1 Kings 17:22-23
And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.”
Tag: God Answers Prayer
In the above passage we read the end of the story of the widow who God provided to Elijah to help him. While engaged with that service the widow’s son died ... or, so she thought. But, God gave Elijah a chance for all of them to trust and express faith in prayer.
Elijah was a man like us. He had similar passions and similar fears. Just before the above verses we read:
1 Kings 17:20
And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?”
Elijah was on the run, and throughout the story of Elijah we will read about his fear, lack of faith and even depression. Yet, Elijah prayed and the young man, the widow’s son, came back to life. We have in this story the prayer of a man who demonstrates fear, weak faith and depression in his life. But, God had chosen him and made him righteous. God sent Elijah to the King of Israel, Ahab, and told him the tell Ahab there would be a drought in the land (because of Ahab’s wickedness). Ahab was an evil man and did wicked things to people. Yet, Elijah, in obedience did what God said. Here we have the story of fearful, shaking faith and even depressed man, at times, being used by God. Look what God will later say about Elijah to the New Testament church:
James 5:17-18
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
James uses Elijah of the example of a righteous man who has great prayers!! Why? Why use a man who actually showed weak faith (at times); showed great fear (at times); and was depressed (at times)? Notice what James says:
“Elijah was a man with a nurture like ours ...!” God is not expecting us to be perfect as we live and pray to Him. God is asking us to be obedient and trust Him in faith .... even weak, depressed and fearful faith.
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