11.25.2012 God's Provision through Natural and Supernatural Means

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Next week Advent begins – we will be doing the 4 songs of the Christmas story (found in Luke) – also, Mike Jundi and my wife have been studying some of the carols and we’ll take one a week and talk about its theological significance.
We are looking at Elijah – here is his introduction:
1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” 5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
Lord, we thank You for Your word – the Power in Your Word – open it up to us to meet needs in our hearts and lives that we might be able to hear from You – and that each of us would respond as You would have us – in a way that is pleasing to You and good for our souls. Your Word nourishes, strengthens, and even convicts us – and it is good. May we hear from You – in Your Name we pray. Amen.
This is a passage of provision and protection – how God cares for His people during times of difficulty. But this chapter goes beyond just provision – there is something bigger going on in this story. So I need to give a bit of back story:
Elijah comes and is pronouncing judgment against Ahab, the King of the northern kingdom of Israel –for the most part, the northern kingdom kings were wicked – and Ahab was one of the worst.
1 Kings 16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidoneans, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.
So Ahab is more evil than any other king – and does a dastardly thing – marrying Jezebel – and she leads him and all of Israel into worshiping Baal. Baal is, for the land of the Canaanites, the premiere god. He is tops of all the gods. He is the storm god and his name means master. He is ruler of the gods in Canaan. So there is a contest and conflict between the God of Israel, Yahweh, and the god of Canaan, Baal. For the Canaanites and Sidoneans, Baal was the god of prosperity and fruitfulness. Elijah pronounces a judgment – no rain or dew – everything that that people hoped in – a storm god – and God says, the storms are over – there will be no rain – not even dew on the earth. And so this great contest begins, and Yahweh strikes at the very heart of Baal.
Elijah – El – god – yah – Yahweh – His name means God is Yahweh.
God – Yahweh is God – and so there is this conflict where what we are going to see and what God is trying to show Israel – He is the only God and all the other gods are simply idol and God is the only one that can provide.
1 Kings 17: 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” 5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
Sometimes the provision is natural – and sometimes it is supernatural. Ravens bringing food are not a natural thing. Then the stream that provides the water dries up – and God does not create water, but Elijah has to do something naturally – he has to go someplace else to get water. That is how God sometimes works – naturally through the world – and sometimes miraculous – but not extravagant.
Ravens brought bread and meat - I don't think they were bringing him McDonalds! Think about it - what would ravens bring? Probably pieces of dead animals.
What will Elijah do?
7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
Where does God send him? There is some irony here. Why did God tell him to hide by the stream? The king was after him. And what God does – He hides Elijah right under his enemy’s nose. He sends him to a town within a few miles of Jezebel’s hometown. It is because of a Sidonean woman that Israel is led into idolatry – and then it is through a Sidonean woman that God provides for Elijah. God is so very clever – there is such humor here. Do you want to see who is really God? Look what I am going to do! As your people are suffering and going through the drought, I will provide for Elijah and this widow.
There is a unique pattern in the Old Testament – like a river flowing through the Old Testament – all about Israel being the chosen people – coming back to the land – and throughout the Old Testament – there is a counter-current – one of outsiders, not a part of Israel – and they tend to be a better example of what it means to be God’s people than God’s people – and oftentimes, they are women – and they play a key role in the redemption of Israel – like Rahab – When Israel was supposed to go in and take the land – they were all scared – and wandered in the desert – and when they got to Rahab – she told of the fear – she had more faith than them! Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba – all outsiders whom God makes a part of His community and they are the ancestors of Jesus.
God can’t wait to welcome in people of every tribe and tongue and nation and background – we have a worshiper of Baal whom God uses to come to Him.
He goes to the city gate and asks for bread and water.
12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
Interesting phrase – as surely as the Lord your God lives – almost identical to the phrase Elijah used in front of the king – but not saying YOUR God… - but she seems to know who Elijah is – and expresses more faith.
