1 Kings 17: Lessons from Elijah on Being a Messenger for God When Society Openly Embraces Evil

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 When evil surrounds you, place your complete trust in God’s Word1


Introduction: What happens when politicians at every level of government abandon God, evil becomes rampant in society, and the Church remains silent? 1 Kings 17 answers this question. When leaders and nations ignore the warnings in His Word, He reluctantly judges the leaders and the nation. Then, out of mercy and grace, He sends a messenger to call the sinful leaders and the nation to repentance. Elijah was God’s first prophet from within the apostate state of Northern Israel. He appeared four times in the Book of Kings to deliver God’s Word when either King Ahab or King Ahaziah embraced evil, and God’s priests stayed silent (1 Kgs. 16:29-19:18; 1 Kgs. 21; 2 Kgs. 1:2-2:17; 19:19-21; 2 Kgs. 2:1-18). The Jews later imagined Elijah to be a charismatic hero. In Jesus’ day, some Jews even asked if Jesus was Elijah (Matt. 16:14; Lk. 9:8). Yet, during his ministry, Elijah was rejected by almost everyone and persecuted for speaking God’s Word. Today, he would most likely be mistaken by many as a mentally ill homeless person. Today, the western world lives in a time that is no different or worse than the reigns of the kings of Northern Israel. Most leaders reject God’s Word, evil is rampant, and the Church has largely stayed silent. God has judged the nations for embracing evil. And He is now looking for people of faith to deliver His Word and bring the nations to repentance.

If you can see the absence of godly leadership, rampant evil, and the silence of the Church, God can use you to be His messenger. From Eijah’s example, God reveals seven lessons on being His servant in times of evil. These include: (1) calls to repentance, (2) faith, (3) obedience (4) encouragement, (5) perseverance in the face of trials, (6) intercessory prayer, and (7) praise.

First, to bring Northern Israel to repentance, Elijah proclaimed that the nation would suffer a severe drought. Although God does not empower most of His servants to cause a drought, He wants His messengers to call sinners to repentance during evil times. Second, God promised to provide for Elijah if he fled into the wilderness and trusted God to feed him with ravens. Ravens are selfish creatures who are not known for caring for others. Thus, this was a test for Elijah. He had to have the faith to fully trust God. From Elijah’s test, God reveals that His messengers must have complete faith in His promises to endure during evil times. Third, Elijah obeyed God, and God provided for him in the wilderness, just as He promised. From Elijah’s example, God reveals that His messengers must be obedient to Him to endure during evil times. Fourth, God sent Elijah to a woman who had almost nothing and directed her to share what little she had with him. Because she believed, God miraculously made sure that her limited provisions did not run out. From Elijah’s example, God reveals that His messengers should encourage others in their faith during evil times. Fifth, God tested both the woman and Elijah by allowing the woman’s son to die after she helped Elijah. Elijah then cried out for God’s intervention. God tested Elijah to build up his endurance to serve Him. God had to slowly build up his faith to prepare him for even worse trials that would come against him in the future. From God’s testing, He reveals that His servants must persevere during evil times. If you are willing to be God’s messenger, you will also be attacked. Sixth, Elijah prayed for God to bring the deceased child back to life. God responded by miraculously resurrecting the child. From Elijah’s example, God reveals that His messengers should pray as intercessors for others during evil times. Finally, from this miracle, the woman praised God for sending His servant. From this example, God reveals that His messengers should inspire others to praise Him for His provision during evil times.

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