163: Stephen Whitehouse - A Widow’s Faith

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

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   Welcome to Good Christadelphian Talks. I'm Levi. And I'm Chris. And I'm Brian. Thank you for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one talk a week to help us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post a new episode at the start of each week, with a short intro beforehand to kind of set the stage for the talk you're about to listen to.

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   And now, let's talk more about this week's talk. For this week's episode, we are listening to a class that's given by Brother Stephen Whitehouse on the subject of Elijah. And this is class one from his series that he gave at the Swanwick Bible School in 2010. What I really liked about this class, and it was suggested to me to listen to, is Brother Stephen in this first class, he's looking at the reading out of 1 Kings 3.

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   So if you want to read through that, go ahead. But what Brother Stephen does when he is taking this look at Elijah, and the entire series is this way, is he does this really good blend of interesting, deep-dive Bible study onto the topic of Elijah, while also pulling really practical applications and lessons that we can apply to our daily lives that really kind of make the story of Elijah practical to us, while giving you a better understanding of this incredible man of faith that we read about and his conflicts that he had with Ahab and Jezebel.

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   Brother Stephen also has more recently published a book on the subject of Elijah, which came out after this was given in 2010. If you just Google for Stephen Whitehouse's book, Elijah Christadelphian, it'll come up. It's on several different sites. There's even a virtual copy if you would prefer to just read it on your phone or whatever.

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   The book goes even in more in-depth than this series does, and the series is fantastic. So the entire series, like I said, this is just going to be class one. The entire series will be on the Good Christadelphian Talks extended podcast and should post Monday morning. So as always, thank you for the recommendations.

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   As I mentioned, this one was a suggestion that was sent our way as a really excellent class to listen to. If you have those, please send those in. We appreciate those as they come in. They are greatly appreciated. So with that, I am going to turn over to Brother Stephen Whitehouse for his first class on his overall subject of Elijah.

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   This class is a widow's faith. Well, it's worth just reminding ourselves of the figure of Elijah and then his character. Keep a marker in 1 Kings chapter 17 because we're going to base our thoughts upon that chapter. But I'd like us now to go to 2 Kings chapter 1. And here, and I'm sure we're all aware, that it's the account of Ahab's son.

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   And Ahab sends out messengers to find out whether he's going to be healed of this terrible disease. And the messengers come back and they inform him of a person they have met on their way. We read here in verse 8 of chapter 1. And they answered Ahaziah and said, he was a hairy man and good with a girdle of leather about his loins.

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   And immediately this king realizes that it's Elijah the Tishbite. So he was renowned for his appearance. It was a stark appearance. So imagine this man coming into the court of Ahab. And there they are dressed in their royal robes and apparel. And this man here, a hairy man, he was known as the god of hair.

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    You can imagine his mane. And he was girt with a girdle of leather around his loins. And we know that he also carried the mantle, the prophet's mantle. And there he was, standing as a figure of God. And Ahab as a figure of Baal. These two forces come in opposition, one with another.

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    But what about his character? I'd like you now to look at 1 Chronicles in chapter 12. It's an interesting reference here. He came from Gilead, didn't he, Elijah? Gilead is of the east of the Jordan. And we find this little verse here in 1 Kings chapter 12. And it describes the fortitude of the Gileadites.

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    Now those who were sojourning in Gilead at this time were from the tribe of Gad. And so when we come to 1 Chronicles chapter 12 and David is assembling his troops, this is the character and the fortitude of the men and women that came from Gilead, the place that Elijah came from. So 1 Chronicles chapter 12 and verse 8, What a fitting verse to describe Elijah, brothers and sisters.

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    He certainly was a man fit for the battle. He was going to take on Ahab and Jezebel and all the courtiers and all the prophets of Baal and even Baal himself. And he had a face like the face of a lion. He would roar forth in the court of Ahab. His bravery was renowned.