She is in despair – about to die of starvation – down to her last bit of food – and no way to get more – no social programs, no government services – no charities – it is all gone.
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
God says often – do not be afraid. We are a people who can be very afraid of what is happening. God comes with reassurance AND a challenge. God is going to take care of her – but He is also challenging fear – and to get us to trust Him.
It is easy to see fear as something that comes upon us that we can’t do anything about – but God says – No, even in the face of the most difficult circumstances – you can trust – I’m not saying it is easy – but God is saying we can learn to not fear.
13 b Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
This almost sounds rude – but it is evident that God is leading this woman to genuine faith in Him. She starts the chapter – the Lord YOUR God – and God is bringing her around to believe in Him.
In genuine faith – God must come first. Genuine faith in Jesus – in order to have that, we must put Him first in our lives. And he is telling this woman – place Me first – be willing to give up your little tiny bit of food to Me first – and then see what I do.
14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
So the command to give first to Me – comes with a promise – doesn’t it? Your little jar of oil and flour will last – and it seems to go for several years.
Jesus said these words – the lilies of the field don’t toil – all these things the gentiles eagerly seek – seek first My kingdom and all of these things will be added.
First – Me. That is why He is the real God of the world. Put Me first!
The story goes on
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
Never empty – never ran out.
Imagine this woman – taking the flour and oil – and she bakes a cake for Elijah and goes back – and there is more there. Every day – for however long it was – that same scenario played out over and over and over again.
Some principles of God’s provision we can gather:
1) God provides for us in natural ways and in supernatural ways – and they must both go together. The woman had to actually bake the bread and use the oil – I think this means - we do not win lotteries. Some do – but that is not how God typically provides.
2) God provides basic needs. In this case – flour and oil – we think it means more.
I ran over to Howe Avenue on Monday – there were already tents set up – coolers and generators – and I heard people talking about it on the radio. God’s provision does not provide for our selfish materialistic desires. It may have been a big game for those people – and even in the paper yesterday – We have to have these things to enjoy our family together.
This infects all of us – we can’t deny that. It is the general way of thinking in this country – and I think this passage speaks against that. It is okay to have stuff – but you don’t have to have stuff to enjoy God and your family!
3) God must come first even in the most difficult times. That is when it gets hard, isn’t it? In this situation, God demanded that He come first.
4) God provides through people – God provided for Elijah through a widow. Yes, He provided through a raven – but generally, He provides through the community.
5) A community’s call to provision is not an excuse to be negligent or irresponsible. It is not an excuse for those who are being provided for. The New Testament is clear. This woman – it was required of her to express faith every day – caring for God’s servant/representative.
6) God’s provision is a call to personal sacrifice. That sentence almost doesn’t seem to fit together. We want it to be a call to personal abundance – not sacrifice. I have been amazed at our church – we give very generously to benevolence every year – and it always amazes me – those people – when their financial circumstances change, they are quick to contribute to others’ need. Even when they probably shouldn’t at that point yet, but people are so willing to give.
That is the provision aspect of things – but there is something that is often missed.
17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
She is still not there yet –
19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.
The battle between Yahweh and Baal has reached its climax. This is really a story about Life and Death. Yahweh – life – Baal/idols – Death. Life is used 6 times, death, 4.
20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”
22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
Not Your Lord, but the Lord – she understands that there is only one God – Yahweh is God – this is a picture of the resurrection that God can even raise the dead – He can provide in the worst of droughts and economic times – but He does something bigger than that – we see Christ – and this points directly to Jesus. It is interesting – Elijah comes to the gate of this city – He leaves Israel, goes to a foreign land – sees this woman – and says – give me water.
Who else did that? Jesus left Israel, went to Samaria, and said, Give me some water – the story just points directly to what Christ has done for us. The provider is one and the same – Yahweh – the provider of water and LIFE is Jesus Christ – and the stories go hand in hand. Let’s pray.