Over the next few weeks, I’ll be reading and re-reading about the life of Elijah, the fiery prophet God used during the reign of King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel. Elijah faced a lot of cultural and political pressure in his ministry. He is most remembered for his battle against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, a place which I’ve had the privilege to stand personally and remember when God showed His power and humbled those who were foolish enough to go against Him.

In 1 Kings 17:1-14, Elijah has just proclaimed to Ahab that by his word (meaning, the words of God of which he was simply the messenger), there would not be any rain nor dew until he spoke again. This passage doesn’t specify, but we know from James 5:17-18 this drought lasted three and a half years.

Now, this drought was a direct response to the wicked idolatry in which Israel had engaged. Ahab and Jezebel had led God’s people astray, causing great sin in the nation, and the loss of God’s favor and blessing. The lack of rain was a punishment – a discipline – not for Elijah, but for those who had ignored God’s commands, yet Elijah would also suffer right along with his people, though he had been faithful to God.

Hard times were coming, yet God had a plan to take care of His faithful servant.

God told Elijah to go hide by a brook called Cherith. There, he would be able to drink the water from the brook, and God Himself would take care of the groceries! He would send the ravens twice a day to bring him both bread and meat.

Elijah had a choice. He had to decide whether to believe this unbelievable plan God presented or find another way to survive for the next few years. He had to trust in what God said – in God’s faithfulness – or lean on his own understanding and try to come up with some options that made more logical sense.

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord (1 Kings 17:5).

Later, the brook does dry up, so God tells him to take a walk to Zarephath and find a widow to provide for him. Again, this isn’t the most logical plan. They are well into the years of drought and the country is in survival mode. What possible help could a widow woman offer a hungry prophet?

Again, Elijah had a choice. He could stay by the brook and hope that the ravens would eventually come back, or he could get up and do what God said.

So he arose and went to Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10).

Just as God said, Elijah meets a widow, and he introduces himself by asking for a little snack. Apparently, God has led him not to a widow who has some means of her own, a bit of inherited wealth stored up that she could share with a man in need. No, God has sent him to someone who is worse off than he is. She has a son, and they have just enough flour and oil to make a cake of bread for themselves – the last of their food, after which they expect to die.

But, Elijah knows she is the one to whom he has been sent, so he encourages her to take a step of faith. He asks her to give up the last of her flour and oil on his behalf, trusting that according to the word of the Lord that he brings, it will last all of them until the drought is over.

So she went and did according to the word of Elijah (1 Kings 17:15).

In all three cases, God proposed an unlikely solution.

In all three cases, God required a step of obedient faith.

In all three cases, God proved trustworthy to His promise to provide.

Those who take God at His word and obey in faith, fully trusting in His wisdom and abandoning their own logical understanding when God’s commands call for it, will see the faithfulness of God.

What would you do?

In every circumstance, let it be said of us, “So, [she] did according to the word of the Lord.”