JUNE 16 "TWO DESPERATE PEOPLE"

  There's a number of interesting thoughts on this passage.  # 1, Elijah is suffering at his own hand, what I mean by that, is he is the one that pronounced there would be no rain, this has caused a drought, which has caused a famine which has not only left the people without food or drink, but ALSO HIM.  However, we see that God is supernaturally providing for him. God tells Elijah to go to Zarephath and there I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.  But if God has directed her then why does she seem somewhat unwilling? If God had told us this, we would have asked and then when we had received the response that Elijah received, [ 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.” ] This is not the response we are expecting from someone The Lord has said, "I have directed them to...".  Can we learn from this that there is people The Lord has prepared, directed and set up, that are still going to need prodding from us? The answer of course is "yes". This widow's first response to Elijah asking her to feed him is.."you're crazy, get lost, impossible...." Elijah's response is, "just do it, God will bless you if you do". How many blessings & miracles have we walked away from and left empty handed and then blamed it on God. If it is God's will, then it should ALWAYS BE like when the disciples walked up to the man and asked for his donkey, simply said, "the Lord needs it" and the man said, "go ahead and take it". That's the way every story should start and end. If it is something God has purposed, than it should always work like the story of the Colt.  I can only imagine Elijah's mindset when he arrives in Zarephath to meet the woman that is supposed to help him, only to find out that she herself is just as needy and is getting ready to die herself, how peculiar Elijah must have thought this situation was. Elijah has something to offer her that is going to save her life and she has something to offer Elijah that is going to save him. God uses these two to save each other. It's not just one saving another, but God using two desperate people to save each other. By Elijah challenging this woman to faith (which Elijah has) he saves her from dying and by her sharing her food (which she has) she saves Elijah from dieing. It seems odd challenging someone to step out in faith when you yourself have nothing and it seems odd to share and think of another when you barely have enough for yourself. It's hard to talk spiritual and speak faith when you have nothing, but yet you must.  It's hard to think of others and give, when you have nothing, but yet you must. There is an opportunity in this story for a great disaster or a great miracle. These two will either find themselves dead, one along side the other or they will find themselves both invigorated by a mighty miracle. Can you keep speaking faith and believing God and challenging others when you have nothing and can you give and think of others when you have nothing, if so than you have a great demonstration of God's provision that is on the way!