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    And we know that this was a man who was summons here, there and everywhere in northern Israel from that phrase, the word of the Lord. The word of the Lord would compel him to go from one place to another. And here he is, as swift as the rose upon the mountains. So you imagine Elijah there with the face of a lion, as swift as the roe upon the mountains.

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    And there he is standing in Ahab's court. But there's a very sobering exhortation for us, brothers and sisters, isn't there? With one exception, the word of the Lord compelled Elijah to go. He waited patiently for the word of the Lord to speak to him. What about us in our own lives? Are we motivated by the word of the Lord?

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    Can we honestly say that about ourselves, brothers and sisters, that our decisions in life, our actions, our work in this dispensation is motivated, is energized by the word of the Lord? And Elijah was a man of like passions, James 5 verse 17 says. He was a representative man. And so we can identify ourselves with this man, Elijah.

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    And he was compelled by the word of the Lord. And let that be an exhortation for ourselves. Well, Elijah said there'd be no rain. I want you to go back now to Deuteronomy chapter 11.

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    Elijah was speaking the words of the Lord. He was an extension of the word of the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ was the word made flesh. And we see the similarities with Elijah here. He's only speaking what the law of Moses had said. If you glance down then in verse 13 to verse 15 of Deuteronomy chapter 11, you see that rains would be poured upon the earth if they followed the God of Israel.

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    So they are the blessings. I want you now to look at verse 16. Take heed to yourselves, says God, that your heart be not deceived and you turn aside and serve other gods. Baal and Baalim and worship them. And if they did this, well, what is the response from the father? Verse 17.

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    And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you. And he shuts up the heaven that there be no rain and the land yield not her fruit unless she perish quickly from off the good land, which the Lord giveth you. So it was just an extension of what God had said through his prophet Moses.

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    And so Elijah prayed and shut up heaven. But God had already commanded an edict had gone forth that if they were disobedient, he would close heaven. Now, this is where the challenge is, brothers and sisters, because Baal was viewed as the God of the rains. And the Lord God in demonstrating his supremacy over Baal and the God of the rains, he was going to close heaven for three and a half years.

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    And so we see that contest. That contest didn't just take place on Carmel, brothers and sisters. It began now. The Lord God closed up heaven. Let's go back then to 1 Kings chapter 17 and let's continue with the narrative.

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    So as the word of the Lord then instructs Elijah to go. And what does God say to him? Well, it says there in verse three, get thee hence and turn thee eastward and hide thyself by the brook Cherish. That is before Jordan. Now, this is how God works with his servants. He returns to Gilead.

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    That's where Cherith is. He would have been familiar with the territory. This is the blessings of the father. He wasn't going to be placed in total isolation. Now, the word Cherith in the Hebrew means to cut off, to sever. And the Lord God was severing his relationship with Israel. God was denying Israel their prophet, Elijah.

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    And so God was cutting off Elijah and cutting off himself from them. There would be no rain. There would be no blessings of Deuteronomy chapter 11. But did you notice that little phrase at the end of verse three? He goes to the brook Cherith. Cut off. That is before Jordan. What a lovely phrase that is.

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    There he is in isolation and it's before Jordan. Now, the word Jordan in the Arabic is the word Na Esh Shariah, which means the watering place. And the reason why it's been given that name was that it's a plentiful source of water. Can you see what God is doing with Elijah? He's in a drought.

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    There's no rain. He's in a brook. And before him is a source of water that would supply all his needs. But no. God wants Elijah to be by the brook. He wants Elijah to have faith. He wants Elijah to be reliant upon him. Isn't that wonderful, brothers and sisters? The providential hand of God.

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    God wanted Elijah to rely upon him. And it goes further than this. Verse four. And it shall be that thou shalt drink of the brook. And I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. For he went and dwelt by the brook Cherish.

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    That is before Jordan. So God had at his disposal the angels. The mighty messengers of God. God didn't choose his mighty angels. He chose his humble winged creatures. To supply Elijah morning and evening. Morning and evening. And morning and evening. Verse six. And the ravens brought in bread and flesh in the morning.

