In what ways can we trust God during times of scarcity? \Setting the Scene: Trust at the City Gate\ Elijah arrives in Zarephath during a devastating drought. He meets a widow gathering sticks, calls for water, then adds one more request: “ And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, ‘Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.’ ” (1 Kings 17:11) Everything about the moment screams scarcity—her pantry holds only “a handful of flour and a little oil” (v. 12). Yet God is quietly orchestrating provision for both prophet and widow. \Observation: Scarcity Meets Divine Instruction\ • God’s command to Elijah (v. 9) precedes the widow’s need. • The request for bread forces the widow to decide: cling to dwindling supplies or trust God’s word spoken through Elijah. • Scarcity becomes the setting where God showcases His sufficiency. \Ways We Can Trust God During Times of Scarcity\ • Remember His prior word – Elijah moved because “the word of the LORD” directed him (v. 8). – Our confidence rests on what God has already spoken in Scripture. • Obey the next small step – The widow’s first act is simple: fetch water. Faith often begins with the doable, paving the way for the miraculous. • Give before you have “enough” – She bakes Elijah’s bread first (v. 13). God often asks for surrender in shortage to free us from fear of loss. • Expect daily, not stockpiled, supply – “The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry” (v. 16). Provision arrived meal-by-meal, teaching ongoing dependence. • View resources as God’s, not yours – Her last bit of flour becomes kingdom currency. Recognizing ownership shifts anxiety to trust. \Scripture Connections\ • Matthew 6:31-33—“Seek first the kingdom…all these things will be added to you.” • Philippians 4:19—“My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” • Psalm 37:25—“I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” • Malachi 3:10—“Test Me in this…see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing.” • 2 Corinthians 9:8—“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that…you will abound in every good work.” \Faith Steps Learned from the Widow\ 1. Acknowledge reality—she honestly states, “I have no bread.” 2. Listen for God’s directive—even in despair, she hears Elijah out. 3. Act promptly—delay tempts doubt to grow. 4. Share sacrificially—generosity becomes the conduit of blessing. 5. Witness God’s faithfulness—her household “ate for many days” (v. 15). \Promises to Stand On Today\ • God sees the sparrows; He surely sees you (Luke 12:6-7). • He multiplies what is placed in His hands (John 6:11-13). • His grace is sufficient; His power is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). • “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10). Scarcity may tighten the cupboard, but it also opens the door for God’s unmistakable provision, one obedient step at a time. |
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