1 Kings 17

THERE is something very blessed in the Lord’s first word to Elijah after the brook had dried up― “Arise.” It shows us, that in the sharp trial of faith the prophet was undergoing, he was enabled to “let patience have her perfect work.” No efforts of the flesh, no plans or schemes of the intellect, no struggles of self-will appear in action; but all is quiet, and intimates a prostrate and humble condition of soul. The prophet is “still,” knowing that it is the faithful Jehovah-jireh he serves, and in whom he trusts. And he does not wait upon the Lord in vain. When the brook had actually “dried up,” and the hour of his necessity had arrived, then “the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee” (1 King; 17:8, 9). What lessons are here, beloved! Do they not afresh stir us up to “wait only upon God,” whatever be our difficulties, and howsoever hopeless, humanly speaking, the aspect of things may be? According to sight and sense, things were daily more hopeless―the brook became less and less, while drought, and famine, and distress were on every side. He had no human resources, no visible friends, no brethren at hand to have fellowship and sympathy with him; but he proved that God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble―that God is love; and that He who tries faith for our profit and His own glory, has His set time also for deliverance. And it was so. The great blessings at Cherith were exchanged for greater blessings at the widow’s house. The prophet “arose and went to Zarephath.” In the obedience of faith he simply did what God told him, and as we saw on a former occasion, no carnal reasonings, no murmuring expressions, no unbelieving interrogations escape his lips, because the man of faith is satisfied with the word of God only.
Let none of us, however, suppose, that when deliverance from trouble is wrought for us, it in the least implies that other trials are not near at hand; for God tries and proves His people (Psa. 66:10). From the word of the Lord that came unto him, this dear man of God could not naturally have conjectured there was anything but an easy path before him―the widow had been commanded to sustain him. But no sooner had he accosted her at the gate of the city, than he found her heart was full of unbelief in the matter, and instead of a comforting and sympathizing helper, her weakness and lack of confidence in God, called for the prophet’s support and succor. It did not stumble the man of faith to see the widow gathering sticks; but sensible that he had the unfailing authority of the living and true God, he at once called her to fetch him a little water in a vessel, and bring him a morsel of bread in her hand. But she said, “As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (vss. 11,12). This was a heart-searching moment for the Lord’s prophet; a sudden and unexpected trial of faith; an emergency he could not have calculated on, further than, like another in after days, he might have said, “In every city bonds and afflictions abide me” (Acts 20:23). The enemy might possibly have suggested that there was no help for him in God; and surely, if he had judged from appearances, he must have been overwhelmed with perplexity and despair. But still, whatever the aspect of things may be, faith relies on the faithful promise-making, promise-keeping God. The prophet, therefore, is still with God. He reaps the fruit of trust in God on former occasions. His acquaintance with God at Cherith fitted him for this remarkable emergency at Zarephath. He therefore counts upon God, who had never failed him; knowing that He who had cared for him so faithfully, so wonderfully, at the brook, could also, spite of circumstances, supply all his need, in any path or place to which His own word directed him. Though the widow, believe not, yet Jehovah abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Further, the prophet had a distinct promise that he should be sustained by the widow in that city­― “Behold I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” This was enough for Elijah. He well knew, that even if the store of meal and oil did not increase and abound, they could not be entirely exhausted, because of the word of the faithful and unchangeable Jehovah. Happy those who can thus rest in the word of God in circumstances of apparent failure! Elijah therefore said unto her, “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus with the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (vss. 13, 14).
How important that, as believers, we should manifest that the Living God is our refuge and strength! His own word then will be our shield and buckler. It was not any peculiar feeling or sensation that animated the prophet thus to quench the fiery dart of unbelief, presented unconsciously by this honored widow. No; but it was a measure of the same spirit that so perfectly shone forth in the ways of our all-glorious Jesus, when He fervently and successfully repelled the tempter’s suggestions with “It is written.” It is well to notice here, not only the firmness and decision which the word of the Lord gives to the man of faith, but that his sole ground of confidence is what God hath said.
