Thursday Night (6/25) Study: in 1 Kings 19

Background: - Follows God’s (literal) directions (where to go); miraculously fed by Ravens, water from a brook in the midst of a drought. - Housed by a widow with limited oil, flour that never run out; raises the widow’s son from the dead. 1 Kings 17 - Announces God’s sending rain/ending drought. - Reminded by Obadiah (the king’s servant) that Obadiah had hidden 100 in 2 caves in groups of 50 (so Elijah was not alone) 1 Kings 18 - Elijah/God defeats the 450 prophets of . 1 Kings 18

Read 1 Kings 19:1 - 18: - 1 Kings 19:1 – 5a: o What events transpired here following Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal? § ’s threat. § Elijah’s response. o What might Elijah’s prayer in verse 4 indicate about how he was feeling? o Consider ALL that God has done for/thru Elijah, yet at the very real threat of Jezebel, he runs. Have you ever had times in your life when God has shown up in real, powerful, practical, faithful, miraculous ways, yet in light of a “threat”, you react in fear vs faith? Share? o In light of the victory over the prophets of Baal, what might have been the next action step Elijah could/should have taken?

- 1 Kings 19:5b – 8: o In light of Elijah’s actions, what was God’s heart in caring for Elijah? o What do you notice about the means of care God provided? Practical? Physical? Vs. “spiritual”? What might that tell us about the need for “wholistic” health? o Do you know the backdrop of where Elijah is in relation to the story of ? How had God provided for his people in the desert in the Exodus? What does that tell you about God?

- 1 Kings 19:9 – 18: o What do you think is the significance of God’s question to Elijah in verse 9b? Why do you think God repeats the same question in verse 13b? o What was Elijah’s response to God’s question(s) and what does that reveal about Elijah’s perspective? (keep in mind he knew there were at least 100 other prophets safe – 1 Kings 18:4) o Think about perspective! How important is it to have a proper perspective of the situations we are facing, who God is, how he acts, etc? What happens when we have an IMPROPER perspective to what we are facing? o What do you think is the significance of the powerful windstorm, earthquake and fire and the quiet/stillness afterwards and God’s voice in the calm? o What do verses 15 – 18 say about God’s response to Elijah’s answer to God’s question? o Do you think Elijah’s response to Jezebel’s threat would have been different had he known that God had 7000 (a faithful remnant) others who were not following Baal? Or should he have been able to trust God regardless of that knowledge? o What about us!? Do we desire assurance of the details, outcomes, provisions, etc. or do we trust the PROVIDER of those things? Why/Whynot? Share: