Scripture
1 Kings 17: 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.” 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.”
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.’”
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.
Thoughts
Most of the world (and ourselves) likely consider faith to be an act of foolhardiness rather than bravery. Faith lived out day by day is quintessentially risk taking, walking and living on the substance of God’s promises when there is no clear evidence to be seen that the promises will materialize.
The mother in this story displays extraordinary faith. We first see her being interrupted in preparing the last meal for her and her son, anticipating their death in days from their lack of food and drink. Elijah directs her to take her remaining food and water–not enough for herself and her son to survive on, and share it with him as well. We don’t know how many weeks or months it has been since Elijah cursed the land with drought, or whether the woman knows that Elijah is the person responsible for her plight, but we do know he is asking her to trust him, and God, to take care of her and her son when her common sense tells her it won’t work. Common sense tells her this man is using God to make her little bit even smaller, and bringing her son (and her) closer to death.
Instead of relying on common sense, she relies on her faith that this man who claims to be from God is trustworthy, and that God is trustworthy.
From our vantage point thousands of years later it is easy to see her choice as straightforward, easy peasy. This is the God who rescued her ancestors from Egypt, who kept them nourished for forty years, and settled them in their promised land.
We hopefully have not and will not face situations where our life or the lives of those we hold dear are held in the balance. Each day we do encounter opportunities to trust in God or to trust in ourselves.
Reflection
Ask God to open your heart to where he is asking you to trust him. Ask God to bring to your mind the many ways he blesses you every day, the many times he delivered you from problems.
Personal Prayer
Lord, I put at the foot of the cross my cynicism, my doubts, my hesitancy to believe you are who you say you are. I pray that you would remind me throughout each day how you have showed up and showed out in extravagant, outrageously blessed ways again and again. And again. May I spend each day praising you for your mercies, and generosity, your love, your amazing, relentless faithfulness.
Shared Prayer Focus
Father, help us to be encouragers with those you put in our path. Teach us to abide in you, and may the streams of joy you fill us with overflow into the lives of others.
Prayer Requests & Praise Reports
No matter how small, please reply with a praise report, and send any and all prayer needs!
