But first make a small cake of bread for me. — 1 Kings 17:13
Elijah asked the destitute widow to feed him first. He had heard her belief system: "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." And now he flatly contradicted it.
Her perception: We are about to die. The truth: You are about to live.
Her perception: We have nothing. The truth: You have abundance.
Elijah didn’t stand around arguing with her about her mixed up perceptions. Instead, he invited her to experience the difference that God makes.
On the surface, Elijah’s request seems callous and hard — to require a starving woman and her son to give up half of their last meal. It seems self-centered and cruel. The Bible doesn’t record the struggle that went on in her mind between hope and fear, faith and doubt. But we see it played out all over the world between those who curse the church for touching their precious pocketbooks and those who give up everything and experience our supernatural God.
Between the widow and Elijah, I think Elijah had the more difficult assignment … to ask someone else to sacrifice. But, if we listen to God, we will discover even in the difficult assignments that He has given us the wonderful privilege of opening up a whole new world to those around us.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.