Finding each other in our need
Laura Digan
March 26, 2024
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1 Kings 17: 7-16 (NRSVA)
7 But after a while the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 ‘Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’ 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.’ 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, ‘Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’ 12 But she said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.’ 13 Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
The Widow of Zarephath speaks:
“I had been out gathering the sticks.
We had nothing in the house for eating and I was desperate. We were down to our last handful of flour and our last glug of olive oil in the jar. After that was gone there was nothing left.
And there was no money to buy any more. As a widow I’d exhausted all avenues and opportunities. There was no decent way left for me to make any money.
We were out of time and out of hope.
I didn’t want to see my boy suffer so I was gathering the sticks to make a tea that would likely be our last.
And then as I was gathering the sticks this stranger asked me for a cup of water. Why was he bothering me, couldn’t he see my weariness? But I went to get it for him as I could see he was thirsty. As I was heading to the house he asked if I’d give him a bit of bread. What! Oh the shame. I had to tell him I couldn’t help him. I had to tell him I was desperate. I had to tell him I only had a tiny bit of flour and oil left in the house. I had to tell him about the tea I was planning on making…
And then he said, ‘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. 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.’
Was this stranger messing with me? Teasing me in my despair. I looked at him and his face reflected sincerity. Like me he was hungry too. What did I have to lose? So I trusted him and made him the loaf of bread.
And when I looked in the store cupboard, the Lord had indeed provided. It was a miracle! There was enough flour and oil to keep us going.
My hope was restored. By sharing with this stranger he had given me life. Thanks be to God.”
Prayer:
Father God,
Today let us trust in your provision
And in that trust help us to live generously,
with hearts willing to see and share with those in need.
Amen
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