This young widow of Serpath sat silently next to her child as he slept. Sleep had fled from her through the night as she sat silently beside her sleeping son. His breath was even and his sleep was deep. Little did he understand the seriousness of their situation. Her husband and his father had passed away suddenly some time ago and they were left to fend for themselves. To make matters worse a drought had encompassed the land and food was scarce as well as drinking water. She lifted the lid on the little barrel of meal and looked at the cruze of oil that sat near her. There was just enough for a couple of very small cakes. She realized that without some miraculous intervention this would be the last meal that she shared together with her son.
Have you ever felt the hopelessness of a devastating situation, have you stayed awake through the night wondering how you could find the strength to make it through another day.
That morning a middle aged man approached her as she gathered a few sticks to cook her last remaining meal. He was very forward and to the point. He asked if she could make something for him to eat and give him something to drink. She was exasperated at his audacity. I am sorry she said I have only enough for one last very small meal. Let’s look a little more closely at what happens next.
1 Kings 17 King James Version
And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
Let’s look at this a little more closely at what’s taking place. This woman was not an Israelite, she did not know nor worship the God of Israel. She had never met this man, however I do believe she discerned that he was a prophet by his manner of dress and conversation. The water was more available to her than the food and she was willing to share it. However when it came to the point of sharing the last of the meal in the barrel this became more of a challenge. You see when we are asked to surrender something to God by faith and trust Him to return it back again, we find it hard to let go of the things we are clinging onto. In truth the food would have only lasted one more meal and then starvation would follow after. What did she have to lose? What were two small cakes between two people. Actually when you’re starving they mean a lot. What the prophet was offering was a continued supply of nourishment throughout the long ordeal of cataclysmic famine. This woman was looking at the moment and avoiding the thoughts of what lay ahead.
Elijah tells her not to be afraid. That’s the first step in the process of faith. Give unto God first and watch and see what he does with what you have and how it is returned back to you. She smelled the aroma of that bread and her mouth watered and her son stood hungrily watching beside her. He watched his mother give what they both so desired to consume themselves, to the man of God not knowing for sure if the promises he had made would come to pass. I guess sometimes you just step out in faith. She had no idea where the meal he promised would come from, or the oil for that matter. There was certainly a scarcity in the city where she lived. She did it anyway.
Years later Jesus himself would share this story with those of the synagogue he was speaking in as a rebuke to them. For this woman who was not of the lineage of Isaac and Jacob could do by faith what they could not do themselves with the bread of life standing before them.
Luke 4:25-26 King James Version
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
This woman watched on as Elijah devoured their last morsel of food. As he wiped his chin she glanced down at the small barrel that had held the last of the meal. She blinked and looked again. The barrel was full to overflowing with fresh meal and the cruze of oil as well.
That day was the first day of the remaining three and a half years of famine that her and her son ate as much as they wanted. Not only these two but the prophet as well. While others continued to waste away around her she found her and her sons countenance and health flourished.
Life sometimes sends adversity and hardship. At times you wonder just how long you can survive on what little you find yourself holding on to. You’re concerned about those that are depending on you and feel the load of responsibility crushing you each day. However, keep your eyes open for God’s provision for you. If you can only trust Him and take Him at His word you will find a full heart and a holy anointing on your life. I am talking about the barrel of hope and the cruse of dreams not yet come to pass. Give it all to Jesus and watch what happens and how it comes back to you in ways that are unexplained. While others hold on to the little bit they have left, you will find yourself flourishing under the mighty wings of the almighty.