The Widow and The Bread

God’s Loves First

1 Kings 17:7–16 NIV

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ ” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

Egocentric view of the world. We are fixated on what we do and the choices that we make. God though moves before us. We would have no breaths or movements if it were not for God speaking us into existence first.

But God shows over and over again that He loves us first. God took care of and provided for His servant Elijah. But Gad also knew ahead of time that the widow and her son needed to be provided for. God loved all of them and He provided for their needs.

God is faithful to provide for our every need. He is abundantly able to do more and provide more than is imaginable. He does so over and over again. Jesus feeding the five thousand. Psalm 139:16

Psalm 139:16 NIV

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

1 John 4:19 NIV

We love because he first loved us.

As Ms. Graham talked about this morning, God loves you so much that before there was form and substance in the universe, God sat in the darkness pondering you. He was in the beginning weaving together your story. He spoke the waters of Lake Michigan into existence because He knew it would be woven into your story. The Scriptures tell us that He has written your name in His book. He wove beautifully the line to Jesus in the annuals of the tribes of Israel to write salvation on the pages of history because your relationship with God was to be one without obstacle. God prepared every aspect of our life with Him because His love for you and me. As Mr. Jakeway talked about, look for opportunities to make a difference. Do so with such abandon because you do not face it alone. You have all that you need because God goes with you. In response, will we love God by trusting in His plan. Will we seek Him in our comings and goings?