Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, was a prophet of Yahweh, our heavenly Father. We began to read about Elijah in I Kings Chapter 17 through II Kings Chapter 2. Elijah was a chosen prophet of Yahweh; performing many miracles; thus, he was taken up in a whirlwind, with a chariot of fire and horses of fire, leading the way to heaven, after his mission was fulfilled. Elijah never saw death; however, he certainly made an impact on the lives that he encountered.
Elijah and The Widow's Son
Elijah, under the instructions of Yahweh, encounters a widowed woman in Zarepath who let's him dwell with her for brief time. When he approached the woman he asked her for a little water in a vessel, so he may drink; however, when she went to fetch the water he called to her again and asked for a morsel of bread in her hand. But the woman replied, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a jar: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." (I Kings 17:12)
Elijah assured the woman there was nothing to fear: however, he wanted her to make him a little bit of cake, then do as she planned and make cake for her and her son. Then Elijah spoke to her these words, from Yahweh, "The barrel of meal shall not wast, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that the Lord (Yahweh) sendeth rain upon the earth." (I Kings 17:15) The woman did all that Elijah had spoken and the woman and her house did eat a full year, and the barrel of meal did not waste nor did the jar of oil fail.
After those things it came to pass that the woman's son became very ill and because of his sickness there was no breath left in him. The woman approached Elijah and asked him if he was reminding her of her sins of the past? Was this why her son was slain? Elijah then picked up her son and carried him up into the loft where he stayed, and laid him upon the bed. And cried unto Yahweh, and stretched himself upon the child three times and cried unto Yahweh, "Oh Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again." (I Kings 17:21) Yahweh heard the cries of Elijah and the soul of the child came into him again and he lived. Elijah took the child and brought him down to his mother and said, "See, thy son liveth."
(I Kings 17:23) And the woman said to Elijah, by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth." (I Kings 17:24).
At times a person may assume that the sins of their past have dwindled down to their children. However, that may not be the case. Sometimes our heavenly Father is trying to tell us something, to get our attention, to make us see situations and circumstances in a different light. Nothing is ever too challenging for our heavenly Father, he is the Almighty God, through sickness and in health, in life and death.
You will notice that the woman referred to Elijah as the "man of God" on many occasions. She did not see Elijah the man, she saw the truth of the Word of the Lord, spoken through him. Our words depict character as well as our relationship with Yahweh. Although Elijah was a prophet of Yahweh, all of us who have fear, respect, trust, love, and a closeness with our heavenly Father, can communicate on a spirit-filled level, given to us by our heavenly Father, according to his will.
It is imperative to remember that we all fall short at times; however, it is important to hurriedly get back into agreement with our heavenly Father, and continue to perform his will. It may be difficult for some to quickly get back into agreement; however, the more we stay near the cross and walk according to God's statutes and commandments, the shorter we want to remain away from his glory.
