Provision in the Unexpected

By Dean Collins

In the middle of the book of Kings, we are suddenly introduced to Elijah. Suddenly, we learn that Elijah delivers a direct and tough message to Ahab. The news of no rain until God decides to send rain would bring devastation to Ahab’s kingdom. Knowing that Ahab and Jezebel wouldn’t take this news well, God told Elijah that he needed to turn eastward and go hide. There are a lot of messages we all would love to hear from God but “start walking eastward and go hide” is probably not one that would bring much comfort!

 Yes, in this case, God’s directions were a bit more specific. He told Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. I suspect we all would like God to be a bit more specific on the where and how of things when we are suddenly facing difficulty.

 In this case, God’s directions included not only location but also provision: “You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” When God calls us to something, he will always provide. However, the provision will often not look like what we expect. By faith, we step forward, trusting that God will never fail us or abandon us as we serve him.

Elijah discovered that God was true to his word by providing fresh water. Elijah also found out that the God of creation can actually communicate with his created beings as the ravens brought bread and meat both in the morning and in the evening. But then Elijah discovered that the consequences of having no rain resulted in the brook drying up. How many times has your journey gone like that? Things seem to be going well until suddenly they are not. When that happens, we need to look and listen for what God has in store for us next.

God spoke to Elijah with new instructions: “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So, he arose and went to Zarephath. If I was Elijah, I think I would have been relieved to hear that a human and not a bird would be in charge of dinner!

 Elijah followed God’s instructions, and when he arrived in Zarephath, he saw a widow at the gate of the city gathering sticks. After the brook dried up, Elijah was getting pretty thirsty, so he asked if the widow would bring him a cup of water. Being hungry as well, Elijah asked for the morsel of bread she had in her hand. Elijah sounds a bit rough around the edges!

The widow explained to Elijah the horrible condition she was in. Things were so bad that she was literally planning to make some bread from the little bit of flour and oil she had left, and then she was ready to give up and die. Elijah told her not to fear but to first prepare his food before she provided for her own son. I don’t know about you, but that would have been a tough request to do. Our instincts are usually for our own family and self and then, if there is enough, for others. 

The widow followed Elijah’s instructions, and the result was that God provided for all of her needs in abundance. When we obey God, he not only provides for us, he also blesses others through our obedience.  

But this story just gets harder and harder. Shortly after the provision of oil and flour, this poor woman’s son became ill. Deathly ill. She was upset. She had obeyed. She had sacrificed. She had trusted. And still, tragedy struck her home. Her son died. But the last thing was not the last thing. Elijah took the son into the upper chamber and prayed:

“O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.”

When we obey God, he provides, he blesses others, and he brings new life. The story rarely unfolds as we think it will, but God is always working in ways we do not see. Our job is to trust and obey.

Father, thank you for all of your promises. Today we surrender to your plans, knowing that you will provide, you will bless others through our obedience, and you will bring new life and hope in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
1 Kings 17:1-7, 9-24 ESV

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