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    And bread and flesh in the evening. And he drank of the brook. Picture that, brothers and sisters. The first moment of the day. With the sun rays. A gift from God comes to Elijah. This is why we chose hymn number 88. New every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations three, verse 23. And Elijah would have known that verse.

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    Great is thy faithfulness. And just before he sleeps. The messengers of God come once more. To feed him bread and flesh. There's the reliance of Elijah upon God. Now as we all know, brothers and sisters. The ravens. It says in Leviticus chapter 11 and verse 15. Were unclean. They were unclean. And so God is educating Elijah in a new way.

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    In a new way in how he's going to deal with his people. God is saying very clearly. That if he so chooses. He will choose the unclean things of this life. He will gather them in his arms. And he will bring them to glory. The ravens were unclean. Not only were they unclean.

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    They were viewed as an abomination. Elijah ate of them. Thankfully. With a thankful heart. And so, brothers and sisters. The verse of the Lord Jesus Christ. Take therefore no thought for the morrow. For the morrow shall take thought. For the things of itself. Sufficient until the day. Is the evil thereof. And that's an exhortation for ourselves.

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    Implicit trust. Elijah had on his God. God. And what of us, brothers and sisters. Sometimes we can become so preoccupied in our planning. And how we're going to plan our lives. But we should not forget this eternal principle. That we have today. And we do not have tomorrow. For tomorrow is God's. And so we should have the same spirit.

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    And the same attitude as Elijah. The other thing I want to develop here. As we develop our thoughts a little further. Elijah here. Is being fed by these unclean animals. And I want you to imagine. That this is a glimpse. Of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel that had been given to Israel.

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    Was going to go forth. He's being fed by unclean animals. His next phase of his life. Was going to go to a Gentile territory. And he's going to sojourn with a Gentile. Both cursed under the law. And so this is the first part of his education. God is instructing him in righteousness. And saying.

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    I choose these unclean things. And you Elijah will need to associate yourself with that. And he would have to do that. In Zarephah. Well. We shouldn't fail to see the miracle here. Let's go to Job chapter 38. The ravens here were providing Elijah. Bread and flesh morning and evening. Morning and evening. But Job here says in Job 38.

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    In verse 41. Who provided for the raven his food. When his young ones cry unto God. They wonder for lack of meat. And so. Job is saying that it's a miracle. It's a miracle. That these ravens brought Elijah food. Because they struggle to provide food for themselves. It was no problem at all.

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    Because God was with them. And so Elijah would have been aware. That these ravens would have struggled. To bring forth food. But he had trust in his God. Well let's go back then to 1 Kings chapter 17. There he is at the brook Cherith. It says there. In verse 8. And the word of the Lord came unto him saying.

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    Arise get thee to Zarephath. Which belongeth to Zidon. And dwell there. Behold I have commanded a widow woman there. To sustain thee. Now what I want to suggest to you now. Is that Elijah takes on the experiences of Israel of old. As they wandered in the wilderness. And hopefully you'll see that as we develop our thoughts.

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    But that's the point I want to make. That Elijah now takes on in figure. The experiences of Israel. But specifically the experiences of Moses. Elijah now becomes a figure of Moses. And he tries so desperately to be Moses. And we will see he will fail. But God instructs him in the ways of Moses.

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    So just part that for a moment. And let's just develop our thoughts. So he goes then to Zarephath. The trust of Elijah. Where was Zarephath? Well it was a Gentile area. It was outside the boundaries of Israel. And it was between Tyre and Zidon. It was the very place. That Ethbaal. King of the Zidonians reigned.

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    The very source. Of Zidonian worship. The influence of Jezebel. So there's Elijah being fed by ravens. The brook dries up. He doesn't go until he's instructed by the word of the Lord. And remember Israel in the wilderness. They never moved did they? Until the word of the Lord came to them. So that's a similar pattern.

