death and healing

Good morning all,
We've been away from Elijah since Sunday, but now we're back to that story for a little while. God sent Elijah to a woman in Zarephath and gave her an endless supply of grain and oil so she, Elijah and her son could eat during the drought. After that saving miracle Elijah moved into the house and lived there for a while. I would expect it was quite an adjustment for Elijah to live with a family after being on his own; and I'm sure it was also an adjustment for the woman and her son to have this strange prophet living with them.

At some point in Elijah's stay the son dies. In those days, and unfortunately still sometimes today, it was believed that when something bad happened it was probably because the victim had sinned. That's the woman's first guess as to why her son has died; she feels that she has sinned and the presence of a holy man like Elijah has brought that sin to God's attention. Elijah doesn't make the same assumption, but instead (in private) he yells at God for taking the boy's life. You can hear his frustration with God that he would bring suffering with him to this place he has found kindness and refuge . It's OK to let God know when you're angry with God. God can take our anger or disappointment. The more open we are with God the stronger that relationship will be.

Blessings,
Sam

1 Kings 17:17-24
17After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” 19But he said to her, “Give me your son.”

He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. 20He cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” 21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 22The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” 24So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”