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1 Kings 17 – A Not So Innocent Story
A Not So Innocent Story
Which title do you prefer – “A Good Story Gone Bad” or “A Not So Innocent Story?” Either would work; both are sad. The story itself is not sad nor bad, but rather the circumstances and reaction to the story show us there is something not so innocent going on.
In 1 Kings 17 there is conflict, confidence and curiosity.
- Conflict is between evil King Ahab and Elijah (and therefore God).
- Confidence by Elijah in God and confidence by the widow in both Elijah (and therefore God).
- Curiosity – What circumstances had God choosing her? We not being geographical geniuses may not be curious enough to ask. Zarephath – a city in Sidon of Tyre – is where Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, originated. Hmmm, does that push your ironic, curiosity button? Needless to say – but apparently I will say it anyway – not a town known for worshippers of Yahweh. And again needless to say – but here I go again – a town of Gentiles.
Now notice the later reaction to this story:
Luke 4:25-26, 28 – “But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; (26) and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. (28) And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;
Not such an innocent little story after all, is it?
Lesson #1 – Just like with Elijah and Ahab, and Jesus and the Jews, the way we react to the people of God is a strong indication of our relationship with God.
Lesson #2 – God can’t bless us and instead blesses others because of our lack of relationship with Him. That is indeed a good story gone bad!
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