A Royal Pain | Part 2

Yahweh’s Counter-Attack

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I was going to call this message “Yahweh Strikes Back”, but I didn’t want to equate Yahweh with Empire—he has far more in common with the Rebellion. (If that sentence made no sense to you, I apologize for the Star Wars reference.)

This story’s far more than a touching account of God’s provision for the widow: it’s God’s way at striking back against Baal. In chapter 16, we saw that Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal the King of Sidon married Ahab, the King of Israel to import the worship of her God. Now Elijah is sent to a widow in “Jezebel’s backyard” (thanks to Eugene Peterson for that phrase). Baal attacks via royalty; Yahweh attacks with love for the poor.