A Starving Widow Feeds The Hungry Prophet

My scripture reference today is 1 Kings 17: 7 – 16.

V 7-9

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 
9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”

The end of a source could be God redirecting us to another supply. I deeply admire Elijah’s obedience, for heeding God’s word and moving to Zarephath once the brook dried up. Some of us get so comfortable with how things have been that we are hesitant to embrace change.

If I were Elijah, I would imagine that this widow God said would supply me with food would be a rich, influential woman. You know, the kind that the whole neighborhood depends on for upkeep and freebies.

It marvels me how when he arrived in Zarephath, the Spirit of God arranged for them to meet. I do not believe in coincidences. The Lord orders the steps of the righteous. So, God caused this widow to go to the town gate to gather sticks just about the time Elijah arrived.

V 10-11

10 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?” 

11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

Elijah, a national or perhaps international prophet, asked for water to drink. That was okay but asking for bread too? Could he not discern that this woman was barely surviving?

V 12-14

12 “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.” 

13 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. 

14 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.’”

I love her reply. Most times, people who are in dire situations are rude and angry at everyone else. They believe that others who are doing better are doing so at their expense so, a snorty remark would have been commonplace. Contrarily, she took the respect highway by stating the facts without verbally abusing Elijah.

The prophet prophesied to her. It is not God that told him when you meet the widow, say this to her. I witness a display of believers speaking in faith and cashing out the faithfulness of God in an adverse circumstance. The word was, “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.”

In other words, the prophet Elijah meant- bake my bread first before you make food for you and your son; and your resources will not be exhausted until the day God sends rain (which could have been three, six, or more months from the time of this word).

V 15-16

15 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. 

16 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.

She obeyed! God came to the rescue of this widow and prophet. He will do the same for you.

And so Father Lord, we present ourselves unfiltered to You. Needy, broken, hurting, we come to You as your children. Help us to hear You amid our trials. Help us not to be stubborn; not to rationalize what you ask us to do. Make us faithful to obey, and as we heed Your word, do what You specialize in – create beauty out of our dirt and give us reasons to celebrate. In Jesus’ name, Amen.