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    And God says I want you to go to the very source. Of the affliction that's being brought upon the land. Because we know the prophets of the Lord were being persecuted by Jezebel. That's faith. And not a remark comes from the lips of Elijah. He just goes forth. Let's go to Luke chapter 4.

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    And as we go there brothers and sisters. Sometimes we're called upon to do difficult things. Are we not? We know deep down. That we should do certain things in the truth. And we know they're going to be very challenging. Do we do them? Knowing that God is going to be with us. Or do we ignore the word of the Lord?

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    And here the Lord Jesus Christ reminds the children of Israel concerning Elijah. And this special woman of Zarephath. Luke chapter 4 and verse 25. But I tell you of a truth. Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias. When the heavens were shut up three years and six months. When great famine was throughout all the land.

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    But unto none of them was Elijah or Elias sent. Save unto Sarepta. A city of Zidon. Unto a woman that was a widow. Now just pause for a moment. One of the greatest prophets the world has ever seen. Israel is in dire straits. And God says I want my great prophet Elijah. To go to Zarephath.

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    To do what? To do what? To bring one person into the truth. And she happens to be a Gentile. And we will see a pattern is established. A pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't that wonderful?

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    Elijah's sole responsibility now was to bring one person into the truth. Now he goes to Zarephath. And Zarephath in the Hebrew means a place of refining. And so here in Zarephath. The characters. Of Elijah and the widow woman would be molded and shaped. They would experience the heat of affliction. But together they would bring forth fruit.

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    Meet unto redemption. I want you now to go to Matthew chapter 15. Chapter 15. He goes to Zidon. Elijah does. No mean feet. 80 miles. On foot. Would have been a difficult journey for him. Zidon is a village. Or a town. On the coast of the Mediterranean. It's a fishing port. The root of the name Zidon.

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    Literally means hunting. And it comes from a derivative root. Which means to catch fish. Don't you think that's interesting? Elijah now is becoming the first prophet. To go to the Gentiles. And he goes to bring someone into the truth. And he goes to a place. That means to catch fish. And when the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples.

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    When they were to spread the gospels to the four corners of the earth. What did he call them? Fishers of men. So all these fishers of men that the Lord Jesus Christ sent forth. To speak to Gentile men and women. Is it being founded on this account? The principle that's being established here in 1 Kings in chapter 17.

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    Well let's develop this a little further. Look at Matthew chapter 15. Don't you think it's remarkable. That the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his three and a half ministry. Three and a half years ministry. He goes out of Israel just once. Did you know that? He goes out of Israel just once. And where does he go?

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    He goes to the very place that Elijah went to. He goes to Tyre and Zidon. Look at this. Matthew chapter 15 and verse 21. Then Jesus went thence and departed into the coast of Tyre and Zidon. And so the memory of 1 Kings chapter 17 would have been very much at the forefront of his mind.

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    And Elijah finds a woman in Zarephath in Tyre and Zidon. And who does Jesus find? And behold. A Gentile woman. A woman of Canaan. Came out the same coast and cried unto him saying. Have mercy on me O Lord. Thou son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with the devil. So she also has a domestic issue.

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    A domestic problem. And she needs the healing hand of God. And this woulda would need the healing hand of God. And look at the principle brothers and sisters. How does the Lord Jesus Christ summarize this situation? Look at verse 28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her. O woman. Great is thy faith.

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    Be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. So are we being told that these Gentiles will be grafted into the olive. The Israeli olive. If they showed faith. There's the principle brothers and sisters. Verse 28. O woman. Great is thy faith. We know that's true.

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    In 1 Kings chapter 17. She showed and demonstrated tremendous faith. And the healing hand of God blessed her home. Just as the healing hand of God blessed the home of this woman.

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    Let's go back to our original account. 1 Kings chapter 17. And Elijah then faithfully goes to Zarephath. And he's greeted isn't he? He's met by a woman. Verse 10. So he rose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city. Behold that the widow woman was there. Gathering of sticks.

