Well, as mentioned earlier, I am not Matthew Capone.
I am Drew Arrington, and I am an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,
serving as a chaplain here at Fort Carson.
And Matthew and the CMP session have graciously given me the privilege and honor to explore with you today
the topic of God's providence as we find it in the early years of Elijah's ministry in 1 Kings 17.
You know, it's times like these that I'm really thankful that we are part of a confessional church
because you at least have some idea of what we're talking about when we say God's providence.
There are many Christians that do not, but thankfully we are not among them
because we already considered this morning question 11 in the Shorter Catechism.
So you're not unfamiliar with the topic.
It's a topic that the 18th century English poet, William Cowper, was not unaccustomed to either.
And he wrote a lot about God's providence in his hymn, God Moves in a Mysterious Way.
And the first two stanzas of that hymn are there in your bulletin this morning.
And you can take a look at those.
And in that, he begins to explore an aspect of God's providence that's not covered in the catechism.
Mainly, Cooper explores the mysterious and unfathomable nature of God's providence.
See, often in our experience or in the experience of people that we know,
we like to take credit when things are going well.
And as soon as this switch flips, we quickly assail God when things aren't going well.
And we hear that oftentimes in what seems like innocent ways.
Questions like, where is God?
Is God really in charge?
Why would God allow something like that to happen?
You see, when we experience the triumphs of life, we want to take credit for it.
It was our skill.
It was our hard work.
It was our ingenuity.
But then when tragedy strikes, we charge God with being uncaring or distant or weak.
When there's peace and our relationships, whether it's our marriages, whether it's international relationships,
or anywhere in between, are peaceful and things are going well, we're like, yeah, this is great.
I got this.
Look what we were able to accomplish.
Oh, but let conflict enter in.
Let a war start between our friends and our loved ones or between international parties.
And all of a sudden, the question is, well, why would God allow something like that to happen?
When we enjoy the favor of peers or a boss at work,
we enjoy the favor of peers or a boss at work,
and we get good write-ups,
we enjoy great success,
we get a promotion or a bump in pay,
we're like, yeah, look what I have done,
look what I've earned,
look at all this hard work,
it's finally paying off.
Oh, but have a moment
where you don't enjoy that favor
at work.
where the opposite is true,
and you find yourself
in a position of disfavor
with your boss
and with your peers,
and you don't get that promotion
you thought you deserved.
You don't get that bump in pay.
You don't get that review
that you were anticipating.
And ho, how we want to charge God
with being unfair.
But you know,
there's a great thing
about God's providence,
and it is that it saves the Christian
from the seesaw of emotion.
Because if we allow God's providence
and the full effect of God's providence
to seep into our hearts
and into our souls,
it will produce peace
and stability in our lives.
In today's passage,
we see three encounters
with God's providence.
Encounters that help the Christian
understand the providence of God.
Understanding that the providence of God
produces peace
in perilous times
and stability of faith
and a world shattered by sin.
And as we look at this passage,
we're encouraged to ask the question,
how do we live
in light of God's providence?
It's a very simple question.
How do we live
in light of God's providence?
And as we go through the passage,
you'll see
and we'll ask that question.
But my guess is
that as we go through,
you're going to identify
another question.
And it's going to be
a nagging question
that we'll address at the end.
And I want to see
if you will catch it.
And so with that in mind,
let us pray
and then turn our attention
to the reading of 1 Kings 17.
Join with me in prayer.
God, I am thankful.
We are thankful.
Lord, that you
have given us your scripture.
God, that you
inspired men of old
to write down
the words that you
would have for us today.
God, that you
through your Holy Spirit
preserved the content
and the character
and the integrity
of scripture
so that what we have today
are your words.
And we thank you
that they are powerful today
as they were
when they were first written
because you
are the eternal
and everlasting God
and your word
does not change.
Enable your Holy Spirit
to drive these words
deep into our heart.
May they become
an ointment
for all that hurts
and a salve
of your healing grace.
In Christ's name we pray.
Amen.
Alright, so
turn with me
to 1 Kings.
We're going to read
the whole chapter
and we're going to focus
mostly on verses
8 and following.
Now Elijah the Tishbite
of Tishbi
and Gilead
said to Ahab,
As the Lord
the God of Israel
lives
before whom I stand
there shall be
neither dew
nor rain
these years
except by my word.
And the word
of the Lord
came to him.
Depart from here
and turn eastward
and hide yourself
by the book
Cherith
which is east
of the Jordan.
