The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 17:13-14,
"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.'"
If this chapter is about anything, it is about faith. A prophet, Elijah, was sent to the evil king of Israel, Ahab. The Lord told Ahab through Elijah there would be a great drought causing famine in the land. The drought would last until at Elijah's word. Think of being in Elijah's shoes for a minute - sent to the king with a message of disaster for the kingdom, with no relief in sight until Elijah said so! Elijah did just as the Lord asked and exercised that faith of knowing the Lord would do exactly as he said he would.
How many today, even in the church, struggle with trusting the Lord to do exactly as he says he will!
This was by no means an easy task. Elijah would have to go into hiding (I think we can be quite certain King Ahab had in mind to have Elijah killed on sight), and trust in the Lord for his daily provisions brought by birds of the air! 1 Kings 17:3-4.
Next we see Elijah being sent to a widow in Zarephath. As he found her, she was preparing to make a last meal for herself and her son, with the thought in mind of dying of starvation afterward, so desperate was the drought and how little she had. Elijah told her that her food supply would miraculously not be depleted as she used it, however, take what little she did have and make a loaf of bread for him - first!
This she did, manifesting a tremendous faith. With just enough food for one last meal, she was told to feed Elijah with it first and trust the Lord to then supply her with what she would need to survive the drought. Again, what faith!
We are told that we can acquire a righteous standing with God if we trust in him. "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Romans 4:20-24.
"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.'"
If this chapter is about anything, it is about faith. A prophet, Elijah, was sent to the evil king of Israel, Ahab. The Lord told Ahab through Elijah there would be a great drought causing famine in the land. The drought would last until at Elijah's word. Think of being in Elijah's shoes for a minute - sent to the king with a message of disaster for the kingdom, with no relief in sight until Elijah said so! Elijah did just as the Lord asked and exercised that faith of knowing the Lord would do exactly as he said he would.
How many today, even in the church, struggle with trusting the Lord to do exactly as he says he will!
This was by no means an easy task. Elijah would have to go into hiding (I think we can be quite certain King Ahab had in mind to have Elijah killed on sight), and trust in the Lord for his daily provisions brought by birds of the air! 1 Kings 17:3-4.
Next we see Elijah being sent to a widow in Zarephath. As he found her, she was preparing to make a last meal for herself and her son, with the thought in mind of dying of starvation afterward, so desperate was the drought and how little she had. Elijah told her that her food supply would miraculously not be depleted as she used it, however, take what little she did have and make a loaf of bread for him - first!
This she did, manifesting a tremendous faith. With just enough food for one last meal, she was told to feed Elijah with it first and trust the Lord to then supply her with what she would need to survive the drought. Again, what faith!
We are told that we can acquire a righteous standing with God if we trust in him. "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Romans 4:20-24.
The message of all of Scripture is that the Lord is looking for those who will embrace him in faith, those who will trust in him. All who do so are provided a place in his family, a place at his table for all eternity following Resurrection Day. So many examples of faith, what faith in the Lord looks like, what faith in the Lord prompts us to do, what faith in the Lord provides us, are given us in the pages of Scripture.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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