The Miracle Comes When We Trust God
Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.' "
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.' "
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
I Kings 17:13-16
Imagine yourself in dire financial straits during a time of deep economic recession. People have lost their jobs, and homes and food are very expensive and even difficult to get. People have drained all their savings just to survive. Most people are barely getting by. Things are so bad for you that you have just used your last bit of money to buy just a couple of things from the grocery store, hoping to cook it and eat with your family as your last meal. There's simply no food or money left. Hunger and death are staring you in the face.
But just as you come out of the grocery store, you meet a total stranger who asks you for some food. After explaining your plight, the stranger tells you to make the food and give him something to eat first before feeding your own family. He gives you the assurance that if you obey his word (which he claims to be from God) you will have enough food to eat and resources to last you until the economic recession is over! What would your reaction be? Would you obey?
That is exactly the situation the widow faced, and that is exactly what we face in life at one point or the other. There are times when our resources are simply depleted and it is simply impossible to make ends meet. But then God might test us and ask us to give out of our meager resources to meet a need in His Kingdom or in someone else's life. Our response is usually one of fear and resistance. We simply cannot bring ourselves to even think straight about it, let alone have the faith to obey.
Two things are striking to me:
First, without even knowing it, God had set the woman apart to be the recipient of a miracle. If she had not been obedient, she would never have received her blessing. The very meager resources you have could be the means through which God would release a blessing to you, if you are not afraid to do what He directs you to do with it. Little is much when God is in it.
Second, it is significant that Elijah said to the widow, "Don't be afraid." It is normal for us to be fearful when we are down to the wire and have nothing to depend upon. Our confidence expires and fear multiplies when we have nothing and no one to depend upon. But all through Scripture, God tells us not to be afraid. He tells us not to be afraid because He is our very present help in trouble. Don't speak negative things that will rattle you with fear. Take a moment to express gratitude to God and believe that He is able to meet your needs just as He has done in the past. The miracle comes when we trust God and do not give in to our fears! Fear not!
Prayer: Father, I thank you that little is much when you are in it. I might not have much, but because you are the God of multiplication, I will not be afraid. I will trust you to supply all my needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Amen