🌿BREATHE TRUTH🌿
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” —1 Kings 17:8
But Elijah said to her, “ Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for you and your son. For this us what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “There will always be flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” —1 Kings 17:13-14
🌿LIVE THE REAL TRUTH🌿
Beach sand has one of the most adaptable characteristics. Its flexibility and fluidity allows for the building of whatever shape and size you want to it to become. But regardless how much you invest into creating a sand construction, when the tide comes up, your castle will come down. For all its strength, it cannot endure the power of the waves. Likewise, the test of faith often has to tread over the punitive waters of tribulation. To the world, this widow has failed to fend and feed her family. But our God delights to transform our failings and to further our character, as He leads us farther into the depths of trusting Him to stand upon more than sand for His glory, our greater good, and our family’s gain.
The main characters are not solely Elijah and the widow. A third player is faintly in the background, but not forgotten, the child of the widow.
What we invest our lives in, gather our resources, grow servants’ hearts, and give to God will change the course of our children’s lives.
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Hidden Beauty. Higher God.
Before Elijah arrives, the widow has been rationing her resources little by little until there is only one final meal left for her son and herself. This means they have been barely getting by up to this point. Hunger is a universal language. Everyone comprehends its deep pangs and dark piercings. Children understand hunger. This widow’s son would have understood it too.
After Elijah arrives, God arrives, and His presence changes everything. Every day this widow is coming to the altar. She comes to dine on the oil and flour that never runs out. But she is not alone. Because every day, she is taking someone to the altar with her. Her child. This is the quiet, hidden beauty of her story. About a higher God who enables our faith to soar higher than our fears would have grounded us. The widow and her child are partaking provision and protection, experiencing supplication and sanctification, every single day at the altar of God, together.
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Our devotion. God’s deliverance.
By faith, this mother believes the bold words of the man of God sent by God, Elijah: Let go of what you are holding onto so tightly……God will answer your obedience with enough for all of your not-enough needs. By faith, she receives the blessings of God’s promises not only for herself, but also for her son.
Like Rahab, whose obedience to shelter the spies leads to the salvation of her family members under her roof. The widow at Zarephath’s obedience also leads to the salvation of her household as well. Each day, the widow and her son receive a miracle of a real meal. Daily and deliciously, her son is gifted with seeing God’s faithfulness to his mother’s faithfulness.
This mother’s devotion in action is answered by God’s deliverance in keeping His word.
For this us what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “There will always be flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again.”
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©️2019 Jordan Su