~Old Testament Scenarios~
1 Kings
So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread,
only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see,
I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it
for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
1 Kings 17:12 (NKJV)
"He Is The Husband To The Husbandless"
How much more desperate does it get than to know you and your child are about to eat your last meal for the day and then you are going to die from starvation? This is hard for most of us to even imagine not only this kind of hunger, but also this mother’s heartache. How do you face your child with that news? Was this widow despondent sounding to Elijah, had she already assigned herself to the inevitable and maybe relieved it was almost over? Maybe she was just too weak to care anymore? Scripture doesn't reveal much detail here, only that this widow provided this information to Elijah about her doomed future. Wow, heavy stuff, huh?
Have we calmingly resigned to “what we perceive” as our future and accepted our lot? Or do we (in faith) battle to the very end believing God can do the impossible? I know I have faced these very questions and not always been sure of the right direction to take. How often have we resigned to what we believe is the end of something and maybe given up, given in, and given over to it too soon? Yet, Christ is there; ready to pick us up when we have fallen. He carries us when needed.
God is always at work- have we thought Him too small to work on our behalf? I do love this woman, even in her distress, she welcomes Elijah the prophet into her home and shares water with him. Her example to us is that it is always best to give from out of our need rather than just give from our abundance is humbling, to say the least. Are we living like that? This starving widow and her only son gave to a stranger what they themselves needed so badly. She does not hold on to her small bit of flour and oil with a closed fist.
The story goes on to show us that God faithfully brought Elijah into her life for such a time. Blessings and miracles were bestowed on this woman. When reading her story we are encouraged and our faith is resurrected and strongly strengthened.
Maybe it isn't so important to know when to battle faithfully and stand on the hope God will change your circumstances or to choose to quietly resign and accept our destiny. Maybe the important message to get out of this story is to remember God is always at work on our behalf and that we need to be a people (no matter what troubles we have) ready to share what we have. The compassion we have towards other's needs should come first. I pray that every widow, divorcee, and/or single woman will trust in their heavenly “Husband” (ISH in Hebrew) when they are feeling the loneliness of not sharing life with a spouse. God is the lover of our soul, He is the provider and protector of each of our lives and He lovingly embraces us with extraordinary grace to be uplifted.
This is your day; God has given it to you. What will you do with it? Will you look outside yourself and be willing to keep your hands open to give to others what you have? Share your heart with others today.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)