10-02-07 Something was amiss -- 1 Kings 17:20
Then [Elijah] cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have You brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?"
-- 1 Kings 17:20
I want to focus in on one word in this verse: the word "also."
God's judgment had fallen upon a nation. For three successive years, famine left people starving and in desperate need. Dying of hunger or of disease was a commonplace fact of life. I'm sure the survivors looked at each other and asked, "Where will it end?" and "Are we all going to die?"
A widow's son gets sick and dies. That won't even make the six o'clock news. Nobody is going to care. Everybody has problems of their own.
But God cares. Deep down Elijah knows that God cares -- that something is amiss here -- that he shouldn't take this blow lying down.
I would like to suggest to you that there is an invisible line around the people of God. There is a boundary that is not to be crossed. Does that mean that we are all exempt from trouble, that sickness and death will never claim any of us? No. But it does mean that we are God's property and he watches over what is His.
There is a line that cannot be crossed drawn around you. I don't know exactly where that line is and neither do you. But God does. And that line has been drawn so that you and I won't become another "also," another statistic in a meaningless sea of tragedies. Jesus said, "Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." (John 11:26) God's resilient eternal life has been planted in us, and all the forces of hell and all the tragedies of this world cannot snuff it out.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
The content in this box may be
reprinted provided a reference or link
to dwightclough.com is included.
Your support of Dwight Clough Ministries allows us to make these spiritual growth resources available worldwide.
A $50 donation underwrites for a new chapter in the Discoveries Bible or a new devotional.
A $75 donation underwrites a prayer ministry session.
The "Donate Here" button allows you to donate any amount online.
The "Mail In Here" button allows you to donate any amount through the mail.
|
|
 |
I recommend Dwight Clough's site for anybody who is hungry for God.
- Evangelist Tom Stamman
"Quite some time ago, I used to ask God for an angel that could answer to all my questions. An angel for company and comfort. But not long ago, I started receiving your emails (Discoveries), honestly, I haven’t got a clue how or when did I sign up. The unthinkable is, every message you sent that I have read was exactly the answers I needed to face the situation at hand. Strange, right? But I really do think God answered my prayer. He sent me an angel through you. Your messages seem to be God’s words to me. Answering me, teaching me. I am grateful for this heavenly gift and I would like you to share this miracle I received from the Father."
"Your book is therapy for me . . . you have struck gold . . . there is "life" in your book. I found myself laughing and crying . . . I believe I saw what God must think of me ... "
"Thank you for sending these devotions everyday! They are awesome! Today's devotional was exactly what I have been thinking about and how to battle this such issue! Keep up your awesome ministry!"
"The first thing I do every morning when I turn on the computer is to read your encouraging message. You have blessed my heart and improved my daily meditation on the word of God. . . . I am writing this mail from Dar es salaam, Tanzania, East Africa."
"i really have to thank you for your encouraging words they almost make me feel as if there coming right from the lord himself"
"Dwight, i am originally from uganda, but i live and work in the UK. But i send the your inspirations almost across the globe. God bless your unselish heart."
