Provision (MPLS)

1 Kings 17:8–24

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

‘Text Message’ Reflection:
From Heather Roth Johnson

This Bible story is one of my favorites. It’s often called, “The Widow of Zarephath,” and it involves a widow (imagine that!) and the prophet, Elijah. Zarephath, a Mediterranean coastal city in gentile territory, was suffering from a devastating drought. Elijah was sent there to save this widow and her son.

Open your Bible or bring the text up on your phone, tablet or computer as I want to point out some things to you. Notice the things that Elijah wants from the widow or what she has: collecting sticks, a little water, a morsel of bread, a handful of meal, a little oil in a jug, and a little cake. What Elijah wants and what the widow has to offer is something small. Words like little, morsel and handful share that the story is desperate for a miracle. Because of the widow’s faith, there is plenty, and Elijah promises she will not run out of what she needs to make food for herself and her son until the rains come.

When was the last time you went to a picnic or a potluck? As someone who likes to host patio parties, I always wonder if I have made enough food for my guests. To my surprise, over and over again, there are enough leftovers to share and send home with guests.

‘Text Message’ Reflection Questions:

• What is your favorite food to offer up to guests or at a potluck?
• How do you feel when you are in a drought? Do you still water the lawn or try to conserve water?
• How does this story connect to your daily life?

Prayer:
God, you give the best gifts. You gave water to Elijah when there was hardly any, you gave the widow a miracle until the rains would come, and you gave life to the widow’s son. You give us what we need, and for that, we give you thanks. Amen.