1 Kings 17:7-24 – Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” 19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
“She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” What God said through Elijah of course came to be. What had to happen for this miraculous blessing from God to come through? 1) Elijah had to be able to hear from God. With some exceptions, those who hear from God are those who seek God continuously. Those who seek God, every day, are they who best recognize His voice and His moving. Elijah was in continual communion with God and so he was sure when he heard from God. He knew God’s voice. 2) Elijah had to be obedient to God. 3) Elijah had to have faith in God and to live it out. 4) Elijah had to carry out God’s instructions, he had to not give up but to persist in doing all that God told him to do. 5) The widow had to listen when the word from God came. She had to listen to God’s spokesman. 6) She had to believe in God and trust God. 7) She had to be obedient to the message from God. 8) She had to live out the plan completely and not give up or change it.
God uses prepared people. Elijah was actively and closely serving the Lord. The widow was able to do what God asked her to do. They did their part. They were prepared by God. It is the same with us. In the blessings that God brings us we have a part. When God says go and do then we need to go and do. God blesses all of mankind in different ways. (Matthew 5:45) He watches over and protects those who love Him. (Psalm 145:20, Psalm 33:18-22) Sometimes God moves in a way to bless just one of us, or simultaneously all of us. (Genesis 9:8-11, John 3:16) Of course, truly, when He blesses one of us it is usually for more than just us. (Matthew 8:13-14, Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 13:16) God’s people love Him and are obedient to Him. Not perfect, but fully so in heart and intent. (John 14:15, 15:14; 1 John 5:3).
Yes God put His plan in motion and He knew all the steps of the plan. He knew that what He said would happen. He knew that Elijah and the widow would do their parts. He knew that His plans always work. His plan worked for Elijah, it worked for the widow and His plans also work for us. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus. Praise God! Let’s do what God says and in that is the greatest joy. Other than the blessing of God’s love, mercy and grace, there is no higher blessing than to be a blessing, to be used of God. In being so, we please God and complete the love that He has sent forth to live in us. 1 John 2:3-5 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him.” He loves us and watches over those who are truly His! Stay close to God! He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:6) Love God! Obey God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”