When Nothing is Working

Based on 1 Kings 17-19

If it's not one thing, it's another...so far the chapters of 2020 have really tossed us from one crisis to another. There are many voices speaking, but what could God be trying to say through all this? Are we willing to listen to His still, small voice? When nothing is working, GOD IS!

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 1 Kings 17:1.

Elijah was a prophet of God, and Ahab was king of Israel with his wife Jezebel, and they wrought such wickedness in Israel. Ahab even allowed a temple to be built unto Baal, all to please Jezebel and forsaking the commandments of The Lord! Therefore, Elijah told Ahab it wouldn't rain again until God would allow it to, and it didn't rain for years! But God protected & provided for Elijah during that time, and God used Elijah to help a widow woman and her son during that time as well.

"For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah." 1 Kings 17:14‭-‬16.

This woman and her son were thought they were going to die and were preparing their last meal, but God used Elijah to show how God will sustain through times when all hope seems lost! Miraculously, God did not let those resources run out...a real "loaves & fishes" situation! Think about it...are we going through similar times? Is it hard to find comfort as we turn from disease to disaster? How long will it take for all to realize that God is the answer, and that we should turn to him?

After this provision in this tough time, disease also struck the son of the widow (again, one thing after another!), and the woman lost hope again. She thought it was a judgment against her, since she did not grow up living for God, being a foreigner. But again, this was just something God used for His glory, to show that even in a time of death, He is there for us! No one, nothing on earth can do what God can do!

"And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord , and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." 1 Kings 17:21‭-‬22.

God isn't trying to destroy us during this crazy time...He is trying to REVIVE us! But not to go back to normal-but to live a fresh, new life!

God proved that He is the answer once again in a challenge which Elijah proposed to Ahab: each would offer a sacrifice, one to Baal and one to God. No fire would be lit; it was up to God (or god) to provide the fire...

"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21.

This is the same question we must ask others, and even ourselves: How long will we be on the fence, between God and this world? We need to choose this day whom we will serve completely!

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15.

Choose God! Sure enough, He provided the fire in that sacrifice, and he spoke to Elijah with a still, small voice! Elijah had to recognize His voice through all the turmoil around him: through strong wind, an earthquake & fire, Elijah heard the still, small voice of God! God wasn't in those things, God was voice outside of the noise! He is the WAY OUT of those situations!

"And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."
1 Kings 19:11‭-‬12.

Oh, and God ended up sending rain, too! One tiny cloud on the horizon gave Elijah & his servant enough hope to claim it! And at the end of this passage, Elisha takes the mantle and follows after Elijah. We need to follow the ones who find hope, so we need to follow the ones who find Jesus at this time. It may seem like He is nowhere to be found, but that's because we might be staring at the storms instead of seeking Him through His Word! Walk away from this destructive time confidently in commitment to Jesus Christ!