Revivals Of Elijah And Two Women Series

What can we learn from God's concern for the prophet Elijah and two women?

1) Elijah’s Revival

Persecuted pastors can take comfort in Elijah who suffered much for faithfully preaching the truth.

Elijah went to meet Ahab who had tried to have him killed. Confronted, Ahab tried to accuse Elijah, but Elijah replied, “you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.” (1 Kings 18:18 NLT) Ba’al (I prefer the Hebrew pronunciation bah’AHL) had 450 prophets, and Elijah felt quite alone. Worshippers of Ba’al, made a loud, frenzied show but nothing happened. With God on his side, Elijah uttered a simple prayer, after preparing and dousing an altar with water, then fire from heaven came down. Revival is not always a loud, frenzied exhibition like the show put on by the false prophets of Ba’al, but in changed hearts.

Elijah was then threatened by Jezebel, Ahab’s evil wife. Was it the end when Elijah prayed, “I have had enough, Lord” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV)? Depressed, an angel fed him and he retreated to a cave. But, that was not the end of his ministry. God spoke to him in “a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12 NIV) and encouraged him that 7,000 others had not bowed to Ba’al in Israel. Revived, Elijah got back to work. His ministry was joined by a humble, teachable servant in his successor, Elisha. Faith in God who grants victory eventually wins (1 Kings 18).

Rejoice, lovers of God, true revival has little to do with a loud show, but everything to do with getting rid of false prophets, and listening to the quiet whisper of the one true God.

2) A Widow’s Revival

Sometimes revival is individual and not city-wide or even national, as we see with a widow’s revival.

Elisha’s faith for revival of a widow's livelihood is remarkable. Revival is sometimes the supply of material provision so that we can live on. For a widow in debt, the death of her husband can signal financial ruin. A foretaste of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is seen in the multiplication of the widow’s olive oil, which she sold to pay off her debts. Widow saved, God be praised, another revival is accomplished (2 Kings 4).

Rejoice, lovers of God, have faith in His revival of lives even buried in debt.

3) Revival of a Shunammite’s Son

Does God care for reviving the hopes of a childless woman?

Revival of a Shunammite woman’s hopes came when Elisha prophesied that she would have a son. Simply devastating, the boy later died. Means of healing the boy by Gehazi using Elisha’s staff did not work. Life came back to the boy when Elisha covered the boy and prayed. Again, a physical revival of a young life was accompanied by a revival in faith and of the hopes of a family’s hearts (2 Kings 4).

Rejoice, lovers of God, have faith in the One who can revive our hopes and dreams even when all seems lost.

God cares for his faithful preachers and ordinary women. Let's never give up hope, but trust God.