Search This Blog

Saturday, September 24, 2011

9/25/11- God's Care in the Recession

     1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2 The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 "Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi. 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.(1 Kings 17:1-16)

 18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. 19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. (Psalm 37:18,19)

Thoughts: Elijah lived in a time of drought and famine, but God miraculously provided for this one who sought only to do God's will.  Elijah was commanded to forecast the drought, and he lived as if it were going to happen- going to a water source, and the drought and famine came.  But even the safest places gave out of water, so Elijah went to a needy lady.  Amazingly he asked this lady who was living on less than social security for help.  She had nothing, and was about to give her last portion to her child and then they would die of starvation.  It is apparent that he was willing to give to the prophet, but she had nothing to give.  Yet ,even in a time of famine God looked out for the widow and fatherless.  In a time of famine God looked out for his godly servant.  Elijah, the widow, and the son looked to the Lord (not Baal or themselves) for help.  In our time of recession, it is important to remember to not be stingy.  It is important to recognize God's care in tough times. 

Prayer: In these tough times, Lord, keep me not only alive physically, but allve spiritually.  Let me see your hand providing for me and trust in you.

No comments:

Post a Comment