ELIJAH: ZAREPHATH

When the Wadi dried up, God directed Elijah to move to Zarephath, a hundred miles northwest of his current location.

Remember, Elijah was enemy-number-one in Israel. His picture was on the wall at the post office: “Most Wanted – Dead or Alive!” He had “caused” the draught and he was hated in Israel!

To get to his new destination, Elijah would have to traverse Ahab’s realm, subjecting himself to possible arrest or assassination. It must have seemed like a suicide mission.

Even so, Elijah didn’t argue with God. “It’s too dangerous! Zarephath is in a foreign country inhabited by Gentiles. Isn’t there somewhere better and safer?” The Bible simply reports that God said “go” and “Elijah got up and went” (1 Kings 17:10).

Zarephath was beyond the borders of Israel, but like Israel, it was also reeling from the devastating effects of the draught. Why Zarephath? God had a plan. “I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there” (1 Kings 17:9).

When Elijah arrived, he found the poor widow outside the city walls. She was scavenging for a few sticks to build a small fire in her oven. She planned to use the last of her flour and oil to bake a biscuit. She and her son would eat their last supper, then sit down to die of starvation.

How could this impoverished woman provide to Elijah? She couldn’t, but God could.

God chose to save her and her son. And God chose her to be used as His instrument of salvation and protection for His prophet. He chose her to see His majesty and might! God chose a widow with nothing to offer.

She could have refused. She didn’t. Elijah could have said, “no, I’m not going to Zarephath.” He didn’t.

When God says, “go” … will we go?

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).