By Theodore Epp

      1 Kings 17:17-24

      The death of her son apparently reminded the widow of some past sin. Her conscience was aroused, and she wanted to vindicate her character in her own eyes. Under such circumstances a person wants to turn the blame, if there is any, on someone else.

      Perhaps our reaction to some sorrow or loss or problem is "Do I deserve this?" or "Why has God treated me so harshly?" If we have lost a loved one, perhaps we ask why God took that loved one. We wonder why we have to suffer and why our neighbors do not. This is the carnal nature expressing itself, not the spiritual nature.

      Elijah's one purpose in bringing this young boy back to life was to honor God. The psalmist said, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Ps. 37:4). God could easily give new life to this lad.

      Life flowed into the boy's body again, and Elijah put him in his mother's arms. She said, "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth" (1 Kings 17:24). Perhaps others could say that of us if we would only trust and obey God, showing the same spirit of trust and submission that Elijah did.

      "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).