Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” 1 Kings 17:8-9
As we read Scripture, one of the things we find is that God always guides and leads His people. This guiding looks different at times. In the Old Testament, God guided His people sometimes by speaking to them audibly, sometimes by a pillar of clouds during the day and a fire in the evening, other times by a talking donkey, and more. In the New Testament, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come into the lives of followers of Christ. For the Israelites in the book of 1 Kings, sometimes God spoke directly to His people, and He also used Elijah to speak directly to His people.
In 1 Kings 17, the Israelites were experiencing a drought that was happening because they had been giving into idol worship. Elijah had been speaking out against this idolatry, and God protected him as a result of his faithfulness. He had been drinking water from a stream that God provided, but the stream ran out of water because of the drought. At this point, God told Elijah to go to an area where he would find a widow who would provide food and water for him during the drought. God guided Elijah to a place where he would receive necessary food and water, and then He guided him to a woman who would feed him (verse 8). God was guiding each of them, and we will see as we continue our study of Elijah throughout the week that His guidance was a means of providing for both of them.
Although His means of speaking to His people is different today than during the Old Testament, God still speaks to us today. Scripture teaches us that we have the Holy Spirit who guides us today. The Holy Spirit prompts us and leads us as we go about our daily lives. Additionally, Scripture serves as a way that God guides us as well, helping us live faithful lives that are honoring to God. We are not alone as we seek to live faithfully. God is guiding us every step of the way if we will pay attention to His guidance.
Is there something you know that God is guiding you to do? Maybe you know that God has been guiding you to take the next step in your faith, reconcile with someone who has hurt you, or perhaps use your gifts to serve in the church? Write down the thing God has been guiding you to do, and tell someone else what that thing is. Acknowledging this guidance is a great first step as you seek to obey and follow God. If nothing comes to mind for how God might be guiding you, take some time to pray and meditate on his word. Ask Him to make His guidance clear and for the courage to obey Him.
1 Kings 17:7-12 (NLT)
But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And 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.”
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