突如其来的试炼

你可以想像发生在撒勒法穷寡妇家里的情景吗？你听到她伤心欲绝地质问吗？「我究竟做错了什么？竟然会得到如此的报应？先死了丈夫，现在是唯一的儿子也死了，神为什么要这样待我？」也许，我们大多数人遇到飞来横祸，或突然而来的逆境，也会发出类似的呼喊。有些时候，当试炼接踵而至，我们便很容易会抱怨说：「我已经受够了！为什么每次都是我！」面对接二连三的苦难，确实令人难以忍受。

然而，以利亚却以无比的信心来面对这试炼。请看第19节。信心带来什么功效呢？信心使他得以冷静地面对危机。我们相信，以利亚面对当时的情景，一定很激动；但他却认识他所相信的神，他知道神容许这个试炼临到，一定是为了他和那位寡妇的益处（参罗马书八章28节）。

接着，信心使他敢于把试炼带到神的面前（18、20节）。神是以利亚的避难所。他可能有一大堆疑问，但他却知道他只能够将问题带到神的面前。我们是否这样做呢？或是，我们总是先向别人求助？信心促使他求神化解危机；信心促使人恳求神。

以利亚认识神的大能，他求神行一个史无前例的神迹，他大胆地求神使那个男童起死回生。这是何等大胆的请求！反观我们，我们总是不敢求神成就大事。但以利亚却不然！他求神不下雨，神便不下雨；他求神使男童复活，他便活过来；他求神从天上降火，神便降火；他求神下雨，神就再下雨。因此，当情况真的需要，我们不应害怕向神求那更大的事。

神应允以利亚的祷告，使男童起死回生之?，还有什么事情发生呢？寡妇相信了以利亚的神。这是非信徒最需要的见证：我们祈祷，神便应允我们的祈求，非信徒便看见神的工作。这也是引领他们认识基督的途径。我们所信的对象，是一位伟大的神。定睛在他身上吧！在神凡事都能。

AN UNEXPECTED TRIAL

Can you imagine the scene in that home in Zarephath? Can you hear the widow’s questions? “What have I done to deserve this? First my husband died. Now my only child dies too. Why has God done this to me?”

Many of us may have had that same attitude in various situations. There have been times when one trial, one test after another, has piled in on top of us. How easy it is to think then, “I’ve had enough! Why me anyway?” Those occasions are not easy to endure.

But what comes through is Elijah’s faith. Notice verse 19. What does faith do? Faith keeps calm in a crisis. No doubt Elijah was deeply moved. Yet he knew his God and that this further test had been allowed for their good. (See Ro 8:28)

Next, faith takes the trial to God (vv.18, 20). That was Elijah’s place of refuge. He might have questions but he knew to whom he could take them – to God Himself. Do we always do that or do we take our questions to everyone else first? Faith asks God to resolve the crisis. Faith asks God to do what is needed in the situation.

Elijah knew the power of his God. He asked for a miracle that had never happened before. He dared to ask God to bring the boy back to life. What a request! We are sometimes afraid to ask God for big things. Elijah wasn’t. He asked for a drought. God sent it. He asked for resurrection. God gave it. He asked for fire from heaven. God let it fall. He asked for rain. God allowed it to come again. Don’t be afraid to ask God for big things, if that is what is really needed.

God answered Elijah’s prayer and what was the result? The woman believed in Elijah’s God. That is what speaks to the unbelievers. We pray, God answers and they see what God can do. It could be the means of bringing them to Christ. Our faith is in a great God. Keep your eyes on Him.

WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

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