“So she said, ‘As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a
handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a
couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we
may eat it, and die.’”
As a summary background, the prophet Elijah had just
declared to the wicked King Ahab that he had prayed for a drought for the
northern kingdom, a drought that would not cease except at the word of Elijah. Then God removed Elijah to the wilderness and
supplied food by a raven and water by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the
Jordan. After that brook dried up, God
sent Elijah to Sidon (the home country of Jezebel) to this Gentile widow to
supply his needs.
Why send Elijah to a Gentile nation? Jesus answers that for us. When Jesus was in Nazareth, He read from the
book of Isaiah in the synagogue, and then told those in attendance who He was –
those in attendance marveled and said ‘is this Joseph’s son?’ “Then
He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when
the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine
throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to
Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.’” (Luke
4:24-26) When the people heard this
rebuke from Jesus, they were full of wrath and sought to throw Him over a cliff
outside the city, effectively confirming Jesus’ point.
God told Elijah that He had commanded the widow to provide
for him. Does her response appear to be
of one that has just been commanded by God?
She plainly states ‘the LORD your God.’ But God knows her circumstances are desperate
and that the words of Elijah would ring as the only hope of salvation for her
and her son. “And Elijah said to her, ‘Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but
make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some
for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of
flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the
LORD sends rain on the earth.’’” (1 Kings 17:13-14)
What a promise. But
first the widow must step out in faith and not fear. Fear can be paralyzing. Worse of all, it represses or replaces
faith. As our faith increases, our fears
no longer control us. Sometimes we need
to be encouraged by others to trust God and not to fear. Secondly, the widow must, in faith, make a
cake first for Elijah, then for herself and her son. Jesus told us not to worry. “But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall
be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Even
though she knew she had only enough for herself and her son, the widow makes
Elijah a cake first, and is blessed with flour and oil throughout the
drought. She was also blessed to be
reminded of this miracle on a daily basis.
God did not fill up her flour and oil all at once, but on an as used,
daily basis. Such a daily supply from
God shows us how real He is, how good He is, and how powerful He is.
When we study our Bible daily and daily communicate with God
in prayer, we will more readily see the Hand of God at work, and see how He is
real, good and powerful. We will also more
likely be obedient and get to participate in God’s work. As a result, our faith will be strengthened
and God will be glorified.
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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