LET US LOOK FOR HIDDEN PEARLS, Week of October 3 to 9, 2022, 1 Kings 17, 18, Answers.

LET'S LOOK FOR HIDDEN PEARLS, Week of October 3 to 9, 2022, 1 Kings 17 to 18, Answers.

Let's look for hidden pearls (10 mins.)

1Ki 18:1. Why did Jesus say that the drought in Elijah's day lasted “three years and six months”? (Lu 4:25; w08 4/1 19, box)

In the story we see that the drought lasted 3 years, however, Jesus and James affirmed that this drought lasted for 3 years and 6 months, this does not mean that there is a contradiction, what happened is that when Elijah pronounced this sentence, Israel was in a dry season that had started much earlier, so Jesus and James increased the season that had started much earlier to three years of drought.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

According to the reference, it says that both Jesus and James affirm that it did not rain in the country for 3 years and 6 months, and this because the dry season lasted up to 6 months, so when Elijah appeared before Ahab, the dry season had already was in progress. So the three years are counted only from the day the drought was announced.

Because the dry season in ancient Israel could last up to six months and Elijah announced to Ahab the drought during that period of time, so when Elijah proclaimed its end in the third year it had not rained for almost three and a half years, that's why it was he can say that the “three years and six months” had already elapsed.

From this text we can learn that in the Bible we can sometimes find apparent contradictions but we can be sure that we will always find a logical explanation, that is why we cannot give up, on the contrary we must continue looking for more information in order to find an explanation. Biblical, since we should never doubt what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us and we cannot question it either, because everything that is written comes from Jehovah.

Both Jesus and James affirmed that the drought lasted for 3 years and 6 months according to Luke 4:25 and James 5:17. So it is a contradiction, of course not, not at all, what we must take into account is that in the dry season in Ancient Israel was quite long, up to 6 months. Surely Elijah announced the drought to Ahab when the dry season was already exceptionally long and intense. Actually, it had started almost half a year before. So when Elijah proclaimed his end in the third year since his previous announcement, it had not rained for almost 3 and a half years when all the people gathered to witness the great test on Mount Carmel, the 3 years and 6 months had already passed.

What spiritual gems have you found about Jehovah, the ministry, and other topics in this week's Bible reading?

In 1 Kings 17:6, we see that Jehovah provided food for his servant, what he teaches us is that Jehovah is aware of what we need and sometimes he can use other people to cover that need, so we must always trust in Jehovah and like the prophet follow and obey his principles.

1 Kings 17:2-6 , Jehovah teaches me what a God is who always cares about his servants and not only that, but he will see how to provide us with what we need in that time of difficulty, both material food as spiritual.

1 Kings 17:3, 4. Elijah immediately obeyed Jehovah and would have to hide and live in complete isolation for consecutive months, eating meat and bread that the ravens brought him, the way in which God continued to protect his servant gives security to Christians who will always have what is necessary, even in adverse situations.

1 Kings 18:1 and 42, we see that Elijah prays to Jehovah for his will to be fulfilled, because in verse 1 he himself says that he was determined to give rain, so the main thing for Elijah was that God's will be fulfilled In the same way, when we pray, we must know what God's will is, so that our prayers please Him, and that is a good reason to adopt the habit of studying the Bible every day. 

In this week's reading of chapters 17 and 18 of 1 Kings, we see that Jehovah has always demonstrated the great power that he has. Which gives us assurance that he will undoubtedly fulfill all his promises.

Throughout chapter 17 we see that in the time of drought and famine, Jehovah provided Elijah with everything he needed and in the time of death he used it to restore life, and every time Elijah had to show him the faith he had in his God was rewarding. So we, too, may receive assignments that discourage us, or we may face persecution but remember that Jehovah directs and protects us and will help us endure any trial.

1 Kings 17:16 teaches me that the Lord blesses those who treat his servants well. Thus we can be kind and hospitable to Christian overseers and other brothers who wear themselves out in service.

