God had a very unusual ministry for Elijah to perform in which he would stand alone against hundreds of opponents ( 1 Kings 18:16-40). This section reveals how the Lord prepared him for it. [source][source][source]
The site of Zarephath was between Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia, the stronghold of the cult that Ahab had imported into Israel (cf. 1 Kings 16:31). Widows were poor in the ancient Near East and would have been the first to run out of food in a drought. [1] Elijah"s request for water and then bread ( 1 Kings 17:10-11) evidently identified the widow God had in mind (cf. Genesis 24:10-21). Her response revealed a Gentile believer in Yahweh ( 1 Kings 17:12; cf. 1 Kings 17:1; Luke 4:26). Elijah asked the widow to put God"s interests-represented by himself, a prophet of Yahweh-before her own as the condition for her blessing ( 1 Kings 17:13; cf. Matthew 6:33; Mark 12:41-44). She responded obediently to the word Elijah gave her from God, showing she really believed that Yahweh, not Baal, was the God who could provide food and fertility ( 1 Kings 17:14). God honored her faith; He provided her need for food ( 1 Kings 17:15-16). [source][source][source]
"In the absence of Baal who lies impotent in the Netherworld, Yahweh steps in to assist the widow and the orphan, and this is even done in the heartland of Baal, Phoenicia." [2][source]
This situation undoubtedly strengthened Elijah"s faith in God"s power and faithfulness, as well as the faith of the woman. [source][source][source]
"The fact that Elijah had to sustain the widow and boy points not only to YHWH as provider for the needy but also as one who "trained" his prophet, as it were, to be obedient to him. Flour and oil signify life; they are the two common staples in any ancient, as well as modern, Near Eastern household." [3][source]
The sickness of the widow"s son corresponded to Israel"s spiritual condition at this time ( 1 Kings 17:17). The widow incorrectly blamed herself for her son"s predicament ( 1 Kings 17:18; cf. John 9:2-3). Elijah realized that only God could bring the boy back to life, so he called on God in prayer to do so ( 1 Kings 17:20-21). Often in cases of miraculous restoration, God"s servant placed his hand on the afflicted one. He did so to indicate that the power of God in him was passing to the needy individual (cf. Matthew 8:3). In this instance Elijah placed his whole body against the boy"s body for the same reason ( 1 Kings 17:21; cf. 2 Kings 4:34; Acts 9:31-43; Acts 20:10). This is the first restoration to life of a dead person that Scripture records. Elijah prayed shamelessly, one of the fundamental requisites for obtaining one"s petitions in difficult cases ( 1 Kings 17:21; cf. Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:5-13). God restored the lad"s life ( 1 Kings 17:22). In the process Elijah learned the power of God and the power of prayer. He applied both of these lessons in his contest with the Baal prophets ( 1 Kings 18:16-46). His confidence in his own ability as a channel of God"s blessing and word received added strength from the widow"s confession ( 1 Kings 17:24). [source][source][source]
"The best proof of the effectiveness of Elijah"s preparation is that he was verified as an authentic man of God and the bearer of God"s word by a daughter of the very people he opposed ( 1 Kings 17:24)." [4][source]
If God could raise a dead Gentile boy back to life in response to believing prayer, He could also revive the chosen people of Israel who had become spiritually dead. [source][source][source]
". . . the emphasis in this text [5] is not so much on Elijah as on the word of the Lord which is in Elijah"s mouth." [2][source]1 Kings 17:17-24 display a chiastic structure that highlights Elijah"s control of the situation and his intimate relationship with Yahweh that resulted in the miraculous resuscitation of the boy. [source][source][source]
"A"What have you against me, O man of God?"B"Give me your son!"CAnd he took him and brought him upDAnd he cried to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God."EAnd he stretched upon the boyD"And he called to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God."E"And the Lord heard the voice of ElijahC"And Elijah took the child and brought him downB""See your son lives!"A""Now I know that you are a man of God."" [4][source]
"The whole point of the story, however, seems to be paramountly a demonstration that YHWH, not Baal, has the power of life over death." [8][source]