She stared at the ceiling as her eyes adjusted to the dim light of the rising sun piercing through the window.
It would be another dry, rainless day.
She got out of bed and rushed to the room where the two jars laid on the floor.
She looked at them, and wondered whether this would be the day when provision would finally cease.
Reluctantly, she reached into the first jar of clay, and smiled when the oily texture touched her fingers. She brought them to her mouth, closing her eyes, while savoring the best oil she had ever tasted.
With the other, trembling hand, she reached for the second jar, where an abundance of soft flour greeted her touch.
She closed her eyes.
Jehovah.
The word of the prophet would not fail.
‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth. (1 Kings 17:14 NASB)
In the seventeenth chapter of 1 Kings, we meet this most intriguing character, placed in a land permeated by idolatry and sin.
We don’t know her name, but her story is forever etched in the history of Israel as one of the first times we witness God’s grace touch a gentile in a miraculous way.
Not only did the widow who lodged Elijah experience God’s supernatural provision, but also her son became the first person chosen by God to resurrect from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24).
In a small, rundown home, where Baal was once worshipped and lives were broken, God’s mercy came down, changing the hearts and the lives of a poor mom and her boy.
This is only one of the stories in Scriptures where God used a heathen to bless one of His own. Throughout Scriptures, we see God use Israel’s enemies to bring forth blessings, gentiles to accomplish His will, and times of great distress to draw His people closer to Him.
Indeed, this truth, engraved throughout scriptures and translated in one of the Apostle Paul’s most inspired messages to the church, should bring us great perspective when we face difficulties and enemies… or when life’s circumstances do not make sense:
And we know that God CAUSES ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NASB – emphasis mine)
[bctt tweet=”It’s not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN life does not make sense.” username=”PatHolbrook”]
We all have found ourselves in situations when we honestly believe that we have everything in our hands to make things work out, and yet, we witness our castles fall apart.
Whether it is the marriage that struggles, the child that rebels, the tragedy that strikes, the job that ends, the dream that is shattered… we shake our heads, perplexed, wondering…
What did I do to deserve this?
In the aftermath of disappointment and pain, some of us give up.
Some of us take that last bit of flour and oil, turn our backs to the prophet, and bake that last bread, our last material resource, leaning on our own understanding of the situation before us… choosing to move forward without God.
We will never know what was waiting for us on the other side of valley. Because we chose to give in… or give up.
That was not the case for the widow in Sidon.
She did not know Israel’s God.
But the numerous accounts of the One who opened the Red Sea and delivered the giants of the land into Israel’s hands had certainly reached her ears… thus she chose to obey Him and open her heart to become a recipient of His grace.
Because she did, she witnessed “the bowl of flour not exhaust nor the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:16)
God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love Him and say YES to His purpose.
[bctt tweet=”What is your “ALL THINGS” today, my friend?” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Are all doors closing?
Perhaps you are heading to divorce court?
Is your child breaking your heart?
Or are you waiting for the healing to come?
Are your enemies oppressing you?
Or has the death of a loved one robbed you of all desire to live?
Whatever your empty bowl is today, hear the voice of the prophet to the widow – that same voice calls you to obey, even if it does not make sense.
For “all things” can only work together for your good, and according to His perfect purpose for your life, if you deliberately make the choice to not lean on your own understanding, but rather, reach out into that empty bowl, by faith… believing that the One who spoke the stars into existence is able to give you mercy, protection, provision, healing and grace… In HIS time and once again.
Thanks; I needed this.
PS – I wrote about this story also but I won’t share. 🙂
Thank you for commenting, Nylse! So glad it spoke to you today. Blessings!!
Patricia, what a beautiful post. I love how you brought this story not only to life but into present day application. We all have our final drops of oil and flakes of flour, don’t we? And you’re right, we can turn away from God and miss the work He wanted to do. We can rely on our own limited self-sufficiency. Or, we can turn toward Him, offering ourselves and see what He wants to do. It requires choosing faith, doesn’t it?
You’ve given me good things to ponder today!
I’m your neighbor at #RaRaLinkup.
Thank you so much, Jeanne! So glad you stopped by to encourage me. Blessings to you!!
“We will never know what was waiting for us on the other side of valley. Because we chose to give in… or give up.”
Oh how I love that ….. Thank you for this wonderful, encouraging piece.
Amen, Susan! Thank you! God bless you,
Her story has always been a reminder of faith. She gained so much by simply trusting the man of God. We do well to emulate her and always trust God…even when it doesn’t look like anything positive is on the horizon.
Amen, Lisa! I love that story too, mainly because this woman trusted a God she had never experienced before… much more should those of us who have experienced Him through the years!! Thanks for commenting!
Love, love, love…such a great expression of the beauty of God’s provision and the wisdom of his ways. Nice to meet you on the LinkUp today!
So glad to meet you too, Lorraine! Love your blog as well! Hope you can join us on our Wednesday linkups #ReachargeWednesday!
Such timely words of encouragement today! God is working, always, isn’t He? It’s not to let the discouragement take over the encouragement that is readily available for all of us through His word, through His truths! Thanks for shining His light through you today!
Thank you for your sweet words, Lynn. God bless you!
Such timely words of encouragement today! God is working, always, isn’t He? It’s not to let the discouragement take over the encouragement that is readily available for all of us through His word, through His truths! Thanks for shining His light through you today!
Beautiful and inspiring! I feel we are like minded in our passion to bring hope to our readers. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Rosie! God bless,
WOW! This was excellent. Your writing is beautiful and inspirational!
Thank you for the encouragement, Esther! Blessings to you!
One of my favorite accounts that I taught my preschool Sunday School class years ago. Such a fun one to teach! Tweeted! Blessings!
Thank you for the Tweet, Bonnie!!
Loved this!
So glad you enjoyed it! Blessings to you!!