The choice to obey.

Did she have to obey the man’s instructions?

“Crack!” The widow jumped at the sound, startled. “Who else could be here, gathering sticks as well?” As she turned, she saw a man standing there. It was Elijah. He had been sent to Zarephath to get food from a widow.

“Yep, she definitely looks like a widow. Let me ask her for some water,” Elijah thought to himself.

“Would you bring me some water in a jar so I can have a drink? It’s been ages since I had a drink of water,” he asked her. The widow obliged and began to walk away in search of a jar of water. As she went, he added, “and a piece of bread to go with it.”

Her heart sank. She didn’t have any bread for him. She only had a handful of flour and a few drops of oil to make one more piece of bread for herself and her son – the last meal they would have together. That was her plan.

“I only have a little flour and oil to make a meal for myself and my son,” she said. “Our last meal before we die.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” (1 Kings 17:13-14 NIV)

The widow looked at Elijah in wonder, asking herself if she had just heard right. The jar of flour not used up? The jug of oil not run dry? How was that even possible? The land was in the middle of a terrible drought!

“Why should I believe this man? Why is he, anyway?”

“On the other hand, what he says sounds like it will come true…”

She did it. The widow walked home, made the bread, and gave it to him as she cried out deep within her heart, wondering how she would tell her son that there was nothing more to eat.  

And guess what –

There was food every day after that for the three of them – the widow, her son, and Elijah. The flour didn’t run out, and the oil didn’t dry up. Until the day it rained.

Just because she obeyed a simple instruction.

Imagine what would have happened if she had ignored Elijah, or if she had refused to bake the bread?

How easy it is to ignore the instructions that God gives us. Some of them are simple – others hard. Some are straightforward, while others need careful planning and praying. The truth is, however, that we don’t enjoy obedience. It’s too much work. Obedience doesn’t come naturally. We want to run our lives on our terms.

Back to the widow. Imagine if she had walked off in a huff and decided that Elijah was some joker who was out to make fun of her current state. Where would she be now? We would probably not have read about her in the Bible, because she would have cooked the last piece of bread, eaten it with her son, and died. Because of her obedience, however, she lived, and so did her son and the prophet Elijah. In her, we have a perfect example of obedience.

What is God telling you to do today? Is it hard? Is it so weird that you dare not share with anyone? Why has it taken you so long to obey? Why don’t you want to obey Him?

Obedience is hard. Some of the things we are told to do by God are strange and do not make sense, things that other people would not understand. We, however, need to remember that His instructions are given out of love and wisdom. He does not bark out orders like a drill sergeant. He does not lay down the law like a headteacher. God instructs us lovingly and wisely, knowing that obeying what He asks us to do is to our advantage.

Always remember that God loves you during a period when He needs you to step out and obey Him. Always remember that though what He tells you to do does not make sense to you, it makes perfect sense to Him. Always remember that whenever you have to do something that He wants you to do that He is right there beside you. Lastly, remember that when you obey, you will have peace and joy knowing that you obeyed Your Father, someone who loves you unconditionally.

Are you struggling to obey the Lord today? You’re not alone. Let’s put aside our fears and trust in the Lord’s wisdom as He leads and directs us.

Amen.