If you (pastors) follow the Lectionary, one of this Sunday’s readings is 1 Kings 17:8-24. Even if you aren’t a pastor, or don’t follow the Lectionary, you know the story – Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath.
As you recall, Elijah was sent to King Ahab to proclaim a drought and a resulting famine, and then was to “get out of town – quick!” He first went to the brook Cherith, just east (on the other side) of the Jordan River, where he was fed twice a day by the ravens. And then when that dried up, he was to head some 100 miles northwest into Sidon to the town of Zarephath (modern-day Sarphan) where a woman had been “commanded” (the word also means “appointed” ) to provide for him.
When he arrives, she is gathering sticks to make a little fire so that she could use the last of her flour (or meal) and oil to bake a little bread for her and her son, and then she expected that they would die from starvation.
Elijah asks her for a drink of water, and then asks that she provide him with a piece of bread. She explains what she is doing, and why, but he says, (in essence) make one for me first and then make for yourself and your son – which she does. And you know the story, the meal and oil don’t run out for the whole time he is there, some 2-3 years (depending on how long he stayed at the brook Cherith.)
It has been said that she left “the certain” (one sure meal) for “the uncertain” (the possibility of many meals.)
She had faith, yes, but it wasn’t blind faith. Listen to the words of the scripture.
1 Kings 17:13-14 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.”
(And then, here’s the promise) “For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘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.’” And then she goes and bakes the bread.
Seldom does God ask us to step out on blind faith. But be assured, if He asks you to give up the “certain” for the “uncertain” He has a plan behind it. He has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you. And whether you are facing tough economic times of “uncertainty” or tough health-issue times of “uncertainty”, or any other tough times of other “uncertainties”, be assured, if God has asked you to give up “certainty for uncertainty” then He will provide.
Just be sure it is God who has asked, and not your own private plan of action.
May God speak to you in your hour (or day, week, year) of uncertainty, through Jesus Christ His Son – Amen.
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