The Widow at Zarephath

1 Kings 17

After many days, the water dried up in Elijah's stream. And God told him to go find a widow in a place called Zarephath.

Sure enough, when Elijah arrived, he found a woman gathering sticks.

"Would you bring me a drink of water?" he called to her. She agreed. As she went for water, Elijah added, "And could you bring me a piece of bread also?"

"As sure as God lives, I have none," she said. "I have only a drop of oil and a handful of flour. Right now, I'm taking these sticks home to make a fire. I will cook that last bit of bread for myself and my son. Then we will eat it and die."

"Don't worry," said Elijah. "Go and make your bread. But then bring it to me. After that you can make more for you and your son. For God has told me that your flour will not be used up, and your oil will not run dry. Not until the day that God sends rain to this land."

So the widow went home and did exactly as Elijah said. And he was right! The flour and the oil did not run out. She made bread every single day for many, many days. Her flour and oil lasted until God sent rain.

When the Brook Dries Up

After Elijah boldly confronted King Ahab with the coming drought, the LORD led him to a creek and supplied the prophet's needs. But a time came when the brook dried up, and God led his man to the widow in Zarephath. There, the LORD took care of not only his needs, but also the need of a widow and her son.

When the brook dries up in our lives, we should listen carefully to God's instructions for what he wants us to do next. It is dangerous for us to staywhere God supplied our needs yesterday, when he instructs us to move on to some new provisions today. It is a bit frightening to leave the place of our past comfort and security, but the same God who took care of us yesterday will take care of us today.