The Lord will open a way for you
In this chapter, the widow had almost nothing left to eat in her home, but God sent Elijah to her to perform a miracle where neither the bin of flour would be used up, nor the jar of oil would run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth (1 Kgs 17:14), essentially providing her food until it rained again, which would only be permitted by God (1 Kgs 17:1). God had His hand over her life and food supply, and she would not need to worry because He would provide for her. Elijah was also sent to tell her that she would have sufficient food. God provided for her in her time of need. She was somewhat at peace with her circumstances, accepting the outcome that she and her son might die, and she was not worried. As God’s children, we know that He makes a way for us.
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
God can make a way for us even in seemingly impossible situations, because with God, nothing is impossible (Mk 10:27). God will fight for you, and God can also send people to fight for you and alongside you. We trust God, and we need only be still (Ex 14:14, Ps 46:10). While we wait on God, His timing, and in His plan for us, we put in the effort. God will give the increase.
Take the leap of faith, and the rest will follow
When Elijah gave the widow instructions, she had to follow them to see the miracle happen. Elijah’s instructions to the widow was to make a small cake for him and bring it to him, and afterward make some for herself and her son (1 Kgs 17:13-14). The widow lived out her faith, by first believing what Elijah said and taking the respective actions, trusting that the rest of the sequence of events of that miracle would follow. When we put the things of God first, God will provide for us (1 Kgs 17:15-16, Mt 6:33).
We also see that God listens and hears the cries of His people, as seen from when ‘God heard the voice of Elijah’ (1 Kgs 17:22). Why did God allow the widow’s son to die? It is so that when Elijah through God’s power brought her son back to life, she would know that he is a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in his mouth is the truth. (1 Kgs 17:24).
God’s arrangements
God had arranged for the widow to provide for Elijah.
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (1 Kgs 17:8-9)
God allows people around us to help us, and sometimes, we also help them in return. The widow provided for Elijah, and in return, he also helped to bring her son back to life. Both the miracles and their help came from God as the source. God allows us to meet people and have interactions that are mutually beneficial, where we are able to help each other, just like the widow and Elijah’s meeting were arranged by God and they were able to help each other. Therefore, sometimes unbeknownst to a person or oneself, that person helps us and we end up helping them in the future or vice versa. May we understand how our interactions and exchanges with others can shape our lives and theirs, as there is always a purpose for these arrangements; we simply need to see God’s hand in it (Rom 8:28).
Reflection questions
What is one thing I can fully entrust to God today?
What does trusting God look like in my life today?
How has a past interaction with someone helped both me and them?
