It is so encouraging to know that in whatever state or circumstance a believer in Christ is in, one can be absolutely certain and confident that God cares for His very own.
In 1 Kings 17:1 - 16, the bible quotes:
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2 And the Word of the Lord came to him, saying 3 "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook cherith, which is east of the Jordan 4 And it shall be that you shall drink of the brook and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there." 5 So he went and did according to the Word fo the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of Jordan. 6 And the Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of teh Lord came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, a widow there to provide for you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink." 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in teh jar, and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die." 13 Then Elisha said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourelf and your son. 14 "For thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'the bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.'" 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil became empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.
Let us consider three lessons from this enlightening passage. The miraculous works of God through the Lives of the prophet Elijah and the widow, give us much encouragement to continue to serve Him.
Firstly, God provides directions for His own at all times.
There was a drought in the land for a period of three and a half year (please read James 5:17). The word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying , "Go away from here and turn eastward, hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of Jordan." (1 Kings 17:3). Later on God gave the prophet clear guidance to leave the drying brook and to "arise, go toZarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there." (1 Kings 17:9). It is very comforting to experience God's timely directions at every phase of our lives. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He did not question God's leading, nor doubt God's ability to provide. He knew His God and when God gave fresh directions or commands, he believe and followed His ways. We can and must emulate the example of Elijah; because Jehovah Rohi, which means "God is our shepherd" is still leading His people along. (Please refer to Psalm 23). Hear what Revelation 7:17 adds to this picture: "For the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes." Today, invite Jesus to be the Shepherd of your life. you will not regret your decision.
Secondly, God provides sustenance for His own at lean times.
It is interesting to note that during the initial part of the drought-period, God had commanded ravens to provide Elijah (1 kings 17:4 - 6). "It happened after a whilem that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the Land. Then the Word of the Lord came to him, saying... behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." (1 Kings 17:7 - 9). In our natural minds, we may ask why of all the birds, God commanded ravens to meet Elijah's basic meals? Why of al lteh women in Zarephath, this particular 'poor' widow was chosen to sustain the prophet's needs? In many occasions, the mighty God chose insignificant things or people as a blessing; so that all glory and praise be fitly ascribed unto His Name. "But God has chosen the foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the thigns that are, that no man should boast before God." (1 Corinthians 1:27 - 29).
Elijah went through lean times, yet God provided lavishly for him. Your God will do likewise unto you, when you depend upon Him all the time. "The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger, but will thrust aside the craving of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:3).
Jehoval Jireh is still on the Throne. He is still meeting His children's every need. Do you have a need? Tell Him now! "And my God shall supply all your needs accordingly to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19). Remember that He is your source, He is your Sufficiency, He is your Provider, so trust in Him!
Thirdly, God will bless the obedient who has faith.
Much has been said concerning God's provisions in the above paragraph. In 1 Kings 17:5, it recorded Elijah's obedience, "so he went and did according to the word of the Lord." In verse 10 of the same chapter, it mentioned that "he arose and went to Zarephath." God will give vivid directions or commands to us in our walk with Him. Unless,you and I convert the God-given commands into action and be obedient to these directions, nothing much can happen. there will be no miracles nor provisions. The story also revealed to us the widow's obedience towards the command of the prophet, "so she went and did according to the word of Elijah..." (1 Kings 17:15). To obey is simply to perform bidding given by someone (usually by someone more superior than us.) Much was given unto her in reward for her simple obedience. The bible recorded that "she and he and her household ate for many days (365 days x 3 years?) The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar oh oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah." (1 Kings 17:15 - 16)
What makes the impossible to be possible?
I believe it is obedience and faith anchored in God and His word.
The whole story is contrary to nature, for without the woman having faith in God and in the word of His prophet, she would have been selfish enough to protect her own son as well as herself as long as possible from starvation. Faith enabled her to act according to the word of the prophet, and by faith she continued to have a supply throughout the famine.
Romans 1:17 says that "but the righteous man shall live by faith." The author in Hebrews 12:6 quotes, "and without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.
so in simple equation it will look like this : Obedience + faith = blessings / rewards
These miracles were written so that you and I can enjoy the blessings of our wonderful God, (who is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever) in quality and quantity. According to your faith, so shall your lot be! Lastly, when your God begins to pour out His manifold blessings, do not forget to serve and worship Him. Fear the living God and live holy lives before Him, always giving thanks unto God who causes us to triumph over our enemies victoriously. At all times, praise His Glorious Name!