Good morning, as we come to the end of another week. I hope you are all ready for a roller coaster ride. Today we read 1 Kings 15-17.
Set the example
We had established in 1 Sam 13:14 that David was a man after God’s own heart. He was not perfect, neither will we be. David was as flawed as any of us, yet he set the bar we should all strive for.
Chapter 15 begins by looking at Jeroboam and how he committed all the sins his father had done before him (v15:3).
I have done a lot of foolish and sinful things in my life. Some I have told my son about, as a cautionary tale. Others I have not mentioned because I didn’t want to glamourize the sin.
God is so faithful to David, even with his sins, that for his sake he continues to protect Israel and three thousand years later, they persist.
That is the role model we should be. Not claiming perfection, our kids will not buy it anyway, but showing that steadfast love for God. Establishing God as our priority and letting our children see that.
Even when we do this, it is no guarantee. Jeroboam did not walk with the Lord the way his father had. But the standard had already been established.
When Asa comes along, we see he follows David’s example (v11) in Judah.
Sin increases
Meanwhile, in Israel Nadab, is doing the evil his father had done. He’s killing off families and worshipping idols. God is not pleased with him (v30).
He only reigns for two years, then Baasha comes along and does worse things.
We have seen in our times how sin has increased. As a child of the sixties, I learned the value of obedience and duty.
Many of us were latchkey kids, whose parents both had to work. We finished our homework when we got home from school, then went out to play.
If we didn’t, we would face consequences, including spankings, being sent to bed without supper, grounding and losing privileges. My parents never sent me to a timeout.
Some may claim this behavior harms my self esteem. I would be a narcissist if I had any more self esteem.
What it did was build character. I stopped doing wrong because I knew it was not in my best interest.
We see how Baasha followed the ways of Jeroboam. Elah comes along and only rules for two years.
Next comes Zimri, who kills Baasha and his whole family (v11) because of the sins of Elah and Baasha. Zimri only reigns for a week (v15) before he sets fire to the citadel and dies in the fire.
We then see early signs of democracy in Omri and Tibni opposing each other. The one with the most support becomes the ruler. But Omri sinned more that all those before him (v25).
It continues to escalate as Ahab, his son, did more evil than any of those before him (v30). This including setting up altars for Baal.
This is the nature of sin. Sin wants to be our master. If you steal a cookie, you cover it by lying. When you are called out for lying, you get in a fight, etc. it always ratchets up.
God provides
But then in chapter 17, we meet Elijah, one of the great prophets.
God is about done with escalating sin, and to bring the people back to Himself, he sends a prophet to warn of the coming 3 year drought (v17:1). Even in the toughest of times, God provides for his servant.
I have seen how birds feed their young, so I am not sure if I want ravens to bring me bread and meat. But if that is God’s plan, I would be fine with it.
Then he has Elijah help this poor woman who is waiting for her and her son to die. They have so little, all they can do is wait for the inevitable.
God intervenes, as He has in my life, and makes what she has last.
There are several ways God can provide for us. Because I work in an industry which rewards my performance, sometimes I would have a great quarter and know that my bonus check was going to be larger.
This was not for my enjoyment because a car problem or an AC unit in my house would burn out. The purpose of the blessing was to enable me to bless a mechanic or technician.
I have everything I need, so I was fine with that. This taught me not to get excited and run out and buy things, thinking I was about to have a windfall.
The other way is without a change in my income, or even with a drop, I would go months, even years, with no unexpected expenses. God knew my income and made it cover my needs.
This is what He does for this woman. Her oil and flour never run out while she is with Elijah.
Our biggest need
There is one need only God can provide.
This woman is faithful, but her only child gets sick and dies.
Sometimes bad things happen, even to believers. The Bible does not tell us having faith will make all our problems go away.
The opposite is true. We are told by Jesus in John 16:33 that in this world, we will have troubles.
Then Elijah prays and stretches himself out. This may have been an odd ritual, but I think it is symbolic of stretching our faith. He does it three times, not giving up.
The boy has been resurrected. He lives, just as Jesus lived when He rose from the grave.
We all need to have this life. He will give you that same gift if you stretch your faith to believe in Him.
This doesn’t start after we have died, like with the boy. At that point, it is too late.
The life Jesus gives us manifests itself the moment we trust in Jesus. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and be saved (Rom 10:9)
