SWHW Bible Reading Plan - Year 2 January 2021Sample

January 8

Top Takeaway from Joni Stepp: 

In 1 Kings 17, we see the prophet Elijah predict a drought which sets the stage for some miraculous stories in Scripture. 

The first being the widow of Zarephath. 

God told Elijah to go to Zarephath, and a widow would feed him. When he meets the woman and asks for food, she tells him she is preparing to make the last bit of food she has for her son and die because they have nothing left.

A drought and the hardship of being a widow in these times likely led to her situation. It wasn’t simply poverty, but poverty to the point of death.

This story is right before a wild, exciting, jaw dropping event in chapter 18 (wait until you read it!) that will magnify God to the masses. But before we read this, we see God meet this one woman and her one son and radically change the course of their future. 

Elijah tells the woman: 

“For thus say the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent , and the jug of oil shall not be empty until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth’“ (1 Kings 17: 14).

Elijah essentially says, “Do not worry about tomorrow; God will supply what you need, as you need it.” 

Then we see further in the story, not only does God provide miraculously for the woman with her physical need of flour and oil, but also later in chapter 17 when the son becomes ill and dies, God meets her again in allowing Elijah to raise her son from the dead.

God met her at the point of her need—without flour and oil, the boy would die. Then when the worst did happen, He met her again with resurrection.

Our stories will not always sound like hers. 

Our answers will not always be like hers. 

But this we can guarantee, regardless of how it may look to us in the moment—in Christ, we will see resurrection in our pain—if not here on earth, then ultimately in eternity. 

The God of the Bible, Who saw the widow in her despair, hears YOU, sees YOU, and cares for YOU just as He did her. 

She was not forgotten, and neither are you.

Lord, we thank You that You see us and hear us individually. We are not a face in the crowd. You are not too busy for us. You do not dismiss our pain. You have a plan to turn all things for our good and Your glory, and we trust You in this. You are a good and loving Father.  Amen.