Just Enough

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 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.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.  For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:8-16

The widow was gathering sticks to make a meal for her and her son. She had just enough oil and flour for the 2 of them to eat one last meal and then wait to die of starvation. Things looked grim.  Then Elijah, a total stranger, appears out of nowhere and instructs her to make a small cake and feed him first. I know God prepared her heart for Elijah, but If I were this widow, I may be a little unwilling to help a perfect stranger before feeding my own son. Still, the widow was obedient despite any fear and questioning.

Because of her obedience, every day God provided just enough oil and flour for “her and her household.” We don’t know who was in her household other than her son, but I have to think it could have been several people. Because the widow obeyed even when she was in fear and questioning, it turned just enough oil and flour into more than enough.

Isn’t it great we serve a God who provides just enough and more than enough? Sometimes His provision depends on our obedience. We can’t explain God’s provision. We can’t explain the how or the when. It’s always a joy though, to look back and see how he was in the situation all along and how He worked things out for the good.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19