Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
1 Kings 17:24
In 1 Kings 17:7-24, there is a drought and famine in the land. God tells Elijah to go stay with a widow in Sidon.
When we first meet this widow, she was about to have her last meal and die. But Elijah asks her to make some bread with the little flour and oil that she has. She hesitates at first, but Elijah tells her that God will not let the flour and oil run out. So she makes the bread for Elijah by faith.
Later on, her son gets sick and dies. But Elijah asks God to raise the son back to life and He does. On receiving back her son, she says that now she is certain that Elijah is a man of God and God speaks through Elijah.
Why does it take the death and resurrection of her son to really believe that Elijah is a man of God? Wasn’t the oil and flour never running out enough of a sign?
The human heart is fickle, our memories are short, and things that occur regularly become mundane. Even though the oil and flour never running out was a daily miracle, after a while, the widow got used to it.
Like the Israelites in the desert, God was a pillar of cloud and fire before them, but they still rebelled. God sent them mana every morning and the people still complained (Numbers 11:4-6).
We should always have a thankful and grateful heart to God for all the miracles He does for us everyday. No matter how small something might seem, we should not take it for granted.
God, of course, can always remind us that He is God through big things like what the widow experienced. But when we see how God works in our lives daily, we don’t need big reminders for us to know that God is God.
I’m not saying that if we are grateful for all the things that God does, then tragedy doesn’t happen. I’m not saying that when tragedy happens, it’s God showing us He’s God, though He might be. All I’m saying is to be appreciative of everything God does in your life, no matter how big or small. For He always wants us to know Him more. (Acts 17:24-28)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
