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has an aftertaste of the wilderness meal plan (Ryken, 438). God provides “daily bread”
(cf., Matt 6:11) and actually provides it more abundantly than in the wilderness, for
Elijah eats both bread and meat twice a day (cf., Ex 16:8, 12-13).
All of this should encourage us. God controls the natural order. Jesus reminds us
to “look at the birds of the air” (Matt 6:26a) and consider how God provides for them. He
asks, “Are you not of more value than they?” (26b). He teaches us not to worry about
“what we will eat or what we will drink” (25). You can trust in God to provide for your
daily needs. He may not supply you with the finest of meats everyday, and he may not
provide in such a miraculous way, but God provides. No doubt the false prophets of
Jezebel ate better than Elijah, but God still provided for him. That too is a good lesson.
Even the prophet is suffering from this famine; he is not immune to suffering. But he has
the presence of God and the provision of God, and that is enough. We who receive
such daily bread should be grateful and content people. Paul reminds us: “But if we
have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim 6:8). Spurgeon reminds us
to be grateful for such provision:
Remember, too, the prayer which I quoted just now—“Give us this day our daily
bread.” Not, “our weekly bread,” not, “our monthly bread,” not “our annual stores”—
but, “give us our daily bread.” God is pleased to give some of His servants in the
bulk, but there are many others who only “live from hand to mouth”—and perhaps
though not best for the flesh, it is best for faith, for we are apt, when mercies come
regularly, to forget from whence they flow! (“God’s Care of Elijah”)
Let us praise God from whom are daily bread flows!
God provides through an unknown Gentile widow in Baal’s territory (7-16).
When the brook dries up (7), God’s provision for Elijah gets more dramatic. He now
goes to a little Phoenician town of Zarephath, which is Baal’s territory (Jezabel’s
stomping grounds). Here, God promises to use an unnamed widow to provide for Elijah
(8-9). Not only can Baal not stop the draught, but Yahweh’s provision extends right into
his home turf. God has “prepared a table for Elijah in the presence of his enemies.”
Elijah goes to “dwell there” (9) and experience God’s power and grace.
It seems that each experience prepared Elijah for the next challenge. Like David,
who killed a lion with his bear hands, and then boldly faced Goliath. Like Jesus, who
endured the wilderness test, and then faced a more difficult challenge in the garden.
Every trial and test prepares us for what is next.