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CHAPTER 17 (ESV)

 

9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now 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.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

 

REFLECTION

1. While hiding from Ahab, Elijah left Israel and went to Jezebel’s homeland, Phoenicia! There he stayed with a penniless widow who first fed the prophet, and then herself and her son when Elijah promised that her near-empty jug of oil would not run dry, and her near-empty jar of flour would not run out. The widow’s faith was rewarded. Instead of starving, the woman and her son were fed daily.
2. Later, when the widow’s son became ill and stopped breathing, Elijah was there to ask God to restore him. The return of the boy to life was final, joyous proof to the widow. God truly did live and speak through Elijah.
3. When we are first called to faith in Christ, it may seem that we, like the widow’s jar of flour, are called on to give up something vital to us. Whatever we give up when we receive Christ, God gives us far more. And ultimately we have eternal life.
4. Ask God what might be my jar of flour today – something that needs filling up. It’s okay to tell God He’s asking too much. At first, the widow did just that. Trusting God is a process.
5. Consider how it would feel to trust God this much. How would my life be different if I trusted God with just a little more every single morning, as the widow did?

 

PRAYER

Tell God what my thoughts are, and listen to God’s response.