We are continuing our look at how God has used what already existed and either transformed it or turned it into abundance. Yesterday we looked at a story of Elisha, but before Elisha was Elijah. In 1 Kings 17 Elijah calls for a drought on the land and God sends him to a ravine where ravens bring him food and there is a brook to drink from. When some time had past the brook dried up and God sent Elijah to this widow.
1 Kings 17:7-16 “Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and 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.’”
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
I like how God said, “I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” Though it didn’t look like she had received the message, nor did it seem like she had the supplies. But nobody panic. Elijah asks for water and a little bit of bread. This woman’s response is crazy, she’s on her last bit of supplies and say, “I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Talk about coming to terms with your circumstances.
Here it is again where the little someone had turned into abundance. “For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
This reality makes me think about potential. What something starts out as is not all that it is created to be. Sometimes things don’t look very impressive, but looks don’t matter in the kingdom of heaven, faith does. What God says is more true than what things can look like.
It looked bad for this widow and her son. But God sent Elijah to this woman and in an instant death turned to life.
Don’t underestimate your value and importance. In the story of Elisha and the olive oil, there was as much oil as there were vessels. Meaning there was no shortage of oil, the oil only stopped when there was no more room to hold it. Elisha told the woman get jars, but don’t get just a few.
What if the vessels represented what we think is possible or what we think we are capable of. And the oil is the power, energy, creativity, action and influence that we possess in the Holy Spirit. What is the only limiting factor? Our belief in what is possible.
What would you do if you had no limitations? Money wasn’t an issue, there is was no shortage in energy, creativity, time, or the success you could have. What would you do? If you have some ideas, I would like to suggest those are the things you should be getting into. Don’t gather just a few jars. Don’t live with limitations in God. There is no end to the power, energy, resources, creativity we have access to in God. We are sourced from the one who created all things and when God created you in your uniqueness it was to display his goodness and glory. Don’t sit around and wait for someone else to solve the problem you are created to be the solution for.
Go therefore and fill you some jars!!