It amazes me how God will take a miracle, like the fishes and loaves, and multiply it. Sometimes, God will take a little bit, like the oil and flour of a widow, and make it last a lifetime. God keeps giving us life, even when we might be on the verge of death.
Today, we are going to revisit the miracle of fishes and loaves through the lens of another miracle. Both lead us to straight to the greatest miracle of all time; Jesus’ death and resurrection.
If you think back to the beginning of this blog series on the Fishes and Loaves, Part 1, Jesus turns our ministry into a miracle. Part 2, we are asked to bring God what we have. And Part 3, God provides life through bread. Today, we are going to discover what happens when a poor widow brings God all she has.
Let’s read the whole chapter of 1 Kings 17.
Key verses for reflection:
- 1 Kings 17:2-5; “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here…,. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”5 So he did what the Lord had told him.“
My thoughts:
God said, and Elijah did. And the ravens brought him bread and meat. God rewards our obedience with provision.
God blesses our obedience.
- 1 Kings 17:7-10; “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…. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went..”
My thoughts;
The Lord said “Go” and Elijah went. Again, God rewards our obedience with provision.
- 1 Kings 17:11-12; “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.”
My thoughts;
Elijah knew how little she had. God works His greatest miracles in our bleakest moments.
- 1 Kings 17:13-16; 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.”
My thoughts;
God knows our fears and blesses our obedience in spite of them.
- Finish your reflection by reading the rest of the chapter, 1 Kings 17:17-24; “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 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.”
My thoughts;
God provides a miracle through a meager jar of oil and flour, building our trust and leading up to an even greater miracle. Because with God, all things are possible!
My study note reads, “The first instance of raising the dead recorded in Scripture. This non-Israelite widow was granted the supreme covenant blessing, the gift of life rescued from the power of death. This blessing came in the person of her son, the only hope for a widow in ancient society.”
Her son was her only hope, just like Jesus is ours.
“Now I know!”
Her final words , “Now I know,” expresses her own real life experience with the Holy of Holies. She now knows without a shadow of doubt God and His Word are completely reliable. Thanks be to God!
Let us pray;
God of great miracles, thank you for reminding us that nothing is impossible for You! Teach us to trust You through the fishes and loaves, the oil and flour, life and death. May we know You are reliable in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
P.S. This will be our framework of study for the next few weeks.
- Part 4 -Elijah’s miracle of the oil and bread; 1 Kings 17:7-16
- Part 5- Elisha’s miracle of multiplying the bread; 2 Kings 4:42-44
- Part 6 – Moses’ miracle of bread from Heaven; Exodus 16
- Part 7 – Jesus as the Bread of Life; John 6:31-36
- Part 8 – The Last Supper; Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-38 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
- Part 9 – God’s greatest miracle; breaking the Bread of Life; Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:37-39, John 11:25-26, Luke 24:6-7
We are leading up to something great. Something only God could do! Leave me a comment below because I love hearing from you. Forward to a friend and share on Facebook. Until next time, may God reveal miracles to you daily. -M
