But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain, and the crops grow again!” 1 Kings 17:13-14
I have learned from being an aunt that you can give as much guidance as you can to kids, such as eating green vegetables, taking naps, and having good manners, but they cannot be forced to act on that guidance. That is the responsibility of the kids. They have to decide how they will respond to the guidance that is provided. The same is true with adults, too, especially in our relationship with God. God will give us guidance, but we have to decide how to respond when He leads us.
1 Kings 17 tells the story of a widow who paid attention to God’s guidance and decided to act. The prophet Elijah came to her and asked her to give him some water and bread (verses 10-11). This would not be a difficult request to the ordinary person, but Israel was facing a drought, and bread and water were both scarce. When Elijah asked for bread, the widow replied, “I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die” (verse 12). This woman was at the breaking point, without enough food to survive. It appears that she had every excuse to decline this request for food. Even still, Elijah responded, saying, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” (verses 13-14). This word from Elijah was a calling to step out in her faith. Would she trust God’s guidance and provision, or would she let fear take control?
Amazingly this woman in 1 Kings 17 listened to God’s guidance through Elijah. Could you imagine that moment? You scrape the clay pot down to the very edge and drain your last bit of oil, but there is just enough for another day each time you come back. She clung to the promise from God through Elijah that God would take care of her and her son. What an example for us to follow! Like this woman, sometimes God guides us in places that require sacrifice or seem risky or dangerous. In these situations, we have to decide how we will respond. She trusted God, no matter what, along with Elijah. Faith requires that we take steps even when it doesn’t make sense because God has a plan and purpose for our lives.
Moving Toward Action
Hopefully, you have been thinking now about how God is guiding you right now. If not, take some time to do that now. Next, evaluate how you have been responding to His guidance. What has gone well? What needs improvement? It’s time to take a step toward God’s guidance today.
1 Kings 17:13-16 (NLT)
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
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