You shall drink
from the brook
and I have commanded
the ravens
to feed you there.
So he went
and did according
to the word
of the Lord.
He went
and lived
by the brook Cherith
that is east
of the Jordan.
And the ravens
brought him bread
and meat
in the morning
and bread
and meat
in the evening
and he drank
from the brook.
And after a while
the brook
dried up
because there
was no rain
in the land.
Then the word
of the Lord
came to him
arise
go to Zarephath
which belongs
to Sidon
and dwell there.
Behold
I have commanded
a widow there
to feed you.
So he arose
and went to Zarephath
and when he came
to the gate
of the city
behold
a widow was there
gathering sticks
and he called
to her
and said
bring me
a little water
and a vessel
that I may drink.
And as she was going
to bring it
he called
to her
and said
bring me
a morsel
of bread
in your hand.
And she said
as the Lord
your God
lives
I have
nothing baked
only a handful
of flour
in a jar
and a little
oil
in a jug
and now
I am gathering
a couple
of sticks
that I may
go in
and prepare it
for myself
and my son
that we may
eat it
and die.
And Elijah
said to her
do not fear
go and do
as you have
said
but first
make me a little
cake of it
and bring it
to me
and afterward
make something
for yourself
and your son
for thus
says the Lord
the God
of Israel
the jar
of flour
shall not
be spent
and the jug
of oil
shall not
be empty
until the day
that the Lord
sends rain
upon the earth.
And she went
and did
as Elijah said
and she
and her
household
ate
for many days
the jar
of flour
was not spent
neither did
the jug
of oil
become empty
according
to the word
of the Lord
that he spoke
by Elijah.
After this
the son
of the woman
the mistress
of the house
became ill
and his illness
was so severe
that there was
no breath
left in him
and she said
to Elijah
what have you
against me
oh man of God
you have come
to bring
to me
bring
to my
you have
come to me
to bring
my sin
to remembrance
and to cause
the death
of my son
and he said
to her
give me
your son
and he took
him from her
arms
and carried
him up
into the upper
chamber
where he lodged
and laid him
on his own bed
and he cried
to the Lord
oh Lord
my God
have you brought
calamity
even upon the widow
with whom I sojourn
by killing her son
then he stretched
himself upon the child
three times
and cried
to the Lord
oh Lord
my God
let this child's
life come
into him again
and the Lord
listened to the voice
of Elijah
and the life
of the child
came into him
again
and he revived
and Elijah
took the child
and brought him
down from the
upper chamber
into the house
and delivered him
to his mother
and Elijah
said
see
your son
lives
and the woman
said to Elijah
now I know
that you are
a man of God
and that the word
of the Lord
in your mouth
is truth
the reading
of God's word
for this morning
well
we see here
the first
evidence
or encounter
with God's
providence
is we see
that God's
providence
in a hostile
environment
God's providence
in a hostile
environment
now
seems strange
a very strange
providence
here that God
tells Elijah
after the water
has run out
at the brook
to go
to Zarephath
and it's
a strange
providence
because God
is sending him
not to the people
of Israel
he's sending him
very much
into the heart
and home
of Jezebel
so if you know
anything
Jezebel
is the
wife
of Ahab
the king
of Israel
and Jezebel
was perhaps
one of the most
single
evil
influences
in Israel
at that time
and so
he's saying
hey
go into
the very
heart
and home
of that
evil
queen
Jezebel
and I'm
going to
provide for you
there
oh and not
only is it
the heart
and home
of Jezebel
it's also
the heart
and home
of
Baal
the God
who is
trying
the people
who are
trying to
make this
a rival
God
to Yahweh
and if you
know anything
about the
ancient
near east
it was
believed
that gods
were limited
to a
geographic
area
and that
those gods
were the gods
within those
that bounds
and they
were the ones
responsible for
health
wealth
well being
but they
didn't really
have much
power
outside
of their
borders
and so
we see
here
God
is
calling
Elijah
to go
into a
hostile
environment
and there
he will
provide
for the
prophet
you can
imagine
some of the
things that
Elijah might
be thinking
God are you
sure
are you
sure you
want to do
this
after all
you are
sending me
into the
home of
Baal worship
the home
of Jezebel
who's
seeking my
head in
many regards
why can't
you let me
find hospitality
among my
own people
why can't
you make
water
still come
from this
brook
just like
you did
for Moses
and the
people of
Israel
when they
were coming
out of
Egypt
you can
do it
I've
heard about
it
but God
has a
purpose
in sending
young
Elijah
into
enemy
territory
and it
is to
let him
know
that
God's
providence
is not
limited
by geographical
borders
God's
saying to
Elijah
look I
can provide
for you
here
by this
brook
and I
can command
ravens
to come
and feed
you
with bread
and meat
morning and
evening
I can do
the same
in the land
of your
enemy
and I
am going
to show
you that
I
am
God
not just
in Israel
but over
all
creation
and this
is important
it's important
for Elijah
to know
this
because if we
know anything
Elijah is going
to be called
to be more
confrontational
with Ahab
and Jezebel
and the
prophets
of Baal
he's going
to need
to know
that God
indeed
is sovereign
and that
God's
providence
exists
even in
hostile
environments
so
how are we
to live
in light
of God's
providence
how are we
to live
in light
of God's
providence
in hostile
environments
we trust
based on
this incident
we trust
that God
has
shown himself
throughout history
throughout the
Bible
to be a God
who is not
limited
to the borders
of Israel
that he
indeed
is the God
of all creation
that heaven
and earth
bow before him
and that nothing
is not
under his purview
and his power
that God's
providence
extends
into the
very hostile
environments
in which
we find
ourselves
hostile
environments
due to
cultural
shifts
where
Christianity
has moved
from
preferred
in some
cases
to
being
a pariah
God
is still
sovereign
whether
we find
ourselves
in a
country
like
ours
that
still
does
have
some
semblance
of
religious
freedom
or
we
find
ourselves
in a
country
where
there
is
no
such
constitutional
guarantee
God
is still
sovereign
whether
we
find
ourselves
lauded
for holding
on to our
religious
convictions
or derided
for holding
on to those
convictions
we know
that God
is sovereign
whether
we are
here at
home
enjoying
the
relative
comfort
and
peace
of the
United
States
or whether
we find
ourselves
in a
hostile
nation
deployed
in armed
combat
we know
that God
is sovereign
and so
from this
encounter
we learn
that God's
providence
extends
over any
and all
hostile
environments
in which
we may
find
ourselves
and in
the next
encounter
we will
discover
that God's
providence
is at
work
in great
times
of need
we see
this
beginning
in verse
10
going
through
verse
16
that God's
providence
exists
even in
times
of great
need
and we
see here
Elijah
is entering
into this
enemy
territory
where God
is going
to prove
that his
providence
still exists
even there
and he's
to go
find
a Gentile
widow
who's going
to provide
him sustenance
and support
in his
time of
great need
but it's
quite interesting
that even in the
midst of enemy
territory
God's calling
him to a
woman
first of
all
Jewish
society
men and
women
don't
interact
unless
you're
related
to one
another
so not
only
is there
that going
into enemy
territory
there's
being supported
by a
female
and then
not only
a female
that he
has to
engage
with
this is
a widow
if you
know
anything
about
the
ancient
near east
and in
society
today
the most
vulnerable
people
group
or some
of the
most
vulnerable
people
in our
society
are
widows
we
understand
that most
likely
this is a
fairly young
widow
because she's
out gathering
sticks
and you may
think well
how do we
know that
she's young
well because
she has a
son
and if the
son were
of any
age
he would
be the
one out
picking up
sticks
not mom
so we
know that
this is
likely a
young
widow
with a
young
child
who's
not even
old enough
to go
out and
pick up
sticks
to make
a fire
and what
we also
notice here
is that
this widow
is in
great
need
what she
doesn't
need
is another
mouth to
feed
but that
is exactly
what God
does
God
brings
Elijah
and this
widow
to meet
right as
Elijah is
entering the
city
and Elijah
asks her
bring me
water
bring me
bread
she says
I don't
have it
she says
yes sure
to the
water
she's gonna
go get
that
but when
the bread
is added
she turns
and says
I don't
have
anything
all I've
got is
a little
bit of
flour
and a
little
bit of
oil
and I'm
gathering
up these
little
itty bitty
sticks
to go
make a
little
itty bitty
fire
so that
I can
bake a
little
bit of
bread
that my
son and
I can
eat it
and then
we're
gonna die
and audacity
in some
regards
or faithfulness
of Elijah
to say
bake me a
little bit
and bring it
to me
then go fix
your final
meal
but the
widow is
willing
the widow
is willing
to take
what little
bit of
what little
bit of
bread
she has
and bring
it
to Elijah
and God
is faithful
to his
promises
to that
widow
and the
flour
