When The Brook Dries Up
Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him, "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." So he went to Zarephath.
When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread -- only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat -- and die."
When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread -- only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat -- and die."
I Kings 17:7-12
Elijah had been supernaturally fed by ravens and he had drank from the brook. He was sheltered, well-fed and secure. He Had been spared from the ravages of the drought in Israel.
But eventually, the brook dried up. God could have prevented the brook from drying up, but He did not! He allowed the brook to dry up!
Then God sent the prophet off to a widow in Zarephath whom He had already directed to feed Elijah. The interesting thing is that the widow had nothing to eat herself. Death was staring her family in the face. Nonetheless, she was God's chosen source of food supply for His servant. Out of nothing, God was about to release abundant provision both for the widow and His servant.
Several things are worth pondering:
First: we should never place God in a box as far as His methods of operations go. He might use a bird to feed you one day, but He is also perfectly capable of using a widow at another time to supply your needs. The point is: We must be completely open to whatever God might choose to do because He knows what is best for every situation. It is always an exciting and unpredictable journey with God. It might be ravens one day and a poor widow the next.
Second: There are times when the brook from which we drink might dry up, but God's sources of supply never dry up. We should never panic because God can direct a totally unexpected source to supply our needs. The widow had been directed by God to feed Elijah even without her being conscious of the divine plan. When the brook dries up, trust God to set a new process in place to replace the brook.
Third: We should be open to divine instructions concerning how God might use us to meet the needs of other people. The widow was the most unlikely person to be used to feed Elijah. She had only one meal to serve for her family. But God had chosen her for a miracle if she obeyed.
It is very easy for us to look at our meager resources and deduce that we cannot afford to give anything to God. But God could well be testing our obedience and faithfulness by our willingness to give our best out of the little we have.
Prayer: Father, I thank you that you are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ever ask or think. When the brook from which I drink dries up, please help me to be steadfast in my faith and to believe that you will always have a fresh source of supply for my needs. Amen.