Remember a few days back I told you of Elijah, a man like us, who prayed it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t for 3 1/2 years (James 5:17-18). Well today, I’m going to give you some more of his story.
After Elijah told King Ahab that it wouldn’t rain, he hid in the desert. The Lord led him to a brook. There he had plenty of water and ravens would come morning and evening bringing him food to eat.
Elijah wasn’t surprised by God sending ravens with groceries or that He was led to a place where there was still fresh water while the rest of the nation was in drought.
But after a while the brook dried up. The Lord told him to go to a town called Zarephath and there would be a widow who would feed him. When he got to the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks.
This surprised him!
“So he arose and went to Zarephath. Now when he came to the town gate, to his surprise, a widow was there gathering sticks. So he called her and said, ‘Please bring a little water in a jar that I may drink.’ 11 As she was going to fetch it, he called her and said, ‘Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’” I Kings 17:10-11 TLV
Elijah was a prophet of God. He had seen and done miracles but here when he encountered a woman, whom God told him he would meet, he was surprised. I find that so encouraging!
There have been times in our life that Dave and I have known that God was leading us to a place and when we got “there” we were surprised. Surprised by God’s favor and provision. It was better than we could have imagined.
“Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, 21 to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 TLV
The “far beyond all that we ask or imagine” is referring to the previous verses that tell us we can know the width, the depth, the length and the height of God’s love.
It was God’s love that sent Elijah to the woman in Zarephath. His love for the widow, her son and for the prophet. His sustaining love.
“…’Now look, I am gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go in and prepare it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.’ 13 Elijah said to her, ‘Fear not! Go and do as you said, but first make me a little cake from what you have there. Bring it out to me and afterwards, make some for you and for your son.'” verses 12-13 TLV
Once again, we have a story where God steps in and says, “fear not”. God’s plan is one of provision and not lack or fear. The woman thought she only had enough for one more small meal. But God…
This widow was surprised by the prophet’s words and God’s supply.
“So she went and did according to the word of Elijah—and she and he, and her household ate for many days.” verse 15
Follow the Lord’s leading today – you just may be in for a surprise!