By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical & Religious Studies, Samford University
WHEN YOUR PROVISIONS FALL SHORT
1 Kings 17:5–16
While the stories surrounding Elijah are rightly some of the most famous in Scripture, their theological significance is often underappreciated. As we arrive at the middle chapters of 1 Kings, a religious battle looms just over the horizon, and this battle will determine the trajectory of Israel’s theological commitments for centuries — and millennia — to come. The combatants in this religious conflict will be the God of Israel in one corner and the storm god Baal in the other, although their human emissaries will play an outsized role in the battle. Representing Baal will be the infamous Queen Jezebel with her too-compliant husband Ahab at her side. Representing the God of Israel will be Elijah himself, a prophet whose very name means “my God is Jehovah.” Jezebel struck the first blow as she began promoting Baal worship and killing off the prophets of the Lord. It was at that point that Elijah struck back, taking the fight directly to Baal. Baal’s followers claimed he was the god of the thunderstorm. Elijah would put this to the test as he proclaimed there would be no more rain until he said so. In the end, it would take more than three years of drought to demonstrate that Baal was no god of the thunderstorm — and indeed no god at all.
God’s provision may not always come in the way we expect. (5–7)
We often imagine that when we are following God’s will, the circumstances of life will show us that we are on the right course. Perhaps as a sign of God’s satisfaction with our obedient service, things will just “fall into place” for us. Elijah’s life would tell a different story, however. Although he had been exceedingly zealous for God and entirely obedient to God, he nevertheless found himself in a time of trial and difficulty rather than comfort and ease. The very drought Elijah had sent to confound the worshippers of Baal had affected him too — so much that the prophet had to seek refuge at the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
God’s provision for Elijah took a most unusual form. He drank water from the brook, and God used ravens to bring him bread and meat each morning and evening. But even this miraculous provision eventually failed as the water finally ran dry.
God’s provision often comes through others. (8–12)
Now, God’s provision would take the form not of ravens and brooks, but of a woman in the land of Sidon. As Elijah arrived at the little town of Zarephath, he found a most unpromising patron. The woman to whom God directed his attention was a poor widow who responded to Elijah’s request for food with little more than a lament: “I don’t have anything baked — only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug.” She was preparing for her last meal.
God’s provision comes when we trust and obey Him. (13–16)
Fortunately for the prophet, God’s plan for the widow went well beyond her planned last supper. Elijah announced to her that until rain returned upon the earth, her jar of flour would not be spent and her jar of oil would not run empty. Though both Elijah and the widow had endured various hardships, God was still in control of their circumstances. They had only to continue to obey as He directed them and then to trust that He would care for them.
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