Tuesday 08 June 2010

Background

At the beginning of today's passage, God's prophet Elijah findshimself without water and food because there was a drought in theland. The wadi, a ravine or channel that is dry except in the rainyseason, which he had been led to by God, had saved him so far butnow it had dried up. It looked like the end. But once again Godintervened to save the prophet and directed Elijah to go to foreignterritory. And so, Elijah was sent to the town of Zarephath inSidon.

At the outskirts of the town, Elijah met a widow. She wascollecting sticks to take home for a fire on which she planned tocook her last loaf of bread. She had no more food after this, andonce she and her son had eaten the loaf they simply expected towait to die.

Elijah arrived at Zarephath hungry and thirsty and he asked thewidow to give him something to eat and drink. The widow explainedto him how little she had for herself and her son. But Elijah toldher not to be afraid. He assured her of God's promise that if sheshared her food, her jar of meal and jug of oil would be constantlyreplenished until the drought in the land was over.

Now the widow of Zarephath was not an Israelite. She did notworship the god of Elijah, but nevertheless she followed Elijah'sinstructions and her trust was rewarded. She, her son, her wholehousehold and Elijah were all saved.

Jesus referred to this story at the beginning of his ministry whenhe was first attacked by the people in his own hometown of Nazareth(Luke 4:25-26). His attackers were incensed whenJesus reminded them that their great prophet Elijah experienced thesaving grace of the living God through the ministrations of aforeign woman - the widow of Zarephath.

To Ponder

In what ways does God continue to break down theartificial barriers of nationality?

Over the next few days, note how greatly ourdaily diet is enriched by food from other countries.