1 Kings 17:8-16
The Widow of Zarephath
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’ So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.’ As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’ But she said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.’ Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Reflection
"Let's go ahead and buy the gallon. We won't be back here for some time." This was a conversation I heard while waiting behind a couple to pick up a half-gallon of fresh apple cider at Hidden Valley, a local fruit farm.
Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephath and the woman had her faith tested. The widow apparently worshiped Yahweh, but was a Gentile. This wasn't a selfish act of Elijah, but rather a demonstration and test of faith. The widow had faith that God would provide, even in her obvious need. And God did provide. The widow as well as her household ate for many days.
Think of the witness this woman provided to Elijah, God and all of her friends and neighbors. The jar of meal was not emptied neither did the jug of oil fail. It seems to me that when I am in need, I am tested. When in need of healing or stressed financially or stressed period, I don't always emulate the faith that this widow demonstrated. But look at the results of her faith. It shows that God is sincere in the love he has for each one of us. It's not like it was a reward for faith, but more of a confirmation that if I listen to God and am faithful, his Word will stand now and forever.
So, if I believe and have faith that what Jesus has done for the forgiveness of sin, I can live a new life in the faith that my sin has been accounted for in the life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus for my sin and the sin of all the world. I can live as the widow with the confidence that I am taken care of and witness this wonderful new life to all my neighbors and friends in boldness. God offers this new life at the risk of losing your old life. I now trust in God rather than the little water and oil and the few sticks I can gather. I trust in God and experience the abundance of God's love in my life.
So do I buy the gallon of cider or the half gallon? I guess it all depends. Either way God has provided the abundance and the fruit of life. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, teach me to have faith in your Word, in your will and in your way... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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