WEDNESDAY 27th MAY

WEDNESDAY 27th MAY 2020

Good morning friends,

Over the last few days I’ve dipped into the news for short periods, and it seems to me that amidst the wonderful acts of compassion and care for those who are affected by the virus, there is also a real sense of who or what is or was to blame for the outbreak and whether the lockdown was introduced soon enough. who is keeping the rules and who is not?

Of course it is a trait that is common in humankind, present in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve tried to pass the blame for who had instigated the eating of the forbidden fruit, and it’s a trait that has continued up to the present day.

"It wisnae me...............it wisnae ma fault"

We find a blame situation occurring as we continue to look at the story of Elijah, the widow and her son.

It appears that Elijah remained in the home of the widow, and day by day God provided food for them.

I expect Elijah would be speaking to the widow about God, and perhaps she was beginning to turn

away from Baal the god she had believed in and worshiped.

.

Then something happened, something so tragic that the widow’s emerging faith was shaken.

We find it at I Kings 17 : 17-18

“After this the son of the woman, 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, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”

This women’s greatest fear just became a reality, her son, her only son, became very sick and died. Her faith is shaken and she blames Elijah

She is not strong enough in her faith to understand why this would happen.

Her first thought is that Elijah is against her.

That maybe this whole time Elijah was there to try and destroy her.

That maybe Elijah is no different than the prophets of Baal

That maybe his God is no different than Baal.

I find it interesting to see how Elijah responds to her accusations. .

He does not get into a theological debate with her.

He does not defend himself as a prophet of God

He does not say this, “Hey, if it wasn’t for me you would have starved to death months ago”

Instead, we see is that when the women’s faith is shaken, Elijah’s faith remains strong.

Elijah says, “Give me your son”

We read on.......... 1 Kings 17:19–22

“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, “O 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, “O 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.”

Elijah then took her son from his mothers her arms, and into the presence of God.

He took her pain, and brought it God

He took her doubts, and brought them to God

He took her fear and grief and brought them to God.

The mother did not have the faith to bring her troubles to God,

So Elijah takes them for her.

Elijah knows that God is the one who holds life and death in his hands.

And then................

Look at vv. 23-24

“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.”

Two people were saved that day, the young boy and his mother, simply because Elijah had the confidence to pray.

It's a fact that sometimes when tragic events come into our lives how quickly we can forget God’s faithfulness.

Sometimes our lives get shaken up by a tragic event, and we begin to ask questions of God

I know I have in the past when horrible things happened to my family.I wanted someone to blame, and I was so grateful for a Christian friend at the time, who was there to listen to me and help me through,........... and to pray for me.

Day by day both here at Braehehad House, and through the faithfulness of our prayer partners, we lift people up to the Lord for healing, comfort and strength.

We pray for folks whose faith is strong, and we pray for those whose faith is shaky, and.........we pray for those who say they don’t believe.

We pray because we believe in our God who has a concern for his children and who listens and acts on each prayer we pray.

I simply remind you today, that should you, or a loved one is in need of prayer during this time of lock down, please contact the centre, and we will lift your requests before the Lord.

May God bless you this day.