never runs
out
and the
oil
doesn't go
empty
until the
day
that God
brings
rain
upon the
earth
about
two and
a half
years
later
oh so we
see that
God's
providence
here is
important for
Elijah the
widow and
the son
because he
shows that
he can
satisfy
them in
times of
great need
not with
an abundance
but with
daily bread
providing
what they
need
day by
day
and it's
a provision
that makes
the difference
between life
and death
life and
death
in the
balance
and God
providing
so how
are we
to live
in light
of God's
providence
when we
face
times of
great need
we understand
that God
does satisfy
our need
he satisfies
it through
obedience
like Elijah
heading out
going into
hostile enemy
territory
and having
the courage
to ask
a widow
to provide
for him
God does
meet our
needs when
we obey
and then
also as
the widow
willingly
trusted
what the
prophet
promised
she
willingly
took
the last
bit
of wheat
and oil
and God
blessed her
for that
and we
see that
too
in our
obedience
and willingness
to trust
when we
come to
the Lord's
table
when we
take communion
it is just
a little
bit of bread
and a little
bit of wine
but it is a
great reminder
that Jesus
Christ
the bread
of life
satisfies
our
greatest
need
that he
through the
power of
the Holy
Spirit
sustains
and nourishes
us
even
in our
times
of great
need
well through
this second
encounter with
God's
providence
in 1st
Kings 17
we're reminded
that God
does in
fact satisfy
our greatest
need
not with
bread
made of
flour
and oil
but with
the bread
of life
Jesus
Christ
in our
final
encounter
here with
God's
providence
we discover
that even
in the depths
of human
despair
God's
providence
still
reigns
and that's
in the
ballots 17
through 24
we see
God's
providence
in the
depths
of despair
God
sovereignly
ruling
even over
sin
and death
and so we
encounter here
the widow's
despair
right
here God
has
miraculously
continued to
multiply the
flour and the
oil
and then
her son
gets sick
and it
seems to be
a very rapid
sickness and
decline because
she is thrown
into the depths
of despair
and she brings
the child's
breathless body
to Elijah
and says
Elijah
what have you
done
have you
come here
to remind
me of my
sin
and to
bring down
God's
judgment
on me
because
I was
a Baal
worshiper
look at
this
so she's
confronted
by her
sin
but she's
also
confused
your God
provided
flour
and oil
but my
son
we sense
her anger
and frustration
and the
prophet
perhaps
confused
and perplexed
almost as much
as he has
says
give me
your son
he runs
upstairs
puts the
child on
his bed
and he
says God
what are
you doing
I don't
understand
it
he says
God
please
heal
this boy
and bring
life back
to him
so he
stretches
his body
over the
child
that
that seems
weird
it is
weird
but you
know
God
answers
Elijah's
prayer
and God
breathes
life
back into
the child
and Elijah
comes down
the stairs
and says
here is your
son
and he's
alive
and oh
this encounter
with God's
providence
is so
important
obviously
it's important
for the
son
because he
received
his life
back
but it's
important
for Elijah
because he
is once
again
confirmed
by God
in his
calling
to be a
prophet
God
says to
Elijah
I will
hear you
when you
call out
to me
and that
will be
really
important
for him
when he's
standing
on Mount
Carmel
asking God
to consume
the sacrifice
that he's
prepared
in the
face
of
the
Baal
the
prophets
of
Baal
oh but
in this
passage
it's also
important
for the
widow
so I
don't know
if you
caught it
but really
this
instance
of where
she
turns her
son over
to the
prophet
leads
to the
confirmation
of her
faith
verse 11
she says
back at the
very beginning
hey you know
as the
Lord
your God
lives
she's saying
okay yeah
sure
if your God
says it
sure I'll
believe it
maybe it'll
work out
okay great
she's not
really convinced
it's almost
as if she's
saying hey
what have I
got to
lose
I got
a little
bit of
flour
got a
little bit
of oil
it's only
going to
make one
little bitty
cake of
bread
what have
I got
to lose
sure if
your God
says he's
going to
do it
here you
go
and God
is faithful
but
but then
in the
depths of
despair
having
received
her son
back
look at
verse 24
this is
what she
says
now I
know
that you
are a
man of
God
and that
the word
of the
Lord
in your
mouth
is
truth
it's
as if
she says
look
I
kind of
in
desperation
was
giving you
bread
previously
but now
I know
that God
is God
and that
what you
say about
him
is true
it's as
if
she has
come to
the point
where she
says
oh let's
forget about
Baal
and I
am going
to cling
to the
God
who
demonstrates
his
providence
even
