“For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’”
— 1 Kings 17:14
Once again we are introduced to our God as the great Provider — this time through the short but powerful story of a widow and her son, and their encounter with the prophet Elijah.
The times were hard. Following the wickedness of King Ahab, the Lord had instructed Elijah to declare that there would be no rain in the land until he said otherwise. In times of drought like this, those who suffer most are those without a surplus — without enough food, drink, or oil to sustain them through the long days of scarcity.
It is into exactly this situation that the Lord sends Elijah to the home of a widow, promising him that she would supply everything he needed throughout the duration of the drought.
When Elijah arrived and asked the widow to take the very last of what remained in her home and prepare it for him — while the drought was still very much at hand — she was understandably taken aback. But the response that came from the prophet was both comforting and sobering. Elijah reminded the widow that God is a provider. And significantly, the very first thing he said to her was do not fear — because fear is the most natural and common response in times of scarcity and lack.
Do Not Fear
Just like this widow, we find ourselves in very similar places. When the world grows difficult and scarcity feels inevitable, fear is often the first emotion we reach for. It is therefore deeply sobering that Scripture, time and again, calls us not to be afraid — grounding that call in the promises of God.
Jesus said to His disciples:
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
— John 14:1
On another occasion He said:
Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
— Matthew 10:28
And in the Sermon on the Mount:
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’… But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
— Matthew 6:31-33
The Word of God as Our Comfort
To bring comfort to the widow, Elijah did not offer her money, food, or any resource of his own. He spoke the Word of God to her — declaring what the Lord God of Israel had promised. And that Word proved entirely sufficient.
What was true then remains true today. The Word of God is still living and active. It is where the believer must go to find their ultimate comfort — not to the passing things of this world, which will fade, but to the eternal promises of God, which stand forever.
When we dig into Scripture and study the promises of God — the person and work of God — we will come to the realisation that we need not be afraid. Our God is providential. In His providence, He provides for His people even in their deepest times of need.
This is exactly where Paul found the courage to write to the Philippians:
I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
— Philippians 4:11-13
Resting in God Our Provider
May we be a people who look to the promises of God and refuse to fall into a spirit of fear. May we look instead to God — our great Provider — and trust Him for all that He has promised.
Amen.
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