God is still first in a drought

When Elijah met the widow of Zarephath, she was preparing her last meal for herself and her son. (1 Kings 17:12) But Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself.”

Usually in times of great need and desperation, we save every resources we have for ourselves in order to survive. However, I think Elijah knew something more than self-preservation. He knew about Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.

Elijah was God’s representative. When the widow of Zarephath did as Elijah said, she in fact gave first to the God of Israel (as Elijah was the Lord’s representative), then to herself and child. At that instance, there was a change. The widow’s spirit of self-preservation which sets its sight only on the ability of man had been overtaken by the revelation that the God of Israel is more than able to provide. In the end, the widow had enough to live on.

It occurred to me that in times of hardship, we should continue to put God as first place in our lives. The problems we face could be in the area of finance, relationships, service to God in church, work, sickness, etc. When we put ourselves as priority, we are then overtaken by a spirit of self-preservation which will eventually shrivel up the life in our souls. Only by remaining true to God, by putting him first in our lives, only then will we be able to see with eyes of faith and experience the truth that God is Jehovah Jireh, the One who provides for all our needs in every season of our lives.