The Elijah Proclamation! - Part 7

I Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath.

Of course he did! And without a single peep. Again Elijah is going to do his part with full confidence that God will do His part. My study Bible says, "this was a dramatic test of faith for Elijah." While it is true that where he was going was just seven miles away from the stronghold of Baal worship it appears that it is of little concern for him. And yes it's true that widows of that day were usually very poor. So the fact that God said a widow would provide, may have caused Elijah to wonder, but............... he was hearing the words of the Lord and thus far those words were very accurate in coming about.

And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks.

Look at this! Elijah gets to the gate of the city. AT THE GATE! This is not a picture of the God that we so often say is last minute. The following words in this verse lead me to believe that Elijah is not in despair as he asks for a little water. At the gate! After his journey he could have been starving and desperate for a drink of water. That would be how it seems to be so often with God for many. Let me get more specific and say for me. At the last stroke of the clock God shows up. And how many times I have perceived that the last stroke came and went and no God? But not so with Elijah. I am having difficulty seeing the test of faith for Elijah here.

And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

Nothing like inviting yourself to dinner. Is Elijah so consumed by the accuracy of the word of the Lord that he doesn't even ask the widow her name? Or...... is he intent on seeing if the word of the Lord will come about just as the last word did? Or....... is he on a mission from God and knows more than he's letting on here? Before she can even finish that first request Elijah calls her and asks, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." Was Elijah not up on the times? Did he not know that widows were poor? Or...... was he testing her? Or....... just acting on the word of the Lord he had received?

So we have Elijah and King Ahab. And we have Elijah and a widow. Is this story about a king and a widow or about Elijah?

12 So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

There you have it! This is not only a poor widow but a mother and she has resolved herself to to the fact that she and her son are going to die. We know what Elijah has that King Ahab needs and wants, RAIN. Ahab needs Elijah to release rain on the land. But what can Elijah give to a widow and her son who are destined to die? Elijah..... a prophet not a man of wealth or means. Elijah came from a brook that gave him water and ravens that brought him bread and meat. Prophet's bring words. This widow seems to need more than a word. Remember back when I said that God seemingly shows up at the last minute? Well it appears to be that the widow and her son need God to show up in their final minutes. Yet who shows up but Elijah.... a prophet. This widow needs provisions and she needs them now! At this point it may have been better for the widow to have some sort of encounter with King Ahab so that she may have received favor with him or something. Maybe a job? But no..... God apparently sends a poor needy prophet named Elijah.