INTRODUCTION: Elijah was a prophet of God during the reign of Ahab. Elijah is the main character through the remainder of this book and into the first of the next book (1 Kings 17-22; 2 Kings 1-2). He is called Elijah in the Old Testament (69 times) and Elias in the New Testament (30 times) and is mentioned by one of these names a total of 99 times. Nine is the number of fruit in the Bible and Elijah certainly had a fruitful ministry. He is a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the time of its greatest rebellion against God. But during this time, he stood firm and showed the power of God. We can learn much from his bold stand in a time of apostasy.

1. FED BY THE BROOK CHERITH (1 Kings 17:1-7 [1] 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. [2] And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [3] Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [4] And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. [5] So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [6] And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. [7] And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
   See All...)
1. Elijah’s Announcement to Ahab (1 Kings 17:1And 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.
   See All...)
1. Elijah suddenly appeared on the scene.
2. Elijah came from Tishbeh in the land of Gilead, a land on the eastern side of the Jordan River roughly across from the land of Galilee.
3. Elijah showed courage by prophesying directly to King Ahab (see 1 Kings 18:17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
   See All...).
4. Elijah prophesied that Israel would not receive rain until he said so (James 5:17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
   See All...).
2. Elijah’s Move to the Brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:2-3 [2] And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [3] Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
   See All...)
1. The word of the Lord came to Elijah (1 Kings 17:2And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
   See All...).
2. He was to hide by the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
   See All...).
3. Elijah’s Care by the Ravens (1 Kings 17:4-6 [4] And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. [5] So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [6] And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
   See All...)
1. God promised provision at the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
   See All...).
1. God promised to have the ravens feed Elijah.
2. God gave no other promise of provision. Any other move would certainly lead to disaster.
2. Elijah did according to the word of the Lord (1 Kings 17:5So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
   See All...).
3. God gave provision to Elijah (1 Kings 17:6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
   See All...).
1. His servants – the ravens
1. Would eat dead flesh (Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
   See All...)
2. Are black in color (Song of Solomon 5:11His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
   See All...)
3. An unclean bird (Leviticus 11:15Every raven after his kind;
   See All...; compare Job 14:4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
   See All...)
4. Yet, are provided for by God (Luke 12:24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
   See All...)
2. His provision
1. From the ravens
1. Bread
2. Flesh
2. From the brook – water
3. His meals
1. One in the morning
2. One in the evening
4. Elijah’s Loss of the Brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
   See All...)
1. Although it was provided by God, Elijah’s source of provision dried up.
2. God often allows His own provision to cease in order to teach us that all provision comes from Him and not from the intermediate source that He provides.
3. This demonstrates that God’s servants are not exempt from the consequences of living in a wicked world.
2. FED BY THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH (1 Kings 17:8-16 [8] And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [9] Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. [10] So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. [11] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. [12] And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. [13] And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. [14] 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. [15] And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. [16] 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.
   See All...)
1. Elijah’s Instructions (1 Kings 17:8-9 [8] And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [9] Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
   See All...)
1. According to the word of the Lord (1 Kings 17:8And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
   See All...)
2. Get thee to Zarephath and dwell there (1 Kings 17:9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
   See All...).
3. A widow woman will sustain thee (1 Kings 17:9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
   See All...).
2. The Widow’s Poverty (1 Kings 17:10-12 [10] So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. [11] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. [12] And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
   See All...)
1. No husband (1 Kings 17:9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
   See All..., 10)
2. No help (1 Kings 17:12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
   See All...a)
3. No hope (1 Kings 17:12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
   See All...b)
3. The Widow’s Priority (1 Kings 17:10-13 [10] So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. [11] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. [12] And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. [13] And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
   See All...)
1. She gave him her effort (1 Kings 17:10-11 [10] So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. [11] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
   See All...).
2. She gave him her food (1 Kings 17:13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
   See All...).
3. She gave to him first (1 Kings 17:13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
   See All...; Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
   See All...).
4. The Widow’s Provision (1 Kings 17:14-16 [14] 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. [15] And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. [16] 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.
   See All...)
1. The meal did not cease (Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
   See All...); her material needs were provided.
2. The oil did not fail (2 Corinthians 12:9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
   See All...); her spiritual needs were provided.
3. God’s provision was enough (Philippians 4:14-19
   See All...); God provides for His own when they put Him first in the midst of need.
3. USED TO RESURRECT THE WIDOW’S SON (1 Kings 17:17-24 [17] And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. [18] And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? [19] And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. [20] And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? [21] 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. [22] And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. [23] And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. [24] And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
   See All...)
1. The Death of the Widow’s Son (1 Kings 17:17-18 [17] And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. [18] And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
   See All...)
1. The son of the widow (1 Kings 17:17And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
   See All...)
1. He fell sick.
2. His breath left him.
2. The response of the widow (1 Kings 17:18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
   See All...)
1. She questioned her connection with Elijah – What have I to do with thee?
2. She questioned the cause of this tragedy?
1. Were her sins being called to remembrance?
2. Was her son going to be slain?
2. The Resurrection of the Widow’s Son (1 Kings 17:19-22 [19] And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. [20] And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? [21] 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. [22] And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
   See All...)
1. Elijah took the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
   See All...).
1. Elijah called upon her to give him her son. Note: She had to give him up in order to receive him back.
2. Elijah carried him to the loft and laid him on his own bed.
2. Elijah cried unto the Lord (1 Kings 17:20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
   See All...).
1. He pled with the Lord.
2. He pled for the widow and her son.
3. Elijah worked with the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:21And 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.
   See All...).
1. He stretched himself upon the child; a picture of him imparting his life to the child (compare 2 Kings 4:33-35 [33] He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. [34] And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. [35] Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
   See All...).
2. He stretched himself three times: a number connected with life and resurrection.
3. He asked the Lord for the child’s soul to return. Note: Death occurs when the soul and the spirit leave the body (see Genesis 25:8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
   See All... and Genesis 35:18And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
   See All...).
4. The Lord brought life back to the child (1 Kings 17:22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
   See All...).
1. The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer.
2. The soul of the child returned.
3. The boy revived.
3. His Restoration to His Mother (1 Kings 17:23-24 [23] And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. [24] And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
   See All...)
1. Elijah returned the child to his mother (1 Kings 17:23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
   See All...).
2. The woman gave testimony (1 Kings 17:24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
   See All...).
1. That Elijah was a man of God
2. That the word of the Lord in Elijah’s mouth was truth

CONCLUSION: The lesson begins with judgment against the nation of Israel and King Ahab, but most of the lesson focuses on the trials of the man of God due to the judgment. Perhaps the lesson is that God provides for His own even in times of judgment.