Week 25: Full Redemption

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: 1 Kings 18:1-46; Acts 11:1-30; Psalm 135:1-21; Proverbs 17:12-13
* Monday: 1 Kings 19; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm 136; Proverbs 17:14-15
* Tuesday: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29; Acts 12:24-13:15; Psalm 137; Proverbs 17:16
* Wednesday: 1 Kings 22; Acts 13:16-41; Psalm 138; Proverbs 17:17-18
* Thursday: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139; Proverbs 17:19-21
* Friday: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17; Acts 14:8-28; Psalm 140; Proverbs 17:22
* Saturday: 2 Kings 4:18-5:27; Acts 15:1-35; Psalm 141; Proverbs 17:23

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:20
Then Elijah cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, why have you brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?"

Observation:
Elijah does not understand God. Why does the LORD kill the son of this widow, who has treated him so well? It doesn't make sense, and Elijah cries out to the LORD.

We don't know exactly why God does this, but verse 18 might hold an explanation. The woman had committed certain sins, and had kept those secret for Elijah. Perhaps she had been a prostitute to try to make a living for herself. She was a widow, and perhaps she had slept with different men, and the boy was a result of that. We don't know.

Application:
What we do know is that the woman has a lot of faith. She uses her last oil and flour to bake something for Elijah. Everything goes smoothly after that. The oil and flour do not run out, and she must enjoy this miraculous experience, until... until her son dies. Now she can no longer keep her past a secret.

God doesn't want her to keep her past a secret. He doesn't want us to keep our pasts a secret. God wants full redemption.. He wants this for the woman and for us as well. Elijah performs a miracle by raising the boy from the dead. The woman gets a second chance with her boy, and with her life. Now she knows it for sure: God is real, and Elijah is his servant (v.24).

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God who wants full redemption and retoration for us. Thank you that you offer that redemption through your Son, Jesus Christ. He too, offered this redemption to the woman at the well, just like you did through Elijah to this widow. You don't want half redemption for us, but full and complete redemption. Thank you for giving us that. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

Dick