How does 1 Kings 17:22 demonstrate God's power over life and death? The narrative snapshot • Before verse 22, the widow’s son in Zarephath has died (1 Kings 17:17). • Elijah carries the child to his upper room, stretches himself over the boy three times, and cries out that the child’s life would return (vv. 19-21). • Then comes the key statement: “And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.” (1 Kings 17:22) God alone commands breath • The boy was not merely unconscious; he was dead—life had departed, and only God could restore it (cf. Deuteronomy 32:39). • The return of “life” (literally, “soul” or “breath”) underscores that the LORD is the direct giver and taker of life (Psalm 104:29-30). • No natural remedy, ritual, or prophet’s power sufficed; Elijah’s prayer depended wholly on the LORD’s sovereign action. Prayer aligned with God’s will • Elijah’s intercession shows that God welcomes faith-filled cries (James 5:17-18). • The immediate answer—“the LORD listened”—reveals divine attentiveness to His servants (Psalm 34:15). • The miracle encourages believers to pray boldly, trusting God’s authority over every circumstance, including death itself. Foreshadowing greater resurrections • The resurrection in Zarephath previews later Old Testament raisings (2 Kings 4:32-35) and anticipates Jesus’ miracles: – “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (Luke 7:14-15) – “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43-44) • Ultimately it points to the climactic victory of Christ, “the Living One… I hold the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). • God’s power displayed in a single child foreshadows the universal resurrection promise: “the dead will be raised imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Assurance for today • Death is not final for those who belong to the LORD; He can restore physical life and will certainly grant eternal life. • The episode confirms that every breath lies in His hands, inviting steadfast trust amid sickness, loss, or grief. • Just as the widow exclaimed, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth” (1 Kings 17:24), the miracle authenticates God’s Word and strengthens faith for every generation. |
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