And shall we not further learn in these precious lessons of grace and truth, that if we would comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, and edify our brethren, we should draw our resources for such blessed service from the divine treasury―the infallible word of God―as here presented to us? “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel.” We may remark here, that it was not the narration of the letter of the word, but the prophet’s faith in God by that word, which was made such an uncommon blessing to this widow woman. He again honored God, and God honored him. To the woman, the word was with power; she heard the word of the Lord God of Israel, “and she went and did according to the word of Elijah; and she, and he, and her house did eat many days.” They trusted in the Lord and were not confounded; another witness to us, that “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him;” “The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by Elijah” (5:15, 16).
What do our hearth say, beloved, to these things Is there not much deeply important and practical instruction for us in this simple narrative? Surely we will not unbelievingly give place to the too common thought, that we are not to expect marvelous help from God in our day. No, dear brethren, shall we not rather say, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Yea, and that, even touching the things of this present life; seeing the infallible word of the Lord God of Israel and our Father is, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). And again, “My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
Happy and honored household indeed was this elect family at Zarephath, whose abode for “many days” was the scene of blessing and refreshment of spirit! The miraculous supply of the barrel and cruse was the continual witness to their consciences of the faithfulness of their God, and read to their souls many a precious lesson of grace and truth, so that faith had opportunity for growth, and their spirits a season of comfort and repose.
But the earth is not the resting-place of the household of faith. All things seen and temporal, with their fading and changeable propensities, tend to discompose the soul, and to sever the dearest attachments; yea, everything but our eternal portion and relationships. Sickness, and that of a very sore kind, even unto death, intruded into this peaceful circle-the widow’s only son suffered and pined, “till there was no breath left in him.” This proved a sharp trial of their faith. The natural feelings of this bereaved widow sadly overwhelmed her spiritual judgment and faith, and she suspected and accused Elijah of being the slayer of her son; while a breach of fellowship was implied in her exclamation, “What have I to do with thee?” This was a terrible condition of things, and leads us almost to fear that she must have been going on these “many days” more with the tide of circumstances than with God. We know how possible this is. Elijah, hover, is upheld: he seeks not to justify himself, or to explain matters. His mind is occupied with the sorrow of the woman and the glory of God, rather than with self-vindication, which he well knew would beguile him from the path of faith. He knew God would justify him. His place of service clearly was to seek the restoration of the elect widow, and leave his own matter with the faithful Lord God of Israel. Happy would it be for us, beloved, if we were thus to act in the family circle! Happy, indeed, to be thus occupied with the glory of God and the welfare of others, in the blessed confidence that it is our privilege to cast ALL our care upon Him, who careth for us.
How well worthy of our imitation, in the spirit of Christ, is this behavior of the prophet― “Give me thy son,” said he, to the distressed mother; and the sequel tells us that he made her sorrow his own, and that, too, in secret before the Lord. He carried him up into a loft where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed, and cried unto the Lord HIS God on behalf of this sorrowing parent. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived, and the prophet delivered him to his mother, saying, “See, thy son liveth!”
What reproof and also comfort were thus ministered to this failing widow. In the school of affliction she learns the twofold lesson, that God raiseth the dead, and that it is God that justifieth. Elijah was acquainted with this lesson, and therefore makes Him his refuge, and finds blessing and joy in so doing―yea, the sorrow and trial only become opportunities for proving, and tasting afresh, the faithful love of God. The woman, in the bitterness of her grief, turned her eyes inward and around―to her sins and her circumstances; hence resulted evil imaginations and fleshly expressions. The man of faith made God his refuge, cast all care upon Him, called upon his God, whose love and never-failing faithfulness he had so often proved, and found peace, blessing, renewal of strength, and the honor that cometh from God only; so that, unsolicited in any way, the widow acknowledged her fault, justified Elijah, and owned him to be a faithful servant and messenger of the Lord. “Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth” (vs. 24).
This was indeed a blessed triumph of faith. Would that we knew more of such victory in our heaven-ward journey, beloved! Elijah trusted in God, walked with God, held forth the word of God, took refuge in God, sought not his own reputation but the glory of God; and was therefore used for abundant blessing: and there is a greater than Elijah here!
May we judge ourselves, dear brethren, about these things, that we may be vessels meet for the Master’s use. Amen.

Fear Him ye saints, and then ye shall have nothing else to fear!

Prayer.