For many people, Ahab’s reign may have seemed like the end of any hope of a return to the worship of the true God. Scripture pointed out that Ahab did more evil in the sight of God than any other king before him (1 Kings 16:30). In fact, to some, the famine might have signaled God complete withdrawal. However, we see in this passage that God will not leave or forsake His people. This is a great and precious promise.
Read 1 Kings 16:29-19:18
God brought an end to the famine and even brought refreshment to Elijah in the worst of places. We see the Lord’s provision when Elijah is alone. Still, it seems that for every time God provides for Elijah when he is alone, there are more times that Elijah is reminded of God’s provision through Godly followers. The Christian community that we have surrounded ourselves with is a blessing from God.
God sustained Elijah through the widow and her son. They were a reciprocal blessing to each other. Obadiah also reminded Elijah how God was protecting him from Ahab. Finally, when Elijah was at his lowest and had always told himself that he was the last follower of God, the Lord spoke to him and said: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 King 19:18).
I remember once when an elderly couple was having a difficult time while out traveling with a group from our congregation. It was camp time, and the husband had some chest pain and was taken to the hospital. They would bring him back to the home hospital two hours away, and the wife would have to drive home the next morning. After I had helped her to get to the hospital and then back to her hotel where she was met by another couple from the church that brought her a dinner, she was overwhelmed with emotion. She exclaimed when she saw them, “This is why you belong to a church.” God used His community of believers to sustain and support one of His hurting children. He will do the same for you.
Jeremy Kamer Ministries 