“For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the
LORD sends rain upon the earth.’”
(1 Kings 17:14)
Elijah has been living by the brook Cherith for a while, but finally the brook dries up. Then God tells him to go to another country: to Sidon,
the center of Baal worship! There the drought is severe, too, and the people have almost nothing to eat. However, God says that a widow
will feed Elijah. This seems completely impossible, since this woman is preparing her last meal, after which she expects to starve together
with her son…
In these circumstances, Elijah’s request seems very inappropriate. He wants the woman to bake a cake for him first, and only then for herself
and her son. For, he says, the Lord has promised that the flour and the oil shall not run out. There will be enough to eat until the drought is
over.
When the woman is baking the bread, she cannot yet see whether Gods will keep his promise. It takes an enormous step of faith to feed the
prophet with her last flour and oil! But she does, and God blesses her abundantly. “And she and he and her household ate for many days” (1
Kings 17:15).
Has your faith in God ever been put to the test?