that? Like most of us walking by faith, he doesn’t know until after the fact. He can’t move to the Jordan or go into Syria now. He’s in too deep. He has to trust God.

A valuable principle that my mother taught me is this—"When you don’t know what do don’t do anything." Don’t abandon your previous leading until the new clearly comes. Elijah practices this and "then the word of the Lord came to him." (1 Kings 17:8).

May we all learn this treasured truth. Moving before God’s time can be detrimental, even deadly. When the brook dries up and pressure arises, wait until God tells you to move.

Temptations in a Wadi

The Bible makes clear that Elijah "was a man with a nature like ours." (James 5:17). Being human, he felt all the temptations that we would. Having been directed to this wadi, what might he have thought when he lived there? Let us imagine the trials that he faced daily.

Did boredom afflict Elijah? After he established a cave to sleep in and set up his meager household what did he do with his time? Most commentators guess that he was probably there for as long as the rainy season would have lasted—about 6-8 months. Did he walk up and down that ravine watching for changes in the wildlife? How did he conduct himself?

Was loneliness a struggle for him? When one disobeys prison rules, the punishment is solitary confinement. Many prisoners are broken by this treatment. Elijah was not shattered but kept sane, whole, and growing. Silence is a discipline that many today would find extremely hard, especially with the distractions they have been raised with. Here in the deep silence of Cherith, Elijah develops an unbroken sense of God’s presence and sensitivity to His leading.

Did Elijah wonder if his provisions would stop? God had said of Israel that He humbled them, allowed them to hunger, and then fed them with manna so that they would learn that they did not live by bread alone, by every word that came from His mouth. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). Each day, Elijah learned this same lesson as the ravens brought him his food.

Was Elijah ever tempted to complain about his provisions? Israel despised God’s manna and asked for meat. God granted their request but judged them for it. Elijah did not complain about the meals, even though they were only bread and meat. The supplies were "enough", but not luxurious. He learned to be thankful for what God did provide and was not angry with Him for what He didn’t. We also must learn to be thankful where God has placed us.

Elijah passes all the God-given tests in the wadi. Boredom, loneliness, looking to God, and not complaining were some of those things that he must have faced. These temptations come to us all at various times of life. Will we also be faithful?