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Sharing Her Morsel, July 19
1 Kings 17:8-16
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast 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.
1 Kings 17:13, 14
.
This woman was not an Israelite. She had never had the privileges and
blessings that the chosen people of God had enjoyed; but she was a believer in
the true God and had walked in all the light that was shining on her pathway.
And now, when there was no safety for Elijah in the land of Israel, God sent him
to this woman to find an asylum in her home....
In this poverty-stricken home the famine pressed sore, and the pitifully
meager fare seemed about to fail. The coming of Elijah on the very day when
the widow feared that she must give up the struggle to sustain life tested to the
utmost her faith in the power of the living God to provide for her necessities. But
even in her dire extremity she bore witness to her faith by a compliance with the
request of the stranger who was asking her to share her last morsel with him....
No greater test of faith than this could have been required. The widow had
hitherto treated all strangers with kindness and liberality. Now, regardless of the
suffering that might result to herself and child, and trusting in the God of Israel
to supply her every need, she met this supreme test of hospitality....
The widow of Zarephath shared her morsel with Elijah, and in return her life
and that of her son were preserved. And to all who, in time of trial and want,
give sympathy and assistance to others more needy, God has promised great
blessing
That God who cared for Elijah in the time of famine, will not pass by one of
His self-sacrificing children. He who has numbered the hairs of their head, will
care for them, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. While the wicked
are perishing all around them for want of bread, their bread and water will be
sure
[207]
35
Ibid., 129-132
.
36
Testimonies For The Church 1:173, 174
.
214