1 Kings 17:18–An Awakened Conscience And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? There is within man a faculty which we call the conscience. It is a most valuable asset. When in a healthy state it informs us that there is a God with whom we have to do. It instructs us about the moral quality of our thoughts and actions. It warns us of the judgment to come. These things may be true even of those without the gospel, as the apostle says: “Their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men” (Rom.2:15). In convincing of sin the Spirit of God brings a man’s conscience to life. When he believes upon the Saviour the sinner’s conscience is purged by the blood of Christ and made good. But if the voice of our conscience is not heeded then it will grow silent. Here is a woman whose soul has been awakened. Her conscience was asleep but God had a gracious purpose toward her. We see the Lord’s dealings with her and how she is brought to Himself. Firstly, there is the role of the preacher. When the Lord sends one of His servants to a particular place it is likely that there are people there to be called by the gospel. This was an extraordinary case. In a time of great famine Elijah was not sent anywhere in Israel but to a heathen land where Baal was worshipped (16:31); he was not sent to minister to a great multitude but to a single soul. When he meets the widow woman she is resigned to die with her son (17:12). The prophet is the means of a miracle whereby food is provided for her and her house during the famine. Elijah is with her “many days” (v.15). We can only believe that as a faithful servant of God he spoke often to this needy widow of the things of God. But she is apparently unmoved. Secondly, there is the role of providence. Suddenly events take a sad and unexpected turn in her experience. Her only son falls sick and dies. As her heart grieves for her precious son she cries out in bitterness against the man of God. In her anguish she wishes he had never come, forgetting that he had been sent on a mission of mercy. Yet her words are also a hopeful sign. Her sleepy conscience has been roused by this sad providence. Now she is willing to consider the prophet’s message. She has a troubled conscience. Things she had long since forgotten have come to the forefront of her mind. Former sins have become very much present. She has a fearful conscience. She supposes her affliction to be a punishment for her sins and she trembles at the thought of a day of reckoning. She has a tender conscience. God is making search of her soul and she cannot deny her personal guilt; “my sin.” It is a spiritual awakening. How often the Lord has sent sickness, bereavement or other afflictions on such a gracious errand! Perhaps such things have been blessed to you. The gospel was faithfully preached in your hearing but you did not turn to Christ. Then God spoke to you through your experience and you began to be truly sorry for your sins. After her son is miraculously restored to life the widow says: “Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth” (v.24). May the Lord likewise bless both His word and His providence to the salvation of your soul.