A Commanded Blessing

1 Kings 17:8-9

“Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."

Israel had been experiencing seven years of drought and famine. It must have been terrible. There was no international food supply like we have today. Elijah the prophet of God was caught in the midst of this famine that was brought on by Israel’s idolatry. Yet, God had supernatural provision for this man of God in the midst of the famine.

Notice in the above verse that Elijah’s provision came at “the word of the Lord.” Supernatural provision always comes through divine direction. To walk in God’s provision we need to have a relationship with God to hear his voice. In Matthew 17:27, when Jesus and Peter needed to pay their taxes, Jesus tells Peter to go catch a fish and the money for the tax was in the fish’s mouth. In Luke 5:5, the disciples have fished all night and have caught nothing. Jesus commands them to throw their nets on the other side. They object because they know that in the natural there is no provision there. But Peter said, “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net," and when they did they caught so much the they had to have help to pull it in. In both these stories God provides through their means of employment, as they were fisherman, but in a supernatural way.

The second key in the story of Elijah is that God tells him, “I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Notice command is in the past tense. God has already prepared the provision for Elijah even before he speaks to him. However, Elijah has to respond in obedience to God’s instructions, even if did not make much sense in the natural. In Psalms 133:3, God commands a blessing on those who walk in unity. Our provision comes by the authority of Almighty God. God commands provision for those who follow after Him.

We serve a creative God who has a multitude of ways to provide for us. We oftentimes miss God’s provision because we only expect provision in a certain way and, therefore, are not receptive to God’s ways. Elijah and the widow, the receiver and the giver, both participate in the miraculous provision of God. Just like the manna for Israel in the desert, they received a daily provision of oil and flour for the duration of the drought. I have learned through 35 years of ministry in missions that God’s provision comes many times from the least likely source and oftentimes right at the last minute in our point of need.

Today as you walk with God in obedience to Him, He has a commanded blessing for you. Don’t limit God to your ways, but expect God to provide in the most unexpected and creative ways that you may know it only comes from Him. Step out of your world of the natural and into God’s world where the supernatural is natural.

Andy Clark