The Kingdom of Israel split in two, with the tribes of Benjamin and Judah becoming the Kingdom of Judah in the south. True worship of the LORD in Jerusalem was maintained through some good kings in the Kingdom of Judah. 2 Chronicles is focused on God preserving the nation of Israel to bring about the promised messiah through the line of David and true worship at the temple in Jerusalem. This week, 1 Kings focuses on the prophet Elijah, which has a much darker tone. Know that a prophet spoke on God’s behalf, called the people to repent and follow God’s law, and called out idolatry in all its forms. Elijah was sent to pronounce judgment on the Northern Kingdom for their wicked idolatry. They experienced a series of wicked kings that led the people to worship false gods; King Ahab being the worst. God desires all nations to worship Him alone, and His people were meant to show God’s character to the nations through their blessing or cursing based on their faithfulness to the LORD. The Big Picture this week will showcase God’s judgment against sin, but also God’s abounding grace as He rescues those in hopeless situations.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Plan Reading - Week 32
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2024. Specifically, we're taking a journey into how the story of the Bible unfolded in the Old Testament. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell us. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of Chronicles or Kings, what is impacting you the most? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Deuteronomy 28:10 and 2 Chronicles 17:9-10. What is this showing about God’s promises? Read Deuteronomy 28:24 and 1 Kings 17:1. What is this showing about God’s promises?
Read 1 Kings 17:4,9. Who did God command? Read Proverbs 16:9, 21:1-2. How does God’s sovereignty and man’s free will fit together?
Read 1 Kings 17:10-11,14. What does Elijah ask the foreign widow to bring first? What does Elijah ask for that she does not have? What are Elijah’s first 3 words to the widow in verse 13? What is the widow trusting in that would lead her to give away her last meal in a drought to another man without fear?
Read 1 Kings 17:18,20-21. What is the hopeless widow’s question? What is Elijah’s question? What did Elijah do? Read Numbers 19:13. Why is what Elijah did surprising in light of Numbers 19:13 in the middle of a drought?
Read 1 Kings 21:25-29. What attitude did Ahab have that God honored (verse 29)? Read Matthew 23:12 and James 4:6. How have you seen in the reading God resisting the proud and exalting the humble?
SHARE IT.
Have you ever been sure God would do something and He did not do it? How did you respond? Are you more likely to lash out or run away? (see 1 Kings 18:21,46, 19:2-3)
When things don't go the way you thought, what do you tell yourself? (see Read 1 Kings 19:4) *Despite Elijah’s depression, who was the only person who had the right to take away Elijah’s life?
How do you take care of your mind, body, and spirit during difficult times? How do you maintain the mind, body, and spirit of others? (See 1 Kings 19:5-7. Consider what Elijah did during this time. What is the only thing the Angel of the Lord did during this time? What is the only thing the Angel of the Lord said during this time?
Read 1 Kings 19:12-13. How does the Lord come to speak to Elijah? When have you been tempted to look for mystical signs like a wind, earthquake, or fire apart from the word of the Lord?
Read 1 Kings 19:15-18. How does God handle Elijah’s crushed expectations? How does this shrink or enlarge Elijah’s view of himself and his view of God?
FINAL THOUGHT
Elijah enters at a time in Israel’s history when everything seems bleak, and is headed the wrong direction. The miracles recorded are on par with the Exodus account. Just as stunning, is Elijah being sent to a foreign widow rather than Israel, just at the perfect time or she and her son would have died. The widow’s son did in fact die later, and the widow asked if it was because of her sin. Elijah asks the same question to God! Elijah risks being unclean and identifies himself with the dead boy three times (by stretching himself out over the boy), and the boy is given new life! Then Elijah is sent to confront idolatry in God’s own people. Afterward, Elijah runs away in fear of his life, and God comes to Elijah in a meek and gentle voice to comfort him with a plan Elijah doesn't know. God always has a plan. Hebrews 2:14 says that Jesus "himself likewise partook of the same things [humanity], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. He is the one who perfectly identified with man’s death by dying himself, with no sin--absorbing sin on our behalf in order that we might become right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Like Elijah, Jesus showed up at the right time to us, foreigners. We are given new life through faith in Jesus. If you are feeling hopeless like the widow, Elijah, or Ahab, repent and believe in Jesus (Mark 1:15). This was the plan hidden for the ages, now revealed, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:26-27).
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