Elijah Fed by Ravens - Youth Sunday School Lesson on 1 Kings 17:1-6

 

Brief: God is the only one with power over nature, and He can provide for us.

(Printable Student Sheet)

 

Historical Context:  David and Solomon are dead.  The Kingdom of Israel has split into two nations, Israel and Judah.  Though Judah has stayed loyal to David’s descendants (mostly), both nations have begun to worship the false gods of the Canaanite religions.  Soon, the Most High God will punish Israel and Judah for their sins by allowing them to be conquered by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and sending them into exile.  But first, He will make a final plea, through the mouths of His prophets, to try to turn the people back to Him.  This story takes places around the year 875 B.C.

 

Authorship:  The Book of the Kings was written mostly by Jeremiah the prophet during Israel’s exile in Babylon.  It was later edited and completed by subsequent prophets and priests.

 

Scripture: 1 Kings 16:31-32; 17:1-6

  Read 1 Kings 16:31-32 and 1 Kings 17:1-6

Why does Elijah say “…the God of Israel, lives”?  What comparison is he making to Ahab’s god, Baal?

God is the only real God, the only One who is alive, unlike all false gods.

 

Why does Elijah say “…the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve”?  What is Elijah telling Ahab, the King, about where Elijah’s loyalty lays?

Elijah is making it clear that he is in service to God, the King of All, not the king of one country.  He is a royal ambassador, a court messenger, from the Heavenly Kingdom to an earthly kingdom.

 

In light of the fact that Baal was the Canaanite god of rain, what is the significance of Elijah saying that “there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word”?

By denying rain, God and Elijah are denying Baal’s power to provide rain and proving God’s.  God is the One All-Powerful, not like the many gods of the Canaanites, who have to share duties and power.

 If there is to be no dew or rain for a few years, then there will be a severe drought.  Crops will die.  The water supply will dry up.  Eventually, animals and people will die for lack of water and food.  Why would God cause this to happen if He loves people?

Life and survival are not the most important things to God.  What is important to God is that His people have a right relationship with Him.  God is willing to do something big like this in order to get their attention.

 

Name the three miracles that occur in this passage and note what they can tell us about God.

Miracle one: No dew or rain.

 

What does this miracle tell us about God?

God has complete control over the natural world.  He is sovereign.

 

Miracle two: Ravens feed Elijah.

What does this miracle tell us about God?

Again, God has control over the natural world, even animate creatures.  God will provide for those who do His will.

 

Miracle three: God speaks to Elijah.

What does this miracle tell us about God?

He wants to communicate with us.

 

What is the significance of mentioning where Elijah was from (Tishbe in Gilead)?  Or the location of the Kerith Ravine, east of Jordan?

The Bible is usually very specific in terms of geographic locations and times in order to prove that it is historically true.