For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’”
A starving widow in Zarephath has flour for one last meal, and a stranger asks for it first. He backs that request with a promise from the God of Israel, and everything turns on whether she trusts that word more than her empty jar.
The Word behind the promise
Elijah does not argue about how much flour is left. He points her to something outside the jar.
C. H. MackintoshHe did not deny that the jar and the jug were almost empty, as the woman had said. That could have given her no comfort, since she knew the facts of her case too well. But he brought the living God and His faithful Word before her aching heart. That is why he could say, "Fear not." He wanted to lead her soul to the true resting place where he himself had found rest. That place is the Word of the living God — blessed, unfailing, a divine resting place for every anxious soul!
The same prophet who had just carried God's word to King Ahab now speaks to a starving woman.
W. W. FeredayHe who pledged the LORD for judgement with Ahab now pledged Him for blessing with the widow. Her weak faith answered at once: "she went and did as Elijah said." She made a cake for him first. Then she found, to her delight, that there was enough flour in the jar to make another cake for herself and her son.
Why the prophet asked to be served first
The order he asks for — his cake before hers — is not rudeness. It puts a claim on the little she has.
C. H. MackintoshElijah was putting God's claim on the widow's resources. And as we know, a true and ready response to that claim brings a rich harvest of blessing to the soul. But all this made a demand on the widow's faith. She was called to play a hard and testing part, in the strength of faith in a divine promise.
Enough, but never a surplus
Notice what God does not promise. He does not offer a full storehouse, only flour that will not run out.
Hamilton SmithThe life given by grace is a dependent life. It was not a jar of flour or a jug of oil that God promised. The supplies of grace are indeed unlimited, but grace gives no stock in hand such as nature loves to have. The promise was that the handful of flour would never run out, and the oil in the jug would never grow less. There would be enough for each day, but no store for tomorrow. Grace teaches us to live in dependence on the Giver of the grace.
"Until the day"
The promise carries a time limit, and that limit is itself good news — the drought has an end date fixed by God.
W. W. FeredayNote the words, "until the day." They come from the very heart of a faithful God, who would give deliverance and blessing at His own time. The fields would not always be scorched, nor the trees fruitless, nor the streams dry. The LORD graciously meant to reverse these disastrous conditions... The crowds around them might be full of unbelief. Even so, the little group in the cottage would treasure the words of God and wait in faith for Him to act in goodness by His almighty power.
Grace crossing the border
Her town lies outside Israel's borders. Commentators note that Scripture describes this errand from two directions.
H. L. RossierWhen the brook had dried up, Elijah was sent to Zarephath to be sustained there by a widow woman (v. 9). In Luke 4:25-26 he is sent to the widow to sustain her. Both of these are true, and our account proves it. God had a double purpose: to sustain His servant and to bring a message of grace to the widow through him. The Lord, speaking in the synagogue, compares this message to the good news spread among the nations beyond the borders of Israel. The one who preaches finds his own sustenance in bringing the good news of grace to others.
One verse was enough for her
She acted on a single sentence from God. That should press on anyone who owns a whole Bible.
W. W. FeredayOne verse from God was enough at Zarephath. Without hesitation the hungry woman acted on it. She proved God's word true; and it is always true. We must pause here and take account of ourselves. We have what the widow did not have — the whole Word of God... The widow of Zarephath gave her all on the strength of one verse from God.
Summary
- Word first. Elijah never disputes the empty jar. He sets the faithful Word of the living God in front of her, and then says, "Fear not."
- Claim first. The cake made for the prophet first is God's claim on her resources, and a real demand on her faith.
- Daily, not stored. God promises flour that never runs out, not a full pantry. Grace supplies each day and keeps her leaning on the Giver.
- Dated, not endless. "Until the day" the rain comes sets a limit on the famine and gives the household a hope to wait for.
- Outward, not confined. One errand feeds the prophet and carries grace beyond Israel's borders. The messenger is fed while he brings good news to others.