The next handful I would like to think about is found in 1 Kings chapter 17. Take time to read the whole chapter as it's full of God's care and provision for His people. In verse 12 the widow of Zarephath replies to Elijah's request by saying that she had "but an handful of meal in a barrel".

​

The background of the chapter was a dark and sad time in the history of the nation of Israel. Following the dividing of the nation, the northern ten tribes had gone on a downward spiral away from God and His word. When we come to chapter 17 Ahab is on the throne and in verse 33 scripture records that Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel before him. If Ahab was evil then surely his wife Jezebel was more so. 

​

In a day like that God raises up the prophet Elijah (my God is Jehovah). He lived in an insignificant village in Gilead on the east side of the river Jordan but he was well aware of the sin and departure of God's people. In our NT in James 5:17 we read that he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. Then comes 1 Kings chapter 17, verse 1 and we notice about Elijah...

1. He was burdened about the state of the nation. Am I burdened?

2. He was burdened in prayer and James tells us that he prayed earnestly. His prayers were marked by reality. What are my prayers like? Are they real?

3. He had a private life with God before he had a public life for God. What is my private life with God like?

4. He was prepared to suffer in order that the nation would return to God.

He was brave in delivering God's word to a wicked king. He was obedient to God's commandment when verse 3 tells us that he was to go and hide himself by the brook Cherith on the east side of the Jordan. He was totally dependant on God and so what lessons can I learn from this man's experience and faithfulness of God? 

​

He was at Cherith for around a whole year where his only company were the ravens. Later on in Zarephath where he lived for over two years he met only two people and that means that for over three years this was the only human company he had. You and I are at the moment deprived of the company of our families and the saints. Is God giving us this time to think of what really matters in life? In these circumstances are we depending upon God by faith every day? As we see His provision are we giving Him our thanks?

​

At the brook God commanded the ravens to feed him. The raven is an unclean bird which keeps away from people, doesn't share food and is very wary; yet God uses the ravens to feed His servant. Verse 6 tells us they came with his breakfast and they came with his dinner every day for a year. Our God's eye sees the sparrow fall and His hand directs the raven. The first mention of the raven is in Genesis 8:7 when Noah sent a raven out of the ark where we read of it coming back but not going in. In the book of Job (reputed to be the oldest book in our bible) in 38:41 God asks Job Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God and in Psalm 147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. God even hears the cry of the young ravens; how amazing our God is! In Luke 12:24 the Lord Jesus says "Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap; which neith have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better that the fowls?". Let us have confidence in our great God that He will supply our every need; yes...our every need but not our every want.

​

In verse 7 the brook dries up and Elijah must have noticed the gradual reduction in its flow. Natural resources always dry up eventually and I remember a brother saying that he ministered on this passage that the brooks of life (love, friendship, health, companionship) all dry up. What we have with God, however, is forever and what God gives never dries up; the river of God...is full of water. 

​

In verse 9 God redirects Elijah to Zarephath which is Sarepta in our NT (Luke 4:26). You will remember as well that it was in this area (Tyre and Sidon) that the Lord Jesus went (Matt 15:21 and Mark 7:24) and met a widow as well and could say of her "O woman great is thy faith". Our Lord loves when we depend and believe on Him. Elijah's journey to Zarephath was a distance close to 100 miles and would have taken him a few days to get there. I wonder if the ravens followed him. In verse 9 God tells His servant that He had commanded a widow woman to sustain him and when he arrives he meets her. 

​

What Elijah asked

Although he was a mighty prophet of Jehovah, we notice his respect and we love his humility when he asks "Fetch me, I pray thee". We also notice he asks for "a little water"and a "morsel of bread"; these being scarce he didn't ask for a skin of water and a loaf of bread. He knew that God would daily meet his need and God still meets our daily needs.

​

What the widow had

A handful of meal in a barrel...a little oil in a cruse...two sticks. Notice that it's when she went to get the water that Elijah asked for the bread because she had already shown her willingness. This was fulfilling what the Lord Jesus taught in Matt 10:40-42. She received a prophet and would be blessed with a prophet's reward. She gave a cup of cold water and would gain reward of Jehovah. Remember as well the Lord's teaching in Matt 25:31-46 where in verse 35 He states "I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:", and in verse 40 "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.". These principles of the kingdom are what should mark us as God's people today. As we all try to give and help in any way we can in these awful days, may God help us to see that as in v40 "ye have done it unto me". What a joy to give to Him!

​

So she goes to fetch the water and the prophet asks for more. If we are not willing and obedient God won't ask more until we do the first thing. Am I willing and obedient? What a test of her faith this was since it was the last meal for her and her son. To give (not to share) what was hers was selfless but to give what was her son's last meal was wonderful. Elijah had proven God already but what a great faith this widow showed.

​

Elijah says in verse 13 "go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first"but this would empty both the barrel and the cruse. We understand that "me...first" really meant God first and so is God first in everything I do?

In verse 14 we have the promise "The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until..."and in verse 15 we see that they did eat many days; possibly for two years. Every day she took the last handful from the barrel and the last oil from the cruse and every day after there was a new handful in the barrel and a little oil in the cruse but the barrel and the cruse were not full. What a fresh surge of appreciation must have came from her heart every day. We need to make sure that we come to God's word every day that we might receive our handful of meal. When we consider that His mercies...are new every morning should it now bow our hearts in thankfulness and worship to our faithful loving God?

​

The widow had a handful of meal and a little oil...

The lad had fives loaves and two small fishes...

The poor widow had two mites...

​

How great small things become when given to God!

 

Every blessing,

​

David Lind