I read the entire story of Elijah (plus some) in today’s reading (1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 4). I really enjoy the story of Elijah as God worked through him in some amazing ways: warning Ahab of the drought, saving the widow and her son from famine, raising the widow’s son, confronting Ahab again, Mount Carmel, ending the drought, God in a still small voice at Mount Horeb, and, finally, Elijah being taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. Elijah’s life and death were jam packed with God’s presence.
The story that touched me the most was how Elijah saved the widow and her son.
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou has said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days
1 Kings 17:13-15.
The widow showed great faith in this event. She didn’t have to follow Elijah’s command to fix the last of the bread for him, but she did. Because of her faith in what Elijah said God would do for her, she was blessed and ate until the rain came again to Israel. I want that kind of faith!