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    And he called to her and said fetch me I pray thee a little water in a vessel that I may drink. Now it's interesting you know brothers and sisters. Because if you look at verse 9. How did God ensure that this widow woman was at the gates? Well we read in verse 9.

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    God had commanded the widow. We see at the end of verse 9. Commanded the widow. We don't know how. Whether it was through a vision or the angels spoke to this widow. But it was commanded. But it's the very same word that we find in verse 4. God commanded the ravens. And the ravens were unclean.

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    And so was this woman under the law. And notice something else. At the end of verse 9. What would this unclean woman do for him? She would sustain thee. And what would the ravens do at the end of verse 4? They would feed thee. The same Hebrew word. Sustain and feed. It's a repeat.

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    And Elijah was educated at Chereth. To prepare him for Zarephath. And we'll see that God willing a little later. So we have these two individuals. Sharing common circumstances. Both desperate for a divine provision. A Jew and a Gentile. Coming together for a common good. Now we see there. At the end of verse 10.

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    Elijah's first command. Fetch me I pray thee a little water in a vessel that I may drink. Now what I want to suggest to you now. Is that this is the call of the gospel. The process of bringing this woman into the truth. Now commences. With that phrase. Fetch me I pray thee a little water in a vessel that I may drink.

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    Let's prove that. Let's go to John chapter 4. We see the similarities between Elijah and the Lord Jesus Christ. And these accounts would have been in the mind of the word made flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ. The son of God. Here we have a familiar chapter to us all. The woman of Samaria.

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    And look at the language. It's a repeat of 1 Kings chapter 17. John 4 verse 5. Then cometh Jesus to a city of Samaria which is called Sechar or Shechem. Near to the parcel of the ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Verse 7. There cometh the woman of Samaria to draw water.

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    What's Jesus' first command? Notice that bread and sisters. Give me to drink. That was the first command of Elijah. Give me to drink. Of a woman in need. And how is Jesus going to answer this woman? Look at verse 13. Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.

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    But the water that I shall give him shall be in a well of water springing up into everlasting life. So Elijah asks. Give me to drink. And the woman would give him to drink. But what did Elijah have at his disposal? He had a well of water springing up into everlasting life. He had the hope of Israel.

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    And she was going to become a spiritual Jew. An adopted daughter of God. The God of Israel. How wonderful bread and sisters. That this figure is being played out. Elijah calling this woman into the truth. Well let's go back then into 1 Kings chapter 17. Because the commands continue. It was hard enough to ask for water.

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    But a harder request comes. Verse 11. And she was going to fetch it. And he called to her and said. Bring me I pray thee a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said. As the Lord thy God liveth. I have not a cake. But a handful of meal in a barrel.

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    And a little oil in a cruise. 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.

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    What a challenge. She only had enough food. For her and her son. And she's been asked to give it to Elijah. What a test. And what a test for Elijah. Knowing that this was her situation. And asking.

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    And have we brothers and sisters ever been asked. To do something for the truth. That we know that might be of detrimental. Impact to our families. Have we ever been placed in such a situation. That we have to put God first before our family. And we trust in God that he will bless us.

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    This is what this woman did. She was the woman with the last might. She gave over her life to this man. Relying on him. To provide for her. It's a very powerful excitation. But what did she have? Did you notice? All she had. Was a handful of meal. And a barrel of oil.

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    Do you think that's appropriate? She had a handful of meal. And a barrel of oil. It's very appropriate. I want you to go back to Leviticus chapter 2.

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    Elijah knew exactly what he was asking of this woman. Leviticus chapter 2. She has a handful of meal. And she has some oil. And when we come to Leviticus chapter 2. It describes for us the meal offering. We see there in verse 1. And when any will offer a meat or a meal offering.

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    The Hebrew word is minka. Unto the Lord. What happens? Look at verse 2. He shall bring it to Aaron's son the priest. And he shall take thereof. Or there out. A handful of flour. And some oil thereof. That's exactly what the woman had. Verse 4. So it was a meal offering. And a meal offering spoke of dedication.

