1 Kings 17:8-24
God used Elijah to evoke drought on the land. He fled to Cherith brook to be fed by ravens. When the brook dried up, God then told him his next step was to go to a widow's house. So he went. The Word doesn't tell us much about her but we will find out that even if she wasn't faith-filled, she was obedient, understanding her place compared to the man of God.
She baked the cake and gave Elijah water and the Lord provided as He promised - never to let the jar of oil or flour go out until the drought was over. She received God's provision.
Elijah was the man of God. He was God's mouthpiece. He spoke for God when God chose to use him. He heard from God when God chose to give him instructions for him to obey. Often, these instructions were limited in however many steps.
(V.17-24) When the widow's son became sick, she questioned Elijah and the purpose of the situation. This is a natural human response!
How often do we do that in the face of crisis while we're already in the drought?!
Elijah, although being God's prophet, was not privy to the reason for the illness. All Elijah knew was that he would make a case before the Lord and plead on the son's behalf. He knew he needed to act in faith in light of the unknown.
Faith comes with action. Faith cannot be accurately exercised without an action. Elijah's action was to take the child to a "secret place" time with the Lord. He also "laid" on him. He then states the case before the Lord and the Lord responds with healing.
The life had been revived in the midst of the drought.
Elijah was not at fault for not knowing God's thoughts just because he carried the anointing of Prophet. Elijah was, however, responsible for his own faith. This makes the prophet the same as everyone else. He had to believe, trust God to do what he asked Him to do. He had to have faith in the power of God. Elijah's faith grew the faith of the widow. Their faith grew even though the drought had not ended.
Our faith grows others' faith. In the middle of our dry seasons, God still provides, still performs miracles and never leaves us despite what the enemy tries to tell us.
God provided during the drought for faith to arise.
What faith needs to arise for you?
Labels: action, belief, believe, drought, faith, food, God, growth, hope, illness, obedience, obedient, obey, the Lord, trust, unknown, water, weakness
