1 Kings_17

Scripture1 Kings 17:13 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.’”ObservationAhab has become king of Israel and was farthest from God and keeping his commands. Then to top it off he married Jezebel :( He set up idols to her god and what the enemy of Elijah. Elijah pronounced a drought and God spoke to him to go east of the Jordan.1 Kings 17:5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.But then the brook dried up. Elijah had to move on with nothing to eat or drink.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.”UnderstandingSometimes God asks us to let go of what we have so He can give us more.The widow had nothing left to give. Remember Jesus said that when we give to the least of these we did it unto him.Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’I can’t help but think that maybe Elijah in that moment was the “least” so that the widow would be able to minister to God, so that God would be able to minister to the widow.ApplicationGod will sustain us through the times of drought if we put our faith in Him.He does not desire that our dry situation should become dead.It’s a natural reaction to want to hold on to the “little” that we have, especially if it's connected to our well being. God wants to give us more if we are willing to do the exchange.1 Kings 17:15 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.By faith, she gave the little she had and God supplied her with enough to feed Elijah, her family, and herself until the drought had ended.By faith, she did what was right, to feed Elijah, a man who was thirsty and hungry and asking for help.Holding on to what we have will soon run out.

Trust God, give it to him, and let him sustain you.

 

Deborah Lee