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    I'm dedicating my labors to God. And that meal offering. The handful of flour and oil. Was made into a cake. And what did Elijah ask for? A little cake first.

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    She was to offer a sacrifice. She was to offer the meal offering. Now this is wonderful. I want you to go to Malachi chapter 1 now. Look at this little obscure verse. That we find in Malachi chapter 1. And it's the same Hebrew word as minka. The meal offering. We see here in verse 11.

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    For from the rising of the sun. Even unto the going down of the same. My name shall be great. Where? Among the Gentiles. Gentiles. And in every place. Incense shall be offered unto my name. And a pure offering. Or minka. That means meal offering. For my name shall be great. Among the heathens.

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    Seth the Lord of hosts. So we're being shown a glimpse. Of the future here. This woman is in a Gentile territory. She's a Gentile. And she's being commanded. To give of the minka. The meal offering. The handful of flour. And of the oil. And to make it into a cake. And the Malachi here says.

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    What this woman did. In 1 Kings chapter 17. Is a glimpse of the future. When the Lord Jesus Christ. Is in the earth. God's name will be praised. In all Gentile territories. And they will give of the minka. The meal offering.

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    So what a wonderful little cameo. Is being portrayed before us. She was the Gentile. Listening to a prophet of Israel. And she was to give of the minka. Well there's more than this. Let's go to Numbers chapter 15. So we've considered the meal. And we've considered the oil. But Elijah didn't ask for the meal.

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    Did he? He didn't ask for the oil. He asked for a cake. And he wanted the cake first. Well. This is the language of Moses. Numbers chapter 15. Look at verse 17. And the Lord spake unto Moses. Saying. Speak unto the children of Israel. And say unto them. When ye come into the land.

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    Whither I bring you. Then it shall be. That when ye eat of the bread of the land. Ye shall offer a. Heave offering. Notice unto the Lord. Ye shall offer a cake. Notice. Of the first. Elijah asks. First for a cake. This is the language of Numbers chapter 15. The first of your dough.

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    For a heave offering. As you do the heave offering. Of the threshing floor. So shall ye heave it. Of the first of your dough. Shall ye give it unto the Lord. A heave offering in your generations. Well what's that about? Well when the children of Israel. Were in the wilderness. The Lord God provided them.

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    Manner and quail. And so when they entered into the land. God said. I want you to offer the first of your dough. I've provided for you. You now provide for me. And so the cake came. And it was the first cake. And it symbolized a heave offering. Now what was a heave offering under the law?

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    Well the heave offering. Was the right shoulder of an animal. And what did that speak of? Total strength. So this woman then. Is being asked to give all her strength. To Elijah. All her strength. To the God of Israel. And that's exactly what she did. She gave everything to God. She was going to die.

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    There's no food in the house. But there's more. Let's go to Leviticus chapter 7. And all these passages. Would have been running through the mind of Elijah. He knew exactly what he was asking this woman to do. Leviticus chapter 7. Verse 11. And this is the law of the sacrifice. Of peace offerings.

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    Which ye shall offer unto the Lord. If he offer it. For a thanksgiving. Then he shall offer with the sacrifice of a thanksgiving. Giving unleavened cakes. Mingled with oil. And unleavened wafers. Anointed with oil. And cakes mingled with oil. A fine flour. Fried. Besides the cakes. He shall offer for his offering. Leavened bread.

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    With the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Of his. Peace offering. So she had to give thanksgiving. And it was part of the peace offerings. Now what were the peace offerings? The peace offerings were. Part of the sacrifice. That the children of Aaron could eat of. It spoke of fellowship with God. God was united with Israel.

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    So if we draw all these sacrifices together. We're being told. That this woman would have to dedicate herself. She would have to recognize her sin. She would have to be thankful. For God's blessings. And if she did all these things. And she offered a sacrifice to God. God. Would bring her. Into. Fellowship.

