1 Kings 17:12

New International Version

“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

For Meditation

She was a Phoenician woman from Zarephath — a widow and a single mother, and that made life difficult for her in her culture in the days of Elijah. Idolatry was her experience, and Baal-Melqart, the god they credited with fertility, rainfall, and good harvest, was her god. The drought Elijah pronounced against Israel had hit her region very hard and caused severe famine, perhaps because that was the hometown of Jezebel, who infested Israel with the worship of Baal. The irony was that Baal could not do anything about the drought.

How to survive the deadly famine was the major issue confronting the Widow of Zarephath until Elijah showed up in her life (1 Kings 17:10). On that day, she was down to her last provision for a meal and then wait to die with her child.

“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” (12)

Elijah had news for her. The God of Israel had chosen her as his host, and if only she would believe and bake for him before herself, she would experience a supernatural supply of flour and oil until the day the God of Israel sends rain on the land (14); and that became her story and testimony to the Glory of God.

The Zarephath story may be your story in another form as you read this message. Remember that God loves and cares for you. Perhaps you are afflicted in many ways. God sees you and hears your prayers. Your heavy heart is open before Him, and He cares. In His perfect timing, He will visit you according to His sovereign will and plan for your life.

He may not move as he did in the Zarephath story, but He will step into your situation, anyway. Only open your eyes to what He is doing around you. Listen to what He is possibly telling you through a mature and faithful Christian that may even challenge your faith to the core. Do what you hear the Spirit of wisdom and revelation tells you, and let God be God for His glory in your situation. Amen!

The widow met a stranger with a strange and difficult request, but God led her to receive her blessing through their encounter.