If someone needed your help or assistance, would you help them out? Most of us like to think that we would. However, what if by helping them, that would use up the very last of your resources? By helping them, you would be spending or giving the very last dollar you had, or the very last bite of food you had. Would you do it then? This is the dilemma that the woman in our Scripture today faced. Would she give her very last? Would we? Let’s see what lessons the Lord can teach us today.
Our Old Testament Scripture passage is a chapter out of the life of one of my all-time favorite people from the Bible, the Prophet Elijah. Elijah was a prophet of Yahweh, who preached His message to the people of the northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. Because of the people’s sins the Lord judged them by causing a nation-wide drought, where no rain fell for several years. This naturally upset the people, including King Ahab, and his life was in danger, so Elijah had to flee out into the wilderness where God provided for his daily needs for a few years.
Eventually the brook Elijah was staying near dried up, so the Lord sent him to the Phoenician city of Zarephath, a city in Gentile, pagan territory (vs. 8-10). This was a journey about 100 miles away. Elijah was walking, and he was still a “wanted man”, so coming out of hiding meant really trusting God for his safety. When the prophet arrived at the city border, he met a widow who was out gathering some sticks in order to start a cooking fire in her house. Elijah was tired, hungry, and thirsty, and he asked the woman for a drink of water and a bite to eat (vs. 10-11). The widow answered that she only had enough for a small bite for herself and her son (vs. 12). They were going to eat that, and then prepare to die of starvation. This long drought had caused famine throughout the area, and the widow had given up hope of living. Elijah responded by telling her to do as he asked, and she would not starve, nor die (vs. 13-14). So here we are. Would the woman give her very last bite of food to a stranger? Would she believe his word and step out in faith? Would I? Would you?
That was a rather bold statement for Elijah to make. First, the Phoenicians were no friends of Israel. Why would he expect the widow would help him? And then, what if the woman did as he requested and God did not replenish her food supply, and she died? Elijah had faith in the Lord that He would provide for the woman, even though she was a Gentile, if she had faith in the Lord, as well. He had confidence to say what he did to the widow during a famine because he had lived a life of faith, and had proved God to be faithful.
Elijah asked the widow for the one thing that she couldn’t spare. Giving up her little resource, she could now only lean on God. She was pushed beyond her limit to endure. She was out of food and without any options. God was now ready to work a miracle for her, but she needed to trust Him and be obedient. This woman’s obedience to God’s command through Elijah brought her deliverance. God never asks you for what you don’t have. He only asks you for what you want to keep for yourself. Elijah rebuked the fear in the woman, and told her to give what she had. In return God supplied what she needed.
Most of us would rather that God would provide in abundance long before our resources are depleted, rather than just enough for each day. God, though, tells us to trust Him. When we feel trapped by our circumstances, and feel certain that what we have will not be enough, God can work miracles. God strengthens us to continue using what little we have, trusting that with His help it will be enough.
Are you afraid that your jar of flour will one day be empty and your jug of oil will fail? According to the Word of God, if believers in Jesus trust and obey Him, this will not be the case. God’s grace and mercy will last through all of your necessities. You can never exhaust the infinite mercies of God. He hears us when we are scraping the bottom of the barrel. All else may be gone, but Jesus remains, and His Word declares that our every need will be supplied.
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