The Carlisle independent., 1915-08-26

We now skip thirty to forty years to consider the first of those great prophets whose lives are recorded at length. Samuel and David fought ami mals, armies and giants, but these men fought engagements in the moral and spiritual realm of equal and greater importance. Emphasize Elijah as a real live flesh-and-blood hero. His work was with the northern kingdom and he probably first met Ahab at Sa- maria, his capital in SIP B. c. CD The Moabite stone "A. D. 1863 is a re- markable confirmation of the Bible story of this period.
 ]. The Challenge, V. 1. The lesson Is great illustration of faith. Sin had again made vast inroads upon the people (ch. 16: 30-33) and this man of the hour" whose name means "Jeho- tions; CD responded to the need, and (3) had faith in his cause because it was that of Jehovah. The source of his faith was the word of the Lord God (Deut. HIS; 32:20) He that 'liveth" and before whom the prophet stood in daily, hourly communication. Elijah was a man with a mission (Matt. 28:19) who trusted in God and considered it safe to obey. His power, according to my word," was in ratio according to his life of faith (Rom 10:1D. He was also a man of prayer Ia E.1Ch rha + ,a e; hxy his works (James 2:17, 20, 26).
 II. The Command, w. 2-7. Elijah faith was not audacious. He took each step as commanded by God (y. 9. There is time for seeming retreat as we'll as for the spectacular charge Elijah's first place of testing was "Cherith," a gorge to the east of the river Jordan. This command was con- trary to human reason. Would it not soon be involved in his prophesied drought"
 Again, ravens frequently feed upon carrion, and he knew all the regula- tions regarding cleanness. Thus to be secluded would prevent his observing the effect of the drought upon both king and people. Still the command is explicit. It was "there" (v. 4), and there cnly, that Jehovah was to save The miracle of saving was to be wrought under the most adverse cir cumstances and by the most unlikely means. "So he went" Having faced the peril, God hid him to preserve him, and at the proper time God also re- vealed him (ch. 18:12). It was daily testing for Elijah at Cherith, thus to be fed and to see the water evaporat- ing, but it was a time of communion and after the brook was dry there came new command (vv. 8, 9.
 III. The Continued DeIiverance, W.. 8-16. Zarephath was (Luke 4;26} in the dominions of Jezebels father, on the coast of the Mediterranean sea be- tween Tyre and Sidon, a dangerous journey for Elijah through Ahab $ kingdom (ch. 18:10). The word Fare phath means smelling furnace" and it too was suffering from this same famine. Commanded to hide in Cherith Elijah is told to dwell" in Zarephath and that widow was to be the agent to supply his need. Again Elijah's pride had to be overcome for there were abundant reasons for disliking such a journey, such an abiding place and such a dependence upon poor widow. Elijah, however, arose and went," a continuance of his life of obedience. He first asked for water and as she went he added his request for food. It was particular widow to whom he was sent Ouke 425-27) and through her God was ready to work miracle of salvation on his behalf. Though about to prepare what she thought was to be her own and her sons last meal (v. 12), yet she at once proceeds to obey the command of the man of God as it was conditioned upon the word of Jehovah (v. 14). God, through his prophets, has commanded us, given us assurance and promised to sustain tPhil. 4:19), yet we hesi- tate. "She went and did" the seem- ing impossible, but according to the word of command, and those of her house did eat many days" Obedience saved her own, her sons and the prophets lives. There is sound philoso- phy in Prov. 11:24 which found its complete fulfllment in Jesus who "came not to be ministered unto but to minister" Read carefully Prov. 3:7-10 and II Cor g: ell. As with the Israelites in the wilderness the supply was only from day to day (v. 16) noth- ing ahead, no accumulation, yet a per petual supply because based on "the word of the Lord" (v. 16).
 God worked this miracle: 1) to up- hold and to preserve his chosen mes- senger for his great work in Israel; @ to show his loving kindness and sustaining grace to the poor; (3) to strengthen the faith of his prophet against his spectacular conflict on Mt. Carmel; (4) to the end that he might show Israel and all others down through the ages great object lesson of his sustaining grace and providence.
 The widows two mites" are filing church treasuries today. and Mary's box of ointment has filled all Christen.