The Torah was given by God to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai more than 3300 years ago. The annual renewal of the covenant between God and the Jewish people takes place on Shavuot, a two-day holiday. It commences at sundown next Tuesday.
I’ve recently been studying Exodus. Moses ascended and descended Mt Sinai eight times. His face did not shine until the eighth descent. Circumcision, the sign of belonging to the covenant people, was to be performed on the eighth day. This sign of circumcision was also a symbolic representation of the infilling of the Holy Spirit in the Christian.
The Bible records eight individual resurrections other than the Lord Jesus and the saints. Leading up to Pentecost, I will compare the two series (Moses’ ascents and descents and the resurrections) in chronological order.–JW
Moses’s ascent (Ex 19:3-6) and descent (Ex 19:7-8)
Resurrection of the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Ki 17)
Exodus 19:4-6a NIV
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”
Theme: God’s provision and deliverance. Identity as holy nation.
Dominant posture: God carries
In the drought, Elijah goes from Tishbe, Gilead to the brook Cherith, where he is fed by ravens. God instructs him to then go to Zarephath, where he, the widow, and her son are supernaturally fed by a supply of oil and meal that does not diminish.
Joshua 7 is the story of the defeat of the Israelites at Ai. The Lord reveals to Joshua that someone had defied God’s covenant and taken some Canaanite objects as the spoils of war. The sin is traced to Achan, who had buried them under his tent. He is stoned in the valley of Achor.
The subsequent history of the valley of Achor is fascinating. It is called the brook Cherith. Isaiah prophesies that in the new eternal Israel, the valley of Achor will be a place for the herds to lie down, for the people who have sought God (Is 65:10). Hosea foretells that in the regathering of Israel, the valley of Achor will be a door of hope, a place of song, as in the days of her youth, when she was delivered from Egypt (Hos 2:15).
Tishbe means captivity. Gilead means rugged. The brook Cherith is the door of hope. The meaning of the word ‘Zarephath’ is smelting-shop, “a workshop for the refining and smelting of metals.”
Elijah went from captivity through the door of hope to the smelting shop, or refinery. It is after his stay in Zarephath that Elijah will challenge the prophets of Baal.
Just as God carried the children of Israel on eagle’s wings, Elijah carried the widow’s dead son.
We thank You, God, for carrying us.
Posted by anglicanprayer 