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    That's the hope of the gospel. Though it was seen. Under the rituals of the law. That was. The hope. Of. The gospel. Now think about this. Elijah had been at Cherith. There was no food there. And he had to rely on the ravens. He now goes to Zarephath. To help this woman. This woman now has to trust Elijah.

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    That Elijah would bring. The bread. Each day. Don't you see. How God is working. Elijah was tested. And Elijah came through that test. And now. He becomes a mediator. For this woman. He had been tested. In all points. As she was. Yet he had not failed. Can you see that. Brothers sisters. We see Christ.

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    Do we not. A man. Who now sits. At the right hand. Of the father. Who is described. By the great apostle. As a compassionate. High priest. These are the works of God. And they're all consistent. Now. One final. Reference. Concerning this bread. I want you now. I want you to go to. I want you to go to.

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    Numbers chapter 11. I believe this is the most important. Reference. Concerning. This cake. So from the woman's perspective. She was to offer to God. But how is God viewing this? God viewed it as a gift. God. And isn't it significant. Bread and sisters. That the manna. Is described. As the same ingredients. As we read in 1 Kings chapter 17.

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    As far as God was concerned. He was giving this woman. Manna. Number chapter 11 then. And verse 7. And the manna was of coriander seed. And the color thereof. Is the color of bedellium. And the people went out. And gathered it. And ground it in mills. Or beat it in a mortar. And they baked it in pans.

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    And they made cakes of it. And the taste of it was. Was a taste of fresh oil. And so. As far as God was concerned. He was giving her. Manna. She was as it were. In the wilderness. And would she enter. Into the promised land. Elijah takes on. The figure now. Of Moses.

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    Who is bringing. Great miracles. To Israel. She takes on. The figure. Of the nation. Of Israel. We're going back then. To 1 Kings chapter 17. We know that. This was not sustained.

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     Tragedy struck. We see there. In verse 17. And it came to pass. That after these things. That the son of the woman. The mistress of the house. She fell sick. And his sickness. Was so sore. That there was no breath. Left in him. So he felt sick. Want you to notice. That phrase.

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     She was the mistress. Of the house. The Hebrew word. Mistress. Is the word. Bala. Bala. The root. Of the name. Baal. Does this signify. That she still. Had a relationship. With Baal. It would require. The resurrection. Of the dead. For her to truly believe. In the living God. The God. Of Israel. Now.

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     Why is it. Brothers and sisters. If we ask ourselves. That rhetorical question. Why is it. That Elijah. This woman. And this child. They were being fed. By manna. Day in. Day out. And the child. Died. Amidst. The scene. Of miracles. Why did he die?

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     Jesus Christ. Answered. Why this child. Died. I read these words. To you. It's in John. Chapter 6. I am. That bread of life. Your fathers. Did eat manna. In the wilderness. And are dead. This is the bread. Which cometh down. From heaven. That a man. May eat thereof. And not die. I am the living bread.

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     Which came down. From heaven. If any man. Eat of this bread. He shall. Live forever. This manna. Could not sustain them. Forever. It was just a figure. Of something greater. To come. The Lord Jesus Christ. The bread of life. And so the child. Died. And what. Does this woman. Do. Well she brings.

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     Her sins. To memory. In verse 18. But she calls him. A man of God. Keep a hand. In 1 Kings. Chapter 17. I want you to go back. To Deuteronomy. Chapter 33. What a wonderful. Clue we have here. We could have easily. Overlooked that phrase. O man of God. She knew exactly. What Elijah was.

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     She knew. That he was. A figure of Moses. And this was. Manna indeed. Because when we come. To Deuteronomy. Chapter 33. We come. Across the title. Of Moses. It was unique. To Moses. We read there. In verse 1. And this is the blessing. Where with Moses. The man of God. Blessed the children.

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     Of Israel. Before his death. She looks. To this man. She says. Yes. You are. Like Moses. You are. That man of God. Yes. Indeed. This was manna. But my child. Is now dead.

