1 Kings 17-19: Calling a Past Sin to Rememberance

1 Kings 17:17-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)


17 After these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.

18 And she said to Elijah, What have you against me, O man of God? *Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son?

*emphasis mine


Today's reading reveals some of the powerfully dramatic exploits of the prophet, Elijah, but what I was drawn to was the woman's statement, "Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance."

Apparently this woman believed that Elijah was casting up past sins and her evidence for that belief was a dead son.

But what does God's Word say about our past sins? 

Isaiah 1:18
Amplified Bible (AMP)

18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.


Psalm 103:11-12

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.


Micah 7:19
Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.


Jeremiah 31:34
Amplified Bible (AMP)

34 And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more.

Why would this grieving woman think that God, through Elijah, was accusing her of past, already forgiven sins?

Could it be that she had been taught previously that God holds a grudge against us for our sins? Or had she had experiences with people who held her past sins against her and assumed Elijah was doing the same thing?

My friends, please be very careful with your words.  God does not hold forgiven sins against us!

Consequences of sins we have committed may occur, but God does not cast up forgiven sins, and certainly does not condemn us.  The whole reason Jesus came to earth was to save us from our sins, not to torment us!

Holy Spirit, please empower us to forgive and forgive and forgive, not cast up past mistakes!  Casting up is not Your heart, and if it is not Your heart, then we don't want it.  In the merciful name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

For those of you who can't forgive themselves for past, already forgiven sins.  Please close your eyes, listen to this song and pray it over yourself.  Jesus forgives, end of story!