The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Kings 17-19
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 6: Kings and Prophets: God divides the kingdom people.
Background Information: 1 Kings 17-19
Elijah bursts on the scene as the new Moses, calling Israel away from idolatry and back to worship of the one true God. In the Bible there are clusters of miracles around key events: The Exodus, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the birth of the Church, and here in the coming of Elijah and later Elisha. The point is not the greatness of these prophets, but rather the work of God through certain chosen men to call his people to faithfulness. Miracles are not normative; that is why they are called miracles. Normally, God works normally, but occasionally he acts in ways that are outside the bounds of the natural, so they are called super-natural events. Two things are important to remember as we read of these events. First, we are not to look for miracles or to expect that God is going to give us one to validate our faith. The greatest of all miracles has been given in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We need nothing more than that. Second, don’t become skeptical of the miraculous events as you read them. There is nothing unscientific about a miracle. Since God made the natural order and what we call its laws, he can, when he chooses, act in ways that are outside those laws. To God, these are not laws he must obey, they are simply the way he normally oversees the cosmos. When it fits his purposes, he can easily do things in ways that are super(above) the natural.
Israel’s worst king, Ahab, blames the messenger, Elijah, for his own sin-inflicted problems. Meanwhile, Elijah, right after a spectacular display of God’s greatness, falls into a depressive funk where he wishes he could die. The worst and the best of men are still men, sinful and weak. God provided Elijah with sleep, food, and perspective. The perspective was that God was powerful and present, and there were many of God’s people who remained faithful. Elijah needed the perspective that he was not alone. The presence of God and the community of God’s people were for him, and for us, the key to staying encouraged and faithful.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the sponsors to have discernment, wisdom, and energy to keep up with all of the ongoing interactions at camp. May we spur our youth on in their walk with God.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.