1 Kings 17:1-24 VOICE

[1] Elijah the Tishbite, one of the Gilead settlers, spoke to Ahab. Elijah: As the Eternal lives-the True God who gives life to the Israelites, the God whom I serve-no rain or dew will touch the earth unless I give word. [2] The Eternal One gave him this message: [3] Eternal One: I want you to travel away from this place and go east. Keep yourself hidden near the Cherith stream, east of the Jordan. [4] You will have water from the stream during this drought, and I will tell the birds to take care of you while you are hiding there. [5] Elijah did just as the Eternal had instructed him to do. He lived near the Cherith stream, east of the Jordan. [6] The ravens did take care of him while he was there, just as the Lord said, bringing him a meal of bread and meat at sunrise and another meal of bread and meat at sunset. He satisfied his thirst by drinking from the stream. [7] Soon the stream became dry because of the drought. [8] The Eternal One gave him this message: [9] Eternal One: Get up, and travel to Zarephath. It is in the possession of Sidon, which is outside Israel. Remain there, and do not leave for any reason. There is a widow in Zarephath whom I have told to take care of you. [10] Elijah got up and immediately traveled to Zarephath. He arrived at the city gate, and at that moment, a widow was picking up sticks nearby. Elijah: Please bring me some water in a jar to quench my thirst. [11] (as she fetched the water) Also, could you please bring me a piece of bread? [12] Woman: As certain as the Eternal One, your True God lives, I don't have any bread. In fact, I am starving. I don't have anything except for a bit of flour in a bowl and a few drops of oil in a jar. I was gathering sticks when you arrived to make a fire so that my son and I could eat one last bite of food and then die. It's all over for us. [13] Elijah: I assure you that it's not over for you yet. Don't be afraid. Continue what you were doing, but make a small bread cake for me first, and bring it here to me. Then you and your son may eat your own bread cakes. [14] This is the message of the Eternal God of Israel: "The flour and the oil will not run out until the moment when the Eternal showers the earth with rain." [15] She did exactly as Elijah had instructed her to do, and everyone who lived in her house had food for days. [16] The bowl of flour and the jar of oil did not run out, just as the Eternal had said through Elijah. [17] A little while later, the son of the woman, the house's mistress, grew fatally ill. His illness grew so intense that eventually he stopped breathing; he was dead. [18] Woman (to Elijah): Why did this happen? What wickedness have I committed against you, man of God? Are you here as a reminder of past sin? Is that why my son died? [19] Elijah: Bring your son to me. Elijah then took the dead boy out of her arms, carried him upstairs to his own room, and laid him on his own bed. [20] Elijah: O, my True God, the Eternal, have You brought this tragic death upon the son of the widow who is looking after me? If so, why would You do this to a woman who is serving You? [21] Elijah stretched himself out over the boy three different times, and he cried out to the Eternal again. Elijah: O my True God, the Eternal, I beg you to bring this boy back to life. [22] The Eternal heard Elijah's plea, and the boy was brought back to life. [23] Elijah brought the boy back down to his mother who was waiting anxiously in the house. Elijah: Your son lives again. [24] Woman (rejoicing): I now fully trust that you are a man of God and that the truth of the word of the Eternal dwells in your mouth.