Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 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.” 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 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.” 13 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. 14 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.” 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 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.
Reflect
A popular 1982 choral composition by Robert Ray, “He Never Failed Me Yet,” captures the hope and delight offered by God for believers. The song has been performed by school and college vocal groups as well as church choirs. “I will sing and give praise…for all the dangers, toils, and snares that He has brought me out….He is my God and I’ll serve Him, no matter what the test….” Both Elijah and the widow of Zarephath could have written these words, and in their own way most likely sang a similar song. Elijah, on the run for his life from the corrupt king Ahab and his murderous wife Jezebel, was hidden by God’s instructions to shelter in a cave and to accept food brought to him by ravens, an unclean and scavenger species forbidden to Jews by Mosaic law. The widow of Zarephath and her son were nearing starvation’s death when Elijah was commanded by God to travel to that town. He asked the widow for the bit of food she had and assured her that after she had fed him she would have enough flour and oil to provide for her and the boy. Elijah demonstrated that God’s manner of provision can be surprising. Elijah also came to demonstrate that God is the God of all creation and can use anyone or anything to accomplish God’s will.
Pray
Protector God, the world often threatens us with danger, deprivation, and death. We feel burdened beyond the ability to endure. Give us the ability to call on the protection offered to us, the protection and rescue You eagerly provide. Help us to be as Elijah, listening to Your direction and having the faith to follow your directions. Amen.
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