1 Kings 17:7-16
7 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 of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place 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 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 cake 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 gives 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.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Ki 17:7-16). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
It is great to make a cake and die. What a better last meal than a German Chacalote Cake? But while the widow prepares for her and her son's death, God has other plans. God has protected Elijah through his time of exile. After he told Ahab that there would be no rain. God protected him. Now he sends him to a widow so he can save others.
The widow is gathering sticks to have one last meal with her son. They will celebrate their family and prepare for death. God takes people who are on the brink of Death, and saves them. The problem is people have to be reminded they are on the brink of death. Humans are sinful people. Sinful people disobey God and deserve punishment. This is the reason for the drought. This is the reason the river dried up, because of the people's sins.
The Widow of Zarephath is ready for her death. But it is God who delivers her a savior. Jesus is our savior from death. Jesus is the one who gives us life. God is the one who provides food and shelter for his people. Therefore, the flour does not disappear and the oil does nt dry up. God provides life to dying people. Do you want a last meal or do you want to live?
No comments:
Post a Comment