Elijah. Man of Courage, Man of Faith, Man of God.Sample

Trusting in God’s promise

Elijah has been living by the brook Cherith for a while, but finally the brook dries up. Then God tells him to go to another country: to Sidon, the center of Baal worship! There the drought is severe, too, and the people have almost nothing to eat. However, God says that a widow will feed Elijah. This seems completely impossible, since this woman is preparing her last meal, after which she expects to starve together with her son…

In these circumstances, Elijah’s request seems very inappropriate. He wants the woman to bake a cake for him first, and only then for herself and her son. For, he says, the Lord has promised that the flour and the oil shall not run out. There will be enough to eat until the drought is over.

When the woman is baking the bread, she cannot yet see whether God will keep his promise. It takes an enormous step of faith to feed the prophet with her last flour and oil! But she does, and God blesses her abundantly. “And she and he and her household ate for many days” (1 Kings 17:15).

Has your faith in God ever been put to the test?