1 Kings 17:8 Then this word of Adonai came to him: 9 “Get up; go to Tzarfat, a village in Tzidon; and live there. I have ordered a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he set out and went to Tzarfat. On reaching the gate of the city, he saw a widow there gathering sticks. He called out to her, “Please bring a little water in a container for me to drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called after her, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 She answered, “As Adonai your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a pot and a little oil in the jug. Here I am, gathering a couple sticks of wood, so that I can go and cook it for myself and my son. After we have eaten that, we will die.” 13 Eliyahu said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go; and do what you said; but first, use a little of it to make me a small loaf of bread; and bring it out to me. After that, make food for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what Adonai the God of Isra’el, says: ‘The pot of meal will not get used up, nor will there fail to be oil in the jug, until the day Adonai sends rain down on the land.’” 15 She went and acted according to what Eliyahu had said; and she, he and her household had food to eat for a long time. 16 The pot of meal did not get used up, nor did there fail to be oil in the jug, in fulfillment of the word of Adonaispoken through Eliyahu. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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I admit that I don't care much for Elijah in this story. It seems rather obnoxious that he would ask someone who is already starving to feed him first, when she also has a son to feed. I want to shake him while asking, "Are you clueless? Read the room, man!" Then I realize that perhaps it's because Elijah has a better attitude than I do that he can be bold enough to ask for this favor. My natural tendency is to live life with an attitude of scarcity--a fear that there is only so much and that it will never be enough. It is through stories like this one, stories of people like Elijah who point to God's message of abundance, that I am reminded that God provides. Elijah was bold enough to ask, because Elijah's faith was strong enough to know these people would not go hungry.
God of abundance, keep me mindful today of all the blessings you have given me. Give me an attitude of abundance so that I can boldly share what I have to further your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Emily Martin, '17
Associate Pastor, Cambridge Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Minn.
1 Kings 17:8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you."
10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink."
11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."
12 But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son.
14 For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth."
15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days.
16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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