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Elijah Part 1: Humble, Dependent, Obedient

Elijah is quite simply one of those awesome characters in Scripture. He’s a man of faith, commitment and obedience and he does very many powerful things in the name of the Lord. The very first thing that he did was to speak to King Ahab and Jezebel and to close up the heavens to declare that there would be neither dew nor rain for the next few years except at his word: to challenge the very power base of the northern kingdom of Israel as it was ruled by this evil king. 

We think of Elijah as that amazing man. But just like us, he was someone who needed to be formed, he needed to be fashioned, and he needed to be moulded to become the person that God wanted him to be. So having made this great prophetic statement, Elijah was called to the wilderness - this may be true for us too. 

Overview

1 Kings 17: 1-9 describes the beginning of Elijah’s prophetic ministry during the reign of King Ahab in northern Israel. Elijah, a Tishbite from Gilead, boldly declared to Ahab that there would be neither dew nor rain in Israel except at his word, signaling God’s judgment and asserting His sovereignty over nature. This drought challenged the worship of Baal, who was believed to control rain, highlighting the supremacy of Yahweh. 

Following this confrontation, God instructed Elijah to hide by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan, where he was miraculously sustained. Ravens brought him bread and meat morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. This provision demonstrated God’s care and the prophet’s obedience, even in isolation. 

Eventually, the brook dried up due to the ongoing drought, and God directed Elijah to Zarephath in the region of Sidon, where a widow has been chosen to provide for him. This move foreshadowed God’s continued provision through human agents and set the stage for further miracles, including the multiplication of the widow's flour and oil and the later resurrection of her son. 

Key Themes and Insights

• Faith and Obedience: Elijah’s immediate compliance with God’s instructions illustrated trust in divine provision and underlined Elijah's dependence on God, in uncertain circumstances.
• Divine Sovereignty: The drought and miraculous feeding underscored God’s control over nature and human affairs, contrasting with Baal worship.
• God’s Provision: God provided in unexpected ways, through ravens (unclean birds) and a foreign widow showing that His care extends beyond conventional means.
• Prophetic Symbolism: Elijah’s name, meaning “My God is Yahweh,” reinforces the message that God alone is the source of life and sustenance. 

This passage sets the stage for Elijah’s later confrontations with Baal prophets and demonstrates the principle that God’s word and provision are reliable, even in times of scarcity. It emphasises the importance of humility, obedience, faith, and dependence on God’s guidance. 

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Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.