In 1 Kings 17 the prophet Elijah had a very peculiar encounter with a widow from Zarephath.
There was rampant idolatry, led by the royal couple Ahab and Jezebel. As a punishment God allowed drought to happen across the land. God instructed Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. He obeyed, finding a woman gathering sticks.
He said to her, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink,” and, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand” (1 Kings 17:11–12).
The widow was in great need herself. She responded,
“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” (verse 13).
Elijah tested her faith
1 Kings 17:14 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.’ ”
She obeyed the instructions of the prophet and the widow’s food supply was supernaturally extended, as promised. Elijah stayed there for some time, living in an upper room of the widow’s house.
God is able to provide for all your needs
Do you feel like you’re at the end of hope? Don’t see a way through your circumstance? You may be facing big unknowns, but the end of your hope is the middle of God’s story.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Trust in God and pray
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
The Lord provides. This is one of the central promises of the Christian faith. We know it.
How do you need God’s provision today?
When that provision comes, how will you respond?
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