The Woman God Chose

I Kings 17:9 "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."

--> We see the woman God chose. Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." We would look at this widow woman and wonder why God would choose her. But God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. God had His eye on this woman. He arranged for Elijah to go by her house. She had a burden on her heart. God knows when we are burdened down.

She had a boy on her hands. She didn't know what to do with him. Her burden was for her son. She didn't have enough to sustain him.

She had barrenness in her home. She didn't have the food to feed him. She had just a little oil and a little meal.

She had a blemish in her history. (verse 18) "And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?" In her past she had sin she was ashamed of. The devil will bring our sins up to us to remember. God never brings up our sins to us. God remembers them no more.

--> We also see the work God commanded. God asked her of her poverty. He asked her for food and drink. We may have limited resources and God may ask something of us. We need to just do what He wants us to do. Obedience is better than sacrifice. I Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

We need to get our priorities right as well. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." God will make sure we have the necessities of life if we'll put Him first. God will honor us if we honor Him. I Samuel 2:30 "...Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

--> We also see the wonder God completed. There is simplicity in what she did. She obeyed completely as she was told. Partial obedience is to God the same as total disobedience.

Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." If you go to church on some days when your church is holding services...you are being only partially obedient. The Scripture says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It doesn't say not to forsake except when company is at your house (bring them with you). It doesn't say not to forsake except when you have a headache (come anyway...I'm sure your pastor has a headache a lot of the time....yet he's there)...etc. The Scripture says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together...period!!

The woman obeyed God and they ate "many days" . If we will obey...God will supply whatever we need.