1Ki 17:18 | KingComments | STEP | It is a small, but happy company, there in that house in Zarephath. In this time of scarcity, they always have to eat, because the man of God has moved in there. Then comes the trial in that house. It is the next class in the school of God. If we can assume that Elijah was by the brook Cherith for one year and with the widow for two years, we can see these three years as teaching years in the school of God. The first year, the first class, is by the brook Cherith. The second year, the second class, is with the widow to learn that the handful of flour and the little oil are sufficient in days of the greatest weakness. Now comes the third year, the third class, with the lesson of death and resurrection. After the exercise in the hiddenness by the brook Cherith and the formation in the family, in picture the church, we now learn that the foundation of blessing and life lies in death and resurrection. The only son of the widow becomes ill and dies. This empties the house. It is not only a trial for the woman, but also for Elijah. This profoundly dramatic event brings the woman to a renewed awareness of God’s hand in her life. She is reminded of a sin, the burden of which she apparently had not yet lost. This may happen to us as well. There are things that happen in which we suddenly find ourselves in God’s presence. Through a sudden incident, God can bring us to a standstill and immediately reminds us of a sin we have committed, but which we have hidden or forgotten and which we have not yet confessed. God works this out to give the opportunity to confess that sin. The woman addresses Elijah with “man of God”. She knows he is. Through him she has come to know God as a Sustainer, Someone Who takes care of her. But now through him she will get to know God in a special way: as the God of resurrection. Elijah is in this house a picture of the Lord Jesus through whom we learn to know God as the God of resurrection and new life.

‏ 1 Kings 17:18

The Widow’s Son Dies

It is a small, but happy company, there in that house in Zarephath. In this time of scarcity, they always have to eat, because the man of God has moved in there. Then comes the trial in that house. It is the next class in the school of God. If we can assume that Elijah was by the brook Cherith for one year and with the widow for two years, we can see these three years as teaching years in the school of God.

The first year, the first class, is by the brook Cherith. The second year, the second class, is with the widow to learn that the handful of flour and the little oil are sufficient in days of the greatest weakness. Now comes the third year, the third class, with the lesson of death and resurrection. After the exercise in the hiddenness by the brook Cherith and the formation in the family, in picture the church, we now learn that the foundation of blessing and life lies in death and resurrection.

The only son of the widow becomes ill and dies. This empties the house. It is not only a trial for the woman, but also for Elijah. This profoundly dramatic event brings the woman to a renewed awareness of God’s hand in her life. She is reminded of a sin, the burden of which she apparently had not yet lost.

This may happen to us as well. There are things that happen in which we suddenly find ourselves in God’s presence. Through a sudden incident, God can bring us to a standstill and immediately reminds us of a sin we have committed, but which we have hidden or forgotten and which we have not yet confessed. God works this out to give the opportunity to confess that sin.

The woman addresses Elijah with “man of God”. She knows he is. Through him she has come to know God as a Sustainer, Someone Who takes care of her. But now through him she will get to know God in a special way: as the God of resurrection. Elijah is in this house a picture of the Lord Jesus through whom we learn to know God as the God of resurrection and new life.