The Elijah Proclamation! - Part 10

I Kings 17:15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

Not only did her household eat but they did not die. I am wondering what will come of the widow and her son when the rain does come? She may still end up eating one day and dying but she and her son will have lived as the word says "many" more days than she would have if this whole experience had not happened. Also Elijah was provided for, for the "Many" more days. He had a place to stay, food and drink.

The "many" days is undefined here. The total time between Elijah speaking that there would be no rain and when he allows it to rain is somewhere between three and for years. Most say that it was probably closer to four that three. How much of that was spent at the brook and how much with the widow is not revealed but is really unimportant. My mind wanders and would like to know what the widow was thinking. Was she surprised? Was she indifferent realizing that one day the rain would come and the barrel and jar would dry up and that ultimately she may end up in the same place? Or was she grateful for every extended day that she had with her son?

I am reminded today that words are important! They have life and death in them. If the widow had not been placed into this situation with Elijah she would have eaten her meal with her son and died just as she spoke. Elijah spoke life to her and she ate and lived many more days. A verse that Ann Marie and I have used for over twenty five years comes out of Revelations. They overcame by the blood of the lamb and the WORD of their testimony. Elijah spoke the testimony of what God spoke to him and look what came about.

SO..... did God send Elijah for the widow and her son or did God send the widow and her son for Elijah? There is much more to read about Elijah but very little about the widow and her son. What was it that God wanted for the widow and her son that required Him to extend what she thought was the end of their lives? She already believed in God. Perhaps this is another Job incident? Job 41:“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”