My new perspective on Elijah and the widow 1 kings 17: God does provide!

Earlier I wrote on this same scripture from 1 kings 17 and Elijah and the widom, but now I have new perspective from my own experience.

The way God works and provides does not always make sense. I know I often think of myself and especially other missionaries who have a clear calling and vision to advance the kingdom. But then I see them struggle and I have struggled to get enough funding. In InterVarsity campuses and ministries have been affected by staff with insufficient funding.

So when we experience this what do we believe about God, God's goodness, and God's plans?

Sometimes we get angry or discouraged. But I believe we are called to persevere and continue trusting. Elijah the prophet went through exactly that in 1 Kings 17 (Scripture will be italicized) when Elijah begins his ministry by prophesying in the face of a corrupt king of Israel.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Then in this drought Elijah he seems to have brought about by his word Elijah had to depend on the Lord for provision.

First God provides enough through Ravens for the Lord came to Elijah "You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” verse 4

But God stops providing that way for Elijah his prophet: "Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land." verse 7. 

So here is where we fit into the story as God has seemingly stopped providing and sends Elijah to a strange and crazy place. And so Jesus sends us when our prospect list gets low to some unexpected places asking unexpected people. 

God told Elijah: "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food."

Wait what? Ask a widow? Ask a non believer? Maybe I am going crazy. haha. Then it only gets worse because at first when Elijah asks the widow she says:
“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.”

When that happens to me or if it did I would say: "Yep, I must be crazy" God didn't really tell me to ask that person. And certainly everyone else thinks I am crazy to ask that person who isn't a believer or who is going through hard times. If I were Elijah I don't know if I could have asked again. And we have heard some really tragic things like this as we fundraise and ask people going through all kinds of life challenges.

What if the story ended there? Elijah and the widow and her son would have died. 

I felt like I was at that point last Wednesday. I felt like I was going crazy and going to have a breakdown. But somehow God picked me up and I just kept doing my best to be faithful to what I knew God had called me to do: to keep asking even people I knew less. And so Elijah asked boldly a woman who was ready to die if she would share the last food she had. God also blessed me with a taste of giving and sharing my contacts this summer as I partnered with Max another missionary from my home church. God also has blessed me to partner with other missionaries from my own income. That same day I had a little breakdown I was able to host a married couple on staff with InterVarsity Justin and Samantha and welcome them into my men's small group to ask for partnership. It was hard and scary at first. 

But I have tasted and seen the Lord's provision abundantly! For the Lord provided for Elijah when he asked twice and risked it. But the Lord also provided for the widow and son who weren't believers when they gave:

¹³ 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.

In the 5 days after that Wednesday of breakdown God provided 16% of my annual budget! And he provided through people I hardly knew and almost didn't even ask. All Praise be to God! For the Lord is good and he provides abundantly. But not always in the timing or way we expect. Lord give me and others encouragement from my story that we might continue to be faithful in fundraising! And always remind us you are the provider and all glory goes to you!

Amen