Special Saturday Edition
Ethan Barton, Pastoral Resident, Tallowood Baptist Church
It happened over 500 years before her time, but surely this woman had heard the stories. When Israel was wandering in the desert, before God brought them into the promised land, God provided manna so they would not go hungry. For 40 years, in a place where food did not grow, God provided what they needed. He is faithful to his own people. And even now, centuries later, while a drought was devastating Israel because of King Ahab’s corruption, God was still providing for his people.
Times of hopelessness drive people one way or the other. Some blame God for their lack, and run from him. Others are hit with the realization of how much they need him. This widow from Zarephath was ready to die bitterly, wallowing in her own misery, but the prophet Elijah came to remind her that even when God seems to be far away, he is still with us and is still faithful.
On top of that, Elijah asked her to trust God all the more by relinquishing the little she did have. Doesn’t that sound counterintuitive? But God was teaching her to trust him with all she had, because he was all she needed. It was nothing short of a miracle that her flour and oil lasted, but no miracle is too difficult for God. If we’re afraid to lose what God asks from us, can we really say we wholeheartedly trust him?
In times of hopelessness, let us remember how desperately we need God and how faithful he is to supply. In times of plenty, let us not forget who has blessed us. We will never be so rich, or so poor, that we cannot give God our everything. But when we think otherwise, he reminds us, “I am enough for you. Even when I ask you to give up what you think you desperately need, you can trust me. I will always be faithful to provide.”
