I Kings 16-17

"As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives … there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (17:1).  After a series of bad kings, Israel’s sinfulness reached new heights under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.  They built altars to Baal and Asherah (16:33), idols whose worship included sexual immorality and sometimes child sacrifice.  But God did not forget His people.  He sent the prophet Elijah (ch 17) to rebuke Israel’s leaders and call them to repentance, showing God’s power by a national drought.

"See, your son lives” (17:23).  Ahab’s idolatry brought death and destruction to Israel.  Elijah’s miracles demonstrated that only God has the power to give and sustain life.