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     Why? Why? And the account. Continues. In 1 Kings. Chapter 17. Did Elijah move. Because he had developed. He had forged. A deep relationship. With this woman. And the child. And he separates. The child. So that the child. Is with him. And his God. And he prays. To his God. And he stretches. Himself.

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     Upon that child. Three times. Three. The number. Of the resurrection. Elisha. Would do similarly. To the Shunammite son. But this resurrection. That we read of. In 1 Kings. Chapter 17. There are two major. Observations. I believe. To be seen here. The first observation. Is that. Elijah. Was not hindered. By the law. What we see.

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     Elijah do here. He goes beyond. The law. Because the law. Said in numbers. Chapter 19. That it was a defilement. A defilement. To touch. A dead body. A dead body.

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     Elijah. Goes beyond. The law. He'd already been. Fed by the ravens. He'd already. Been with a Gentile. He was already. Unclean. He goes beyond. The law. And secondly. At no other time. Had a servant. Of God. Called upon God. To raise the dead. To life. Elijah. Is the first man. A prophet. To the Gentiles.

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     And the first man. To call upon God. To raise the dead. And so surely. Bread and sisters. We see here. Very powerfully. A figure of Christ. A man whose gospel. Would go to the four corners. Of the earth. A man who said. I am the resurrection. And the life. Though this man be dead.

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     Yet. Shall he live. In John. In chapter five. And so. The earnest prayer. Of a faithful man. An effectual fervent prayer. Of a righteous man. Availeth much. We read in James chapter five. And there. In verse 22. The Lord. Heard. Heard the voice. Of Elijah. That word. Heard. Literally means. A person. Hearing attentively.

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     Unlike Baal. God was observing. The entire scene. He empathized. With Elijah. He empathized. With the widow. He knew exactly. What he was calling. Both of these. Characters of God. To do. And he heard. And he responded. And her faith. Now was. Fulfilled. Verse 24. And the woman. Said to Elijah. Now by this.

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     I know. That thou art. A man of God. Again. That title. Deuteronomy. Chapter 33. And the word. Of thy Lord. The word. Of the Lord. In thy mouth. Is truth. A Gentile. Then had been brought. Into the truth. Elijah's work. Had brought. Forth. Fruit. I want to go to. One final reference. Now.

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     Hebrews chapter 11. The faith. Of this woman. And the wonderful. Scene. Of God. Extending. His gospel. To a Gentile. Territory. And bringing. A Gentile. Into the truth. And here. In this. Mementous. Chapter. Where. The faithful. Of old. Are described. And their wonderful. Acts. We read. In Hebrews. Chapter 11. And verse 35. Women received.

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     Their dead. Raised to life again. And others were tortured. Not accepting deliverance. That they may. Obtain. A better. Resurrection. Verse 38. Of whom. The world. Was not worthy. They wandered. In deserts. And in mountains. And in dens. And caves. Of the earth. And these. All having obtained. A good report. Through faith. Received not the promise.

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     God having provided. Some better thing. For us. That they. Without us. Should not be made. Perfect. Women. Receive. Their dead. Raised to life again. Surely. This describes. The woman. At Zarephath. The woman. That was identified. By the Lord. Jesus Christ. In Luke. Chapter 4. It was Zarephath. In the place. Of refining. That their characters.

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     Were forged. And they came forth. Elijah. And this widow. They came forth. As purged gold. Purged gold. Brothers and sisters. And part of the jewels. That the Lord. Jesus Christ. Will gather to himself. When he returns. And so. Finally. Then. The lesson. That Elijah. And the widow. And the lesson. That all of us.

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     Brothers and sisters. Have to learn. In this life. Is found. In verse 6. But without faith. It is impossible. To please him. For he. That cometh to God. Must believe. That he is. And that he is. A rewarder. Of them. That diligently. Seek him. Thank you. For listening. To the good. Christadelphian talks podcast.

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     Thank you for listening. God bless. And talk to you next week.