1 Kings: God Will Provide

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 16-18
Message: 1 Kings: God Will Provide

Hello My Friend,

The media has a great way of hiding the truth about things, for instance, they taunt on how great the economy is, yet more people are on government assistance and or sharing households than there ever was. If there is one thing I have learned over the years as a Christian it is that God loves His people, He always provides for them, even in a famine if we keep our eyes on Him, He will always provide. “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Luke 12:29-31.

Prosperity and provisions in our nations begins with God, if we honor and make Him King over our nation we will prosper, but remove Him, and judgment will come. As much as the government likes to make us think that they are trying to take care of and sustain us, the truth is, they are only taking care of themselves. Corrupt politicians have crept into our governments and instead of helping us they are controlling us, telling us what to eat, what to think, who gets to live, and even who to worship. This is not something new, the Northern Kingdom of Israel went through king after king, each one more corrupt than the last. This time, we learn of Ahab, the most corrupt king of the north, and his biggest influence was his wife, Jezebel, who made all of the Northern Kingdom serve Baal.

“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” - 1 Kings 16:29-34.

“as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam” As much as we think that things cannot get any worse, think again. You know, so many people fail to realize that the United States was founded because people got tired of the government controlling their religion, they wanted to worship God their way, according to His word. So many people lost their lives trying to make this a free, God fearing country, yet we are losing our freedom everyday because we are allowing corrupt politicians dictate our lives. And in case you had not noticed, the fasted growing religion in our country today is Islam, and not only in the US, but all over the world. The prophesies are coming to pass, judgment is coming to every nation, and it is only the beginning. “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” - Mark 13:7,8.

The more the government keeps messing with God’s people and getting them to commit sin the more we will suffer as a nation. However, God will provide for His faithful people, even among the unfaithful. Elijah was a prophet sent by God to tell Ahab of a great famine that was about to happen for not only bringing Baal worship into the kingdom, but enforcing it on the people. When Elijah confronted Ahab he was not too happy, he blamed Elijah for the drought, and anyone caught speaking of would be executed. God sent Elijah to a place where he could be safe, God provided him with the provisions he needed, but He did not stop with Elijah, he cared for all who were faithful to Him, including a widow that He sent Elijah to for provisions himself.

“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” - 1 Kings 17:3-9.

“So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD:” We do not need a Bible for God to tell us what we need to do, we have the living Bible inside of us. The Holy Spirit is our guide, and while some of the things He leads us to (nothing that goes against Scripture) may seem strange and a waste of time, there is a purpose for them. God was not only going to show Elijah, but this woman and her son that He will always provide, no matter what the circumstance. If you stop to think about it, and if you observed those who are faithful to God you will see that we all have seasons of famine and of plenty. I imagine if it was plenteous all the time we would not rely on God so much, which is why He brings famines. No matter how long the famine lasts, it is important to be faithful to God as He has much more to give us here and in our new life to come when Jesus comes to get us. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” - John 6:27.

I am not against the government, when it works according to our constitutional rights than it is great, and we all prosper. However, our nations are declining rapidly, and they will continue to do so until we get some godly people in our government. God was going to keep pressing Israel until they saw that their worship of Baal was wrong. Now, with the famine hitting hard, Ahab went searching for food, he sends his governor Obadiah to search the other side and runs into Elijah. Obadiah feared for his life, he knew that if he went to Ahab and told him that Elijah was in town that he would face execution for even talking to him. However, he faced his fears and Elijah promised him that everything would be fine. The reason why Elijah wanted to meet with Ahab was to challenge him.

“And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?” - 1 Kings 18:7-13.

“but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.” I caught myself this morning reminding God of all the things I do to serve Him and asking Him to give me more work so I can take care of my mom. You know, at one time I use to think it was wrong to remind God of my faithfulness to Him, but as I begin to study His word I realized every one of His faithful do the same thing. God does not need us to remind Him of anything because He knows what we do, but He likes us to mention them as it is a reminder to us. Much of the suffering we go through as a nation has nothing to do with what we have done, we can thank our government for most of them, but they are reminders that while we are sinners saved by grace, we really can be faithful to God through the worse famines.

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” - 1 Peter 3:14-17.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elijah, whom God used to provide flour and oil for the needy widow at Zarephath (17:13-16). Christ our sustainer of life, provides not only the things we need to sustain our physical body, but our soul as well. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.

Today's Prayer: God, You promise to provide us with all Your riches according to our needs, you may provide us with our wants from time to time, but You always provide us with the things we need. This world is so corrupt that it loves to convince us that if we turn to them they will provide us with our needs and wants, but what they want is to turn us away from You. Lord, give us Your power, protection, and peace as we endure the famines that come with Your judgments. Keep us safe, hide us in Your bosom, and put Your hedge of protection around us. Let us never forget that You will always supply us with what we need, and that things will be plentiful one day. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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