Miracles
Paige Brown, a Nashville Bible teacher is at it again this fall teaching on Elijah and Elisha in a series called "Standing Alone." Her lessons are only up for 1 week on YouTube and then she takes them down when she puts up the next one. Today is the last day to catch Session 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPhDqXvSR44
If you choose to watch have your Bible open to 1 King's 16 and a pen with paper ready to write down a lot of nuggets from 1 Kings 16:29-1Kings 17:24. It is as exciting as any novel you may be reading and holds some mighty good teachings on several levels.
You will encounter some miracles in this historical record. Brown teaches:
"Miracles are a revelation of God. Their purpose is to reveal God, his power and his glory as he executes judgement and brings salvation. Miracles are pointers to his promises and always show his redemptions. Miracles are little whispers of what it will be like when God makes all things new."
King Ahad had become king of Israel at this time and was married to the awful Jezebel, a Baal worshipper from Sidon. These two were really bad and wanted nothing to do with God, so God let them go and have what they wanted.
God raised up the prophet Elijah to work for him at this time. He calls on Elijah to announce there will be a drought. As you read you will see that God is a Provider to those he calls. He tells Elijah:
Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 1 Kings 17:3
It is there God miraculously takes care of Elijah's needs. He chooses the needy and unlikely to provide for Elijah. He uses ravens, which are scavengers, to bring food twice a day to Elijah.
Then he uses a widow (individuals notoriously known for having great needs) from the foreign land of Sidon to provide for Elijah.
The story has quite the climax. I don't want to spoil the miracles for you.
Another Brown quote: "God only asks for something from us (like the widow whose son dies) so he can do something bigger and better for us. He doesn’t need anything from us."
I hope you have time to read and am asking God to reveal times when you've felt like something has been taken from you only to learn that God was moving you towards something better.
Brown's take away question at the end is a powerful one.
"What do you have that will go with you through the grave?"
Hmm. I don't think "My wedding ring" is the correct answer.
Keep digging! There is so much for us to learn in God's Word
The Song
I Need a Miracle by Third Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTjimzpyE4k
