Ahab and Elijah I Kings 17

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

We need to jump back to the last chapter to get a picture of Ahab and why the wrath of God came on him.

I Kings 16:33 "And Ahab made a grove, and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."

So, why did Ahab not die like the other kings who did evil? I'm not sure but I think it is so the LORD could show his power to the people before they were scattered. Elijah was just the prophet for that job. He did what God told him to do and was not afraid. Being before the king did not intimidate Elijah because as he said he stood before the LORD.

With the power of God Elijah:
-stopped the rain
-kept the barrel of meal and cruse of oil from running out
-raised the widows son
That's just in this one chapter. His credentials are well established.

v5 "So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the book Cherith, that is before Jordan."

Here Elijah drank from the brook and was fed by the ravens. He got two meals a day of bread and meat. After the brook dried up, provisions were made for him in the widows house where he slept in the loft.

v14 "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."

So Elijah stayed there for a time. The widow's son became ill while he was there and died. Elijah took the child and laid him on his own bed in the loft and entreated the LORD for him and the child lived again.

v22 "And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived."

It was three years later when the LORD gave Elijah another command and so he waited for the Lord.

Psalm 34:17 "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Keywords: Old Old Story, Old Testament, Bible Study, Ahab, Elijah. Widow's son is raised. Elijah confronts Ahab.