READ: 1 Kings 17 (Focus vs. 7-16)
MEMORY VERSE
“There was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.” 1 Kings 17:15
BACKGROUND
My dear friend Sally wanted to give a birthday party for one of her friends. She knew her friend had been experiencing a tough time, and Sally desired to help lift her spirits.
However, Sally was unemployed and didn’t have extra money to purchase food for a nice party. So she looked in her refrigerator and cabinets to see what was available. She then created a nice spread consisting of many items she’d previously purchased and had in her home.
When Sally shared with me the creative menu she had come up with, I thought about the story of Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17:7-16). The widow didn’t have much.
In fact, she told the prophet Elijah that she was going to prepare her final scraps of food for herself and her son “and [then] die” of starvation (v. 12). And she only had a small amount of flour and olive oil, just enough for their final meal.
But Elijah ensured the woman that her “jar of flour . . . and the jug of oil [would] not run dry” until God sent rain again (v. 14).
By trusting in what God revealed through Elijah—even though she didn’t think she had enough—the woman found that God provided what she needed even though her kitchen was barren.
Just like my friend, the widow found what she needed. Following their examples, let’s live generously and rest in God’s provision for us.
Kattara Patton
INSIGHT
The story of the Phoenician widow (1 Kings 17:7-24) appears in the middle of a series of contests between God (Yahweh) and the false god Baal. Yahweh closed the clouds and stopped the rain (v. 1)—a direct attack on Baal’s supposed control over agricultural fertility.
Yahweh then sends Elijah to Zarephath and performs a series of miracles through the prophet (vv. 7-24). Yahweh, not Baal, provided food for the widow and her family and also showed that He has power over life itself.
No matter how desperate the situation, God alone will care for His people.
Jed Ostoich
APPLICATION
What’s causing you to resist sharing with others today? How can you give generously even when it seems like you’re lacking resources?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“No matter how desperate the situation, God alone will care for His people.”
PR’s TAKE
“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
2 Corinthians 9:8
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, please help me to share with others as I trust You to provide what I need.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“GOD PROVIDES” Tamela Mann
God provides, so why do I worry about my life
When you come to my rescue a thousand times
Every other voice it is a lie
God provides
God provides
In ways I can’t explain and can’t deny
The little that I have He multiplies
Just when I feel He won’t show up on time
God provides
He’ll come through
When the clouds of doubt rain down on you
And test everything you thought you knew
Now you finally see what God can do, for you…
Close your eyes
There’s no more need to fight
Watch God provide
God provides
It’s hard to say when there’s no food to eat
Or what you see feels all that life will be
And will this be another year of misery, for me
But my faith, can’t survive on just things I see
And my feelings can’t control my destiny
See God I only want what you believe, for me…
Close your eyes
There’s no more need to fight, ooh
Watch God provide
God provides
Yeah, He will provide
God provides (before your eyes)
God provides
Oh, He will,
He will
He provides
God provides God provides…
God provides
Whatever your need, I know that He will provide
God provides
He’ll step right in, in the nick of time, yes He will
God provides God provides (and
He will pour you out a blessing,
You won’t have room to receive,
Watch God provide…