in the
depths
of my
despair
so what
about us
how are
we to
live
in light
of God's
providence
when we
find ourselves
in the
depths of
despair
well
we
understand
looking back
at this
passage
that God's
providence
extends over
sickness
that God's
providence
extends over
sin
and that
God's
providence
extends over
death itself
and what that
means is that
God can use
those things
for his
glory
and for
our good
that is
great news
for us
because
if God
can raise
the widow's
son
if God
can breathe
life
back into
a child
who was
plagued
by the
curse
of sin
and if
God
can raise
Christ
who was
sinless
and perfect
to eternal
life
then we
have great
hope
we have
great hope
and the
promise
that God
will fulfill
what he
has said
that God
will too
ensure that
we do not
experience the
eternal corruption
of sin
death
and the
grave
that we
will not
experience
corruption
but that
we will
experience
eternal
life
well in
our final
encounter
with God's
providence
we walked
through
we felt
the depth
of the
widow's
despair
and we
realize
that
neither
God
nor the
author
abandons
us
or the
widow
in those
depths
but that
like the
widow
we too
are elevated
to the
heights
of God's
providence
seeing that
he is the
one
who is in
charge
of even
sin
and death
itself
and that
he does
that
through the
incarnation
life
death
resurrection
and ascension
of Jesus
Christ
well that's
all three of
the encounters
with God's
providence
and I
want to
ask you
do you
have that
nagging
question
that's left
with this
passage
that
nagging
question
is the
one
that the
widow
indirectly
asks
Elijah
when she
brings her
breathless
son
to him
it's the
same
question
that haunts
us
many of
our brothers
and sisters
in Christ
and those
who are
reluctant to
embrace
Christ as
their savior
here
it's a
nagging
question
that's
something
a bit
like
this
how are
we to
live
when we
don't
see
and
experience
the
visible
miraculous
outpouring
of God's
providential
purposes
when we
are in the
depths of
despair
and we
don't see
life being
breathed
into a
loved one
who is
on their
sickbed
how are we
to persevere
in those
hostile
environments
when we
don't see
God's
providential
provision
when we
don't get
the
report
that we
think
we
were
going
to
get
when
God
doesn't
save
the
battle
buddy
on our
right
what are
we to
do
when God
doesn't
providentially
provide
in times
of great
need
when that
bill goes
unpaid
when it
goes into
default
when I
have to
eat rice
and beans
for the
fifth meal
of the
week
what is
our
recourse
when in
the depths
of despair
we feel
distant
from God's
providence
what if
our experience
is more
like that
of Job
what if
it's like
Jesus
in the
garden
of
Gethsemane
what if
crying
and pleading
for relief
from the
cross
and that
relief
doesn't
come
what if
our
experience
is closer
to that
of our
savior
when he's
hanging on
the cross
and he
cries out
father
why have
you
forsaken
me
how are
we to
live in
light of
God's
providence
when there
is no
miraculous
provision
when God
in his
providence
removes
our
comforts
reverses
his
miracles
reclaims
his
mercies
or simply
allow sin
and death
to work
unchecked
William
Cooper
knew that
he called
it
God's
frowning
providence
and we
can draw
comfort
from
believers
like
William
Cooper
who in
the midst
of a
great
depression
that would
eventually
take his
life
penned
the words
that you
can read
there in
your
bulletin
both on
the back
and in
the middle
where we
can read
about a
man
who
doggedly
holds
to God's
hidden
mercy
blessings
grace
and goodness
even in
the midst
of God's
frowning
providence
additionally
and probably
more importantly
than looking
to a
hymn
that somebody
else wrote
we take
comfort
in today's
passage
and we
look back
at it
and other
scripture
for hope
and encouragement
when we
don't see
the miraculous
outworking
of God's
providence
we can
look back
and we
can see
God's
faithfulness
in the
life of
those
in the
Bible
we can
look back
to our
own
encounters
with God's
faithfulness
in the
past
and receive
that comfort
and encouragement
to continue
to trust
God's
providence
and when
we do
that
we partner
with the
Holy Spirit
as he
reminds us
not only
of these
stories
but of
our own
encounters
with God's
smiling
providence
and in
this
cooperation
we are
not overcome
by doubts
but rather
we learn
to lean
into
and to
trust
his
providence
we learn
to trust
a God
who preserves
and governs
his creation
and his
creatures
for their
good
and for
his glory
and it
is to
this God
that we
give both
the glory
the honor
and the
power
now
and forever
more
let us
pray