The Death of A Good Woman's Son
One consistent refrain from scripture is that many times bad things happen to really good people and we need to learn how to NOT give up when it does.
1 Kings 17:17–18 (ESV) After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”
1 Kings 17:17–18 (ESV) After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”
The words "after this" mean we MUST connect what just happened to the tragedy about to occur. What just happened was the miracle she received of unlimited oil and flour because she listened to the Word of the Lord through Elijah. Now she experiences the seriously tragic event of a dead child.
Here was a woman who not only feared the Lord but who was well aware that she needed God's grace. Notice if you will that last line: "You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”
It must be pointed out that she is well aware of her sins while Israel is plummeting into idolatry and immorality following the practices of the nation she is from! She's living with shame and guilt and Israel is happily walking in rebellion away from the Lord.
I have seen this occurrence again and again in the Church and we must be mindful of it. Many times those who have been in the longest are the ones drifting out while those who were on the outs are making their way in. The Lord receives them because we all need grace and those coming in KNOW they need it.
If there's a prayer you should be regularly saying it is "Forgive us our debts" as the Lord instructed. For it is absolutely going to happen in you that at some point in your walk of faith - you will begin to forget you're still in need of God's grace. Then we may turn in to older brothers and sisters who look down our noses at the Prodigals coming home. I never want to get to that point. I want to model what I see in Elijah - ready to go to those far from God because those who had been brought near have lost sight of His goodness in their lives.
We should note Jesus would visit the same territory and heal another woman's child from the region of Sidon as the Jews rejected Him. Thus Jesus becomes our true and better Elijah who is sent by the Father to bring healing to the nations.
Matthew 15:21–22 (ESV) And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”
Ironically, the main god of the Sidonians was "Eshmun", a god of healing. But healing is only truly found in the God of Israel. Elijah responds quickly to her dire need:
1 Kings 17:19–21 (ESV) And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”
I have seen this occurrence again and again in the Church and we must be mindful of it. Many times those who have been in the longest are the ones drifting out while those who were on the outs are making their way in. The Lord receives them because we all need grace and those coming in KNOW they need it.
If there's a prayer you should be regularly saying it is "Forgive us our debts" as the Lord instructed. For it is absolutely going to happen in you that at some point in your walk of faith - you will begin to forget you're still in need of God's grace. Then we may turn in to older brothers and sisters who look down our noses at the Prodigals coming home. I never want to get to that point. I want to model what I see in Elijah - ready to go to those far from God because those who had been brought near have lost sight of His goodness in their lives.
We should note Jesus would visit the same territory and heal another woman's child from the region of Sidon as the Jews rejected Him. Thus Jesus becomes our true and better Elijah who is sent by the Father to bring healing to the nations.
Matthew 15:21–22 (ESV) And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”
Ironically, the main god of the Sidonians was "Eshmun", a god of healing. But healing is only truly found in the God of Israel. Elijah responds quickly to her dire need:
1 Kings 17:19–21 (ESV) And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”
Then the healing happens:
1 Kings 17:22–24 (ESV) And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”
Two things of importance here: Elijah, the great man of faith CRIED out to God and physically put himself into this prayer for the child. You can see his heart at work here for the woman who cared for him. Secondly, her response is beautiful. She is learning through the process that the Word of the Lord is true. Her faith grew from this which means before this it had yet to grow to where it needed to be. Never forget Christian, God will work in your life to grow your faith. But you have to press through those times when you experience trouble in spite of the steps of faith you've already taken. God will not give up on you.
1 Kings 17:22–24 (ESV) And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”
Two things of importance here: Elijah, the great man of faith CRIED out to God and physically put himself into this prayer for the child. You can see his heart at work here for the woman who cared for him. Secondly, her response is beautiful. She is learning through the process that the Word of the Lord is true. Her faith grew from this which means before this it had yet to grow to where it needed to be. Never forget Christian, God will work in your life to grow your faith. But you have to press through those times when you experience trouble in spite of the steps of faith you've already taken. God will not give up on you.
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