1 Kings 17:12, It shows us that this widow had nothing else to eat, but still she was hospitable, since perhaps another person in her place would not have done it, This teaches us that we must be hospitable to those who need it most and for this we should not have many material goods, since from the little we have we can share with others, which will please Jehovah very much.

1 Kings 17:22-24, recounts the first resurrection that the Bible speaks of. So we can use this text in the Ministry, since it shows us that Jehovah wants and can resurrect the dead, and indeed this is going to be done in the very near future.

1 Kings 17:16, We see that if the widow had reacted differently, she would not have received Jehovah's blessing. From this we learn that he blesses those who have faith, since in the case of the widow if she showed faith and obeyed, God would consider her worthy of receiving help from her through the prophet. So if we exercise faith, we will receive blessings, if not, we will not lose.

1 Kings 17:2 and 3 , teaches me the importance of being obedient because because Elijah obeyed Jehovah's order he was able to stay alive. So we must obey everything Jehovah tells us because it is for our good.

1 Kings 1718 , We see that this mother blamed the man of the true God for the death of her son, what this text teaches me is that sometimes when a brother is suffering, his speech may not reflect reason, but this does not mean that the brother has lost faith, rather it is because of the pain he is feeling, so we should not judge him for his foolish speech.

In 1 Kings 17:24,   we see that seeing the miracle the widow had a stronger faith, however she had already shown faith previously, perhaps we think that if we had a miracle we could serve with more confidence in Jehovah, but that is why Jehovah The Bible has left us his word so that we meditate on these stories and that our trust in him is even stronger.

In 1 Kings 17:12. Although she lived surrounded by idolaters, the widow of Zarephath had faith in the God of Israel, by sending Elijah to the widow's house, Jehovah showed that he notices good-hearted people who still do not serve him, the same thing he does when It looks at those people in our territory who are willing to accept the message that we carry through the good news and who can become its servants. 

1 Kings 18:21, We see that Elijah spoke to the people and said that they could not be choosing between 2 opinions and serve Jehovah or serve Baal, what it teaches us is that in worshiping Jehovah we should not mix with false beliefs or doctrines , so this prayer would be in vain since Jehovah will not accept it.

In 1 Kings 18:37, we see that Jehovah answered Elijah's prayer and supported what he was doing, what it teaches us is that when we strive to do Jehovah's will, in the same way he supports us with his Holy Spirit and bless the choices we make.

1 Kings 17:15. As Elijah had promised her, Jehovah was in charge of multiplying her scarce food during the entire time that the drought lasted so that Elijah, she and her son had something to eat, a lesson we can learn is that God blesses those who they have faith When we face a test of integrity with faith, he helps us and becomes our Provider, Protector and Friend so that we can endure.

1 Kings 18:13, We see that Obadiah was very helpful to the prophets who were going through a difficult situation, what it teaches us is that we can also be a strengthening Help for our brothers when they are going through difficult situations.

In 1 Kings 17:22. And when referring to the resurrection of a widow's son, some Bibles say that the child's soul returned inside him, and came to live, to answer this question we must remember that one of the meanings of the word soul is life and that is why other Bibles express the meaning of the phrase “as the soul goes out of her” with other words; for example, "life escaping him" or "with his last breath."

1 Kings 18:3. Obadiah worshiped Jehovah cautiously and discreetly, but without compromise, his fear of God was exceptional, and this healthy fear gave him extraordinary courage, as was proved as soon as Jezebel killed Jehovah's prophets.

In 1 Kings 18:13, in this text we see that Elijah had confidence that Jehovah would answer his prayers and what he teaches us is that this same confidence can help us to act according to his will even when our life depends of the decision we make.

1 Kings 18:21. It was so difficult for the Israelites to choose between Jehovah and Baal because they had lost faith in Jehovah and did not trust him either, in addition, they had been influenced by foreigners who did not worship Jehovah and had even allowed them to make decisions for them, which What happened to them leaves us as a lesson that we should never allow our faith to weaken, we must always trust God and not let ourselves be carried away by other people.