After the miraculous provision of ravens, God sends Elijah to an even more precarious situation. God commands him to go to Sidon, which is known for Baal worship. Moreover, God tells Elijah that he will be fed by a widow (at the time, widows were socially marginalized and had no resources to provide for themselves, let alone others). When Elijah meets the widow and asks for food, she says that she only has enough food for her and her son to have one final meal before their death. Yet, Elijah unashamedly insists that he be fed first! Even more surprising, the widow actually listens to Elijah!
Many, if not all, of us would have had tremendous doubts regarding God's commandment. We would not think it is wise to dwell in the enemy's territory. Nor would we have the audacity to ask a widow for food, especially when all she has left is one final meal for her and her son! So why would God make these questionable commandments to Elijah and the widow?
There are several reasons, some of which will help us make better sense of our lives and how God is working in us. First, trusting and obeying God is a fundamental way of glorifying and worshiping. Because God is so relational, our trust and obedience matter a lot to him, especially in situations where it is difficult. Glorifying and worshiping God has less to do with serving or singing songs, and more to do with trusting and obeying.
God has now proved his power and faithfulness to Elijah and the widow in miraculous ways. He has withheld the rain, fed Elijah through ravens, and multiplied the paltry amount of flour/oil for the widow. Despite experiencing these miracles, we see that the faith of Elijah and the widow is ultimately fickle. When the widow's son becomes ill, the widow immediately blames Elijah (1 Kings 17.18), upon which Elijah immediately blames God (1 Kings 17.20)!
How is it possible that after experiencing all of these extraordinary works of God, the widow and Elijah are so quick to blame God when difficulties arise? In many ways, this is a mirror to the way that we respond to our own difficulties. In our lives, God has staged one deliverance after another—the most significant being our salvation in Jesus Christ. Yet, we are also quick to blame God when we face challenges.
Despite the fickleness of our faith, God nonetheless listens to Elijah (and to us). Therefore this passage (like every other passage in Scripture) is ultimately about God. In the midst of our wavering trust, God is patient and loving. He even listens to our prayers and delivers us during our time of need. Our God sees us through the seasons and will always remain faithful to us.
When we think about God in this light, it is quite radical. In every other religion, worshippers strive to earn the trust of their deities. In Christianity, God strives to earn our trust! He places us in difficult situations in order to mature and increase our faith. Of course we falter countless times, just like the widow and Elijah, yet God is so faithful and loving throughout the entire process.
Read 1 Kings 17.17-24
What surprises you more about this passage: (1) how quickly the widow and Elijah blame God or (2) how faithful and patient God is toward the widow and Elijah?
One of the points from this passage is how fickle the faith of Elijah and the widow was. Despite all that they have experienced, they are so quick to turn against God. Yet God was still faithful to each of them, working in their lives with patience and love. In what ways do we see this dynamic in our own relationships with God?
Read through 1 Kings 17.1-24 on your own and reflect upon what we have learned about God from his interactions with Elijah. In what ways do you see God earning Elijah's trust? Why is this so radical, especially compared to other religions? And how has God been striving to earn your trust in your own life?