The Widow of Zarephath
Speaker: John J Roberts
Date: August 20, 2023
Series: Characters with Character
Text: I Kings 17:8-16
Introduction
“God’s invitation to us to give the first part, and the best part of who we are, and what we have, is also an invitation to experience the fullness of His goodness and generosity.”
I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
What do you do when God’s instructions don’t make sense… or seem crazy?
The economy of God’s Kingdom runs nearly 180 degrees from the way the world works.
The “instructions” he gives to the widow COULD seem cruel. Let’s unpack that for a moment.
God’s heart is to teach us to TRUST and to give us his BEST.
She gives up a morsel to get an ongoing meal?
Joshua 3:12-17
God actually gives us permission to test him… Malachi 3:10
We have to be willing to let go of the morsel so we can have an ongoing meal.
Jesus invites us into the same opportunity in Matthew 6:25-34
What are the morsels we’re hanging on to that keep us from experiencing the best life available?
Galatians 6:19-23
It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
-CS Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Questions for Reflection:
- What is God asking you to surrender? Where is the Spirit nudging you to let go?
- What is keeping you from doing it?
- How can you let it go this week and trust God… test God… to see his goodness come to you in unexpected ways.
