In this chapter, just when a widow thinks her life is about to end, the Lord shows Himself faithful. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives -- the God whom I worship and serve -- there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I give the word!”
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook at a place east of where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” (Wow...the Lord will take care of you!)
So Elijah did as the Lord had told him and camped beside Kerith Brook. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions.” So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a cup of water?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.” But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” (Wow! Let’s not miss this. This woman’s options had run out, and she believed that her and her son were going to die because they had run out of food. BUT THE LORD, knowing all things, sends Elijah to demonstrate HIS power.)
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and cook that ‘last meal,’ but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again.”
So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. (To God be the glory!)
Some time later, the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. She then said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to punish my sins by killing my son?”
But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the boy’s body from her, carried him up to the upper room, where he lived, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”
And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he came back to life! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive!” he said.
Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.” (1 Kings 17)
Side Note: Elijah asked a legitimate question...why did the Lord bring tragedy to this woman, after saving her and her son’s life? The chapter ends with the woman saying that she now knows God was speaking through Elijah. Does this indicate that the woman was doubting the Lord, even after the Lord blessed her and her son with food? Did her lack of faith create more tragedy, so the Lord could show Himself mighty? Therefore, is our lack of faith hindering us, postponing blessings from God, and/or causing more trials in our life? Just something to think about.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us to totally trust in you, never doubting you and your faithfulness. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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