By Reverend J. Loren Russell
1 Kings 17:13–16 (NLT)
“But Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!’ So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her household continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.”
Proverbs 25:21–22 (NKJV)
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
In a world increasingly shaped by scarcity, competition, and self-preservation, scripture offers a countercultural promise that still challenges and comforts believers today: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink… and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21–22).
This promise is not theoretical. It is vividly embodied in the Old Testament account of the widow of Zarephath found in 1 Kings 17:13–16—a story that reveals how faith-filled generosity invites divine provision, even in the most desperate circumstances.
The setting of 1 Kings 17 is bleak. A devastating famine grips the land, revealed by a prophetic word spoken by Elijah during the reign of King Ahab. Food supplies are exhausted, hope is thin, and survival is uncertain.
God sends Elijah—not to a wealthy benefactor, but to a widow in Zarephath. In biblical times, widows were among the most vulnerable members of society. This woman had reached the end of her resources. She tells Elijah that she has only enough flour and oil to prepare one final meal for herself and her son before they expect to die.
It is here, at the intersection of desperation and divine purpose, that God issues an extraordinary test of faith. Elijah’s request seems unreasonable: “Make me a little bread first.” Then, it is followed by a word of reassurance—“Do not be afraid.”
The widow faces a stark choice: cling to her last portion or trust the word of the Lord spoken through His prophet. In an act of remarkable obedience, she gives first—placing faith above fear and generosity above survival instincts. Her obedience unlocks a miracle.
Scripture tells us that the flour did not run out and the oil did not fail. Day after day, God sustained that household until the rains returned. Notably, God did not provide abundance in advance. He provided enough—enough for today, enough for tomorrow, enough for as long as it was needed.
This pattern reflects how God often works in our lives. He supplies daily bread, inviting daily trust.
During the Advent season of celebration and anticipation, generosity often flows easily toward family and friends. But Scripture challenges us further. The scripture from Proverbs call us to extend compassion not only to those we love, but also to those who oppose us.
Feeding an enemy is not sentimental kindness—it is radical obedience. It is a refusal to let resentment have the final word. It is a declaration that our trust rests not in retaliation, but in God’s justice and provision.
The widow of Zarephath learned a lesson still true today: you cannot out-give God. The reward may not always come in material form, but it will come—in peace, provision, strength, and spiritual assurance.
God honors faith that acts, generosity that costs, and obedience that trusts Him beyond visible resources.
In a time marked by division, hostility, and uncertainty, believers are called to live differently; feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, extend grace where it is undeserved, and love where it is least expected.
When you trust God enough to give—especially when it is difficult—you will discover that the supply never runs dry, and the Lord will reward you.
Be Blessed!
Matters of Faith 
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