God sent Elijah to live by a brook in the wilderness, and everyday He would send ravens to bring him food. What faith that musthave required from Elijah. It reminds me of the Israelites in the desert, who depended on God day by day to provide manna for them to eat. To a lesser extent, I experienced this financially last year, and it was both terrifying and freeing. Elijah had no backup plan or extra food in case the ravens didn’t show up the next day; he relied fully on God to provide for him.
It’s so easy to be lured into the world of smart personal finance and investment portfolios, and to compare salaries and savings and interest rates. To an extent, I suppose these things can be good; we are called to steward our money well. But when we have so much money that we can afford to save and invest, I think it can be easy to forget where it came from, and how dependent we are on the Giver. He sustains and cares and provides for us. One day and then another, step for step, He is there, guiding us through whatever obstacles come our way.
I used to think Elijah was quite rude to ask the widow to first make food for him when there was so little left. How difficult must that be, especially as a mother, to give up the last bit of food for a stranger? But her willingness to oblige is a testament to her faith, which is rewarded. Again, God provides, and again, his provision is day by day. He doesn’t send a great shipment of flour, but promises that what little she has won’t run out. I wonder if she was worried, those first few days, when she returned to the jar for more flour, and then the next day for more again. Was she worried this phenomenon would end?
Sometimes I feel like I’m at the end of my rope, and I just want to give up. My energy is low, my motivation is an inch from the floor, and I don’t know how I’ll get through the next day, let alone the one after that. But God sustains. On those days, I have just enough to get through the first day, and then just enough to get through the next. And before long He is leading me out of the valley again.
Elijah doesn’t answer the widow’s question, which is one we've surely all asked before; “Is this calamity judgment for my sin?” The book of Job provides insight, but I was also reminded of a lesson from the Equip Project podcast; by the power of the cross, we will never face the judgment for our sin, but we do face the consequences of sin. I’ve found this an important distinction to remember.
Returning to Elijah’s story, although he doesn’t comment on whether her son’s illness is brought on by the widow’s sin, he does clearly acknowledge God’s sovereign power in the matter. The happy ending demonstrates God’s total control over everything - even death itself.
Returning to Elijah’s story, although he doesn’t comment on whether her son’s illness is brought on by the widow’s sin, he does clearly acknowledge God’s sovereign power in the matter. The happy ending demonstrates God’s total control over everything - even death itself.