God’s providence is His absolute and sovereign control over all that He has created. The Shorter Catechism states it this way (Question 11):
What are God's works of providence? God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.
It is by God’s providence that you enjoy the blessings of this life (Paul speaking to the Athenian leaders on Mars Hill—Acts 17:24,25,28). It is also by God providence that trials, tribulation, afflictions, and heartaches come into your life (Joseph—Genesis 45:7; Genesis 50:20).
It is not chance or luck, Satan or demons, kings or rulers among men that rule over all. It is our Sovereign and Almighty God that rules over all (Psalm 103:19; Psalm 135:6; Daniel 4:34-35).
From today’s text, we see the hand of the Lord take this poor widow of Zarephath out of one dark providence (the starvation of her and her son) just to bring her into another dark providence (the death of her only son). The reaction of this widow, a new believer, is a reaction we have all had at one time or another to God’s providence in taking us or our loved ones down a path we certainly would not have chosen for ourselves—but the Lord chose for us in order to glorify Himself and to grow us.
The main points from our text are: (1) God’s Frowning Providence (1 Kings 17:17-18); (2) Out of Death Comes Life (1 Kings 17:19-22); (3) God’s Compassion upon a Struggling Saint (1 Kings 17:23-24).
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