By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
TUESDAY
THEME: GOD’S INEXHAUSTIBLE FLOUR AND OIL
SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 17:12-14
“[12]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.” [13]And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear. .[14]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.’”
REFLECTIONS
God will perform a miracle in your life if only you are willing. If you should trust God, He will clear out of the way every single hurdle to fulfill His promise on your behalf. The challenge we constantly have as humans is allowing fear to intimidate us and opening the floodgate for doubts that result in unbelief. You cannot have what you doubt or do not believe in. You cannot doubt something and expect to have it. Doubt prevents and discards the fulfillment of any potential expectations.
Standing in God’s stead, the prophet Elijah declared three years of famine, and the impact was felt all over. God, demonstrating that He cares and provides for all His own, caused ravens to feed the prophet by the Brook Cherith until he was instructed to leave for Zarephath. At Zarephath, God had seen a widow who had run out of food and was preparing for the ultimate – perish with her son. So, He instructed Elijah to go and eat from the widow who had only her last meal left. With His foreknowledge and compassion, God had determined to keep the woman and her son through the length of the famine period. It is heartwarming that God sees every need and decides to help.
Elijah met the widow and asked for water. Then he asked for a meal. “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. This was a sad and pessimistic narrative – a potential end for a widow who may have struggled alone to care for her son until that point. Though their plight was unfortunate, the widow did not know how God could intervene. She saw only death looming, but the Almighty had put together a rescue package for her. Many people in our world mimic her experience. While these disheartened ones see only doom, failure, and hopelessness ahead, God sees tremendous opportunities to re-echo His love and care for humanity.
Verses 13 and 14 reveal, “[13]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. [14]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.’” Elijah’s response to her plight invited her to a decision – to express faith in God and survive, or doubt Him and perish. When the circumstances leave us lonely to struggle for solutions, we can be certain that God already has the solution. Surely, if God cares for the little sparrows, He will ensure we who are created in His image will have much more. We read in verses 15 and 16 – [15]So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. [16]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.”
Every believer should know and believe that before they worry, God has made a provision, awaiting the expression of their faith instead of receiving His offer. If you trust Him, God will not let what you fear happen. Never allow your circumstances to underestimate God’s power and love. For God, no one should worry about anything. Your little flour and oil will not be used up. When we appear to have lost all hope, God will speak, rescue, and establish His own. You are fit for faith, not for worrying.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
“God Sees the Little Sparrow”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for showing concern for your needs; thank God for the daily supplies; pray and ask for grace to avoid worrying but trust God in the face of unfriendly and shattering situations;
– Pray for God to teach your loved ones and Christians how to depend on Him under all circumstances and achieve success; pray for Christians who worry to choose the path of faith;
– Pray for people who have lost their homes and properties, homeless and street children, and asylum seekers;
– Pray for families deprived of basic needs, Christians or minorities who are persecuted for their faith, God’s peace and control over our country, divine healing for the unhealthy, and trust in God’s word.
