And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
Fear of Supply Depletion
March 2020 was not only the time when Covid-19 started, and lockdowns happened. But it was also the year when grocery stalls were emptied due to panic buying. It was an evident manifestation that we fear supply depletion. People were scrambling to buy things they need and even those that they do not need.
The widow of Zarephath shared the same fear as we have. When the prophet Elijah came up to her and asked for water and cake she answered “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” (v.12 ESV). She was hesitant to provide for the prophet and explained that it was their last supply and intended it for her and her son. Furthermore, she thought that after the meal they would soon perish because of hunger.
However, God has a different plan. It was not because the widow of Zarephath did well in her life that she and her son were saved from the drought, nor it was due to Elijah. They were spared from dying of hunger because of God’s grace. The widow was used by God to sustain the prophet Elijah as he worked on God’s plan for the children of Israel. And because the widow listened to Elijah, the jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah (v. 16 ESV).
Prayer
O Lord, you are gracious beyond measure. We pray that you will remind us always that the things we have and enjoy are not by our own means but because of your grace. Thank you most of all for the gift of grace through your Son Jesus Christ, who died in our place. Grant us, Holy Spirit, the attitude to be always thankful for small and great things we have and receive. May we not fear when our worldly supplies get depleted, rather may we put our trust in you that will deliver us in any calamities. We pray in Jesus’ saving name, Amen.
