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Review the big story: God created the cosmos and humans and called it all good. We were created to live in harmony, but sometimes we miss the mark. All of humanity missed the mark, and they had to live with the consequences, but God stuck with them and continued to love them. Then God called a family to be a blessing to the whole earth. Like the humans before them, the generations of this family often missed the mark, but God was faithful. When the people became slaves in Egypt, God raised up Moses to be their leader. God performed many signs and wonders, and delivered them from slavery. In the wilderness, they learned to be a people of God, trusting in God’s provision, living out God’s commandments, and wrestling with the law in shalom community. As they prepared to go into the promised land, they were given the shema, words of love to keep with their whole beings. God gave the people a new leader, Joshua, and through miraculous works brought the people into the promised land. Once there, they had to learn again how to be God’s people. They missed the mark a lot, and God sent judges to guide them. Ordinary people showed creativity and steadfast love in the way they continued the story of the people of God. God called a young boy, Samuel to be a bridge between the people and God. Prophets like Samuel would continue to try to keep the people faithful to God in the time of the kings, beginning with Saul and David. David’s son Solomon, the third king of Israel, built a temple in Jerusalem to be a gathering place for worship of God. But Solomon and all the kings continued to miss the mark, and the kingdom divided into the north (Israel) and the south (Judah).
Tell the story: Through a series of kings who often missed the mark and led the people away from God, the prophets kept up the prophetic vision. They continued to call the people back to God. Elijah was one of these prophets. He was a prophet of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. When King Ahab led the people to worship a false god, Baal, Elijah warned the people of a drought. Fleeing Ahab’s wrath, Elijah lived by a river for a time, cared for by God. When the river dried up, God told him to go to a widow in Phoenician territory (north of Israel). Elijah asked the widow for food, and she said she couldn’t give him any, because she had just enough for one last meal for herself and her son. Elijah told her that if she fed him, she and her son would have enough until the drought was over. She did as he asked, and just like Elijah had said, she had enough. She provided Elijah a home, and after a time, her son got very sick. Through Elijah, God healed the boy.
Prime the pump:
Microsong: "In Desperate Times"
Through a widow’s gift and a prophet’s cry God gives life in desperate times.
- Key verses: I Kings 17:13-14; 24
Tell the story: Through a series of kings who often missed the mark and led the people away from God, the prophets kept up the prophetic vision. They continued to call the people back to God. Elijah was one of these prophets. He was a prophet of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. When King Ahab led the people to worship a false god, Baal, Elijah warned the people of a drought. Fleeing Ahab’s wrath, Elijah lived by a river for a time, cared for by God. When the river dried up, God told him to go to a widow in Phoenician territory (north of Israel). Elijah asked the widow for food, and she said she couldn’t give him any, because she had just enough for one last meal for herself and her son. Elijah told her that if she fed him, she and her son would have enough until the drought was over. She did as he asked, and just like Elijah had said, she had enough. She provided Elijah a home, and after a time, her son got very sick. Through Elijah, God healed the boy.
- Read 1 Kings 17
- Read page 103 in the Shine On story Bible
Prime the pump:
- Things to notice:
- Time to get out the map again! This map shows some of the sites of Elijah’s travels. If you want to catch the Bible talking to itself, look at stories of Jesus and his travels in Mark 6-8.
- Zaraphath is not part of Israel. It’s in Phoenicia, the heart of Baal territory. Read this story about the widow while keeping who she is and where she is in mind.
- Background information:
- Elijah’s name means, “My god is the LORD.” He spends much of his life trying to bring the people back from worship of false gods.
- Baal is understood to be the god of the weather. What do you think God might be communicating by bringing about a drought?
- In I Kings 17:18, when the woman says, “You have come to bring my sin to remembrance,” she is not talking about some great sin she committed. People of this time and region had the understanding that affliction, or bad things happening to them, were retribution for something they had done. She may not even have any sin in mind, she just assumes that she’s being punished for something she did.
- Conversation starters:
- Elijah figures prominently in the story of Jesus. Maybe you want to look up some of those references. Why do you think Jesus is so often compared to Elijah? Find some of the parallels.
- The woman’s trust of Elijah and recognition of his God is remarkable. Read and discuss the story with empathy and imagine her experience.
Microsong: "In Desperate Times"
Through a widow’s gift and a prophet’s cry God gives life in desperate times.
Sing the big song:
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
Then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, ohh ohhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God, God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. Ohh ohhh.
The people complain. God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God! God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circuits and shouts and the walls come down.
God sends judges like Deborah and the land has rest.
Ruth’s worth more than seven sons; Redeem the lost with steadfast love.
Corruption in the temple, and God sends Samuel.
God gives them a prophet, they ask for a king. Does God need a temple? A wise king forgets. And when a bully rules the land, the nation tears apart.
And loses David’s heart…..
Through a widow’s gift and a prophet’s cry. God brings life in desperate times.
God loves every one of us, it’s true, and God loves the universe
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
Then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, ohh ohhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God, God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. Ohh ohhh.
The people complain. God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God! God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circuits and shouts and the walls come down.
God sends judges like Deborah and the land has rest.
Ruth’s worth more than seven sons; Redeem the lost with steadfast love.
Corruption in the temple, and God sends Samuel.
God gives them a prophet, they ask for a king. Does God need a temple? A wise king forgets. And when a bully rules the land, the nation tears apart.
And loses David’s heart…..
Through a widow’s gift and a prophet’s cry. God brings life in desperate times.
God loves every one of us, it’s true, and God loves the universe