1 Kings 17:9-16
“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ ” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
1 Kings 17:9-16 NIV
Imagine what it was like for her, just her and her little boy. Her husband had died, and together, mother and son were starving to death. They were victims of a widespread famine, and there was no place to go and nothing to do about their plight.
She had faced the reality of their coming demise. She would take her little pot of flour and the little bit of oil she had left, gather some sticks, make a little cake, eat this final meal with her son and lay down to die.
What would you be thinking if it were you? What would you be thinking about God? What would you say to your son? And how would you respond if someone you didn't know came and asked you to give them the ingredients for your last meal on earth?
Sometimes I think we read the Bible too stoically. Sometimes I think we forget that the characters in the stories embedded in the Old Testament were people just like us. They had hopes and dreams, they believed and they doubted, they felt joy and experienced despair, they suffered real pain, they didn't know what was going to happen next.
But what she didn't know was that God had chosen to shine the light of glorious life on her. God had already chosen for her to be part of something more wonderful than anything her broken heart could have ever imagined.
God had chosen this weak and broken lady to be part of something that would influence people of faith down through eternity. God had chosen to not only give her life, but to declare through her that He is the Resurrection and the Life. The method of all of this would be an outrageous request, one that I honestly think I would have refused.
To do something people like to know what the outcome will be. They want to have a favorable outcome with the actions that they do. Most people will look at what the different possibilities are and weigh the differences.
The primary way most people will act, is if the possibility of a favorable outcome is very high, will they do the act. If the possibility of a favorable outcome is very low, then the only way that they will do the action is if the favorable outcome will be very high, such as in playing the lottery.
During the time of a proclaimed drought, Elijah went to a woman for some food. The lady said that all she had was enough food for one more meal, and then she and her child would die. Elijah told her He would provide for her needs, so she made him a meal. God did provide and they had food every day during the drought.
Acting in faith takes some courage and faith in God. One has to know that God is full of love and is faithful to His word. Throughout the Bible, over and over, God says that He will provide.
Nearly every believer in God has heard this said or read the verses, yet, many are afraid to act in faith. They are afraid to give their last bit of food for a stranger, trusting God for more. They are afraid to give to a missionary in need or give the tithe plus some more in generosity. They are afraid to go up to someone and tell them about Jesus.
These things are all not done out of lack of faith in God. If you can trust God to save your soul from sin, then you should be able to trust Him with everything else. Trust God when He directs you to do some thing.
Doing what God asks of you may look like you are stepping off a cliff and will die, unless He does something, but do it anyways. God has a reason for you to take that step. It may be for you, or it may be for someone else, but do it.
This moment of the death and life of the widow's son is a physical prophecy of another only Son who would die and who would rise again. Jesus would die, carrying our sins, but He would not stay dead. No, He would rise out of the tomb conquering sin and death, giving life to all who put their trust in Him.
The resurrection of the son of the widow(read through v 24) is a historical finger pointing to the future resurrection of the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
When she went out to pick up sticks for her last meal, the widow of Zarapeth had no idea of the incredible turn her life would take. It would not be her last day because what was lurking over her wasn't the shadow of death, but the Giver of Life, who would not only give her life, but through her preach life to all who believe.
And it all began with a stranger's seemingly outrageous request, followed by an act of faithful obedience!!!
Father thank You for this day and for Your breath to breathe. Lord let Your abundant blessings flow over my friend and family today. Lord, the voices around us tell us too often that we should fear those who differ from us. Yet You tell us they, too, are Your beloved children. Lord You call us to love them, as You love them. You call us to be generous to them, as You have been generous to us. Lord use my friend to be a blessing that someone needs today. Be a blessing. Love ya
Father, we love You amen !
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