Your Hope Will Not Be Cut Off

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

1 Kings 17:7-16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

7 It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’” 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.


Ever wondered why God asks what is in you? or what is with you?

Because we always try to find what is not with us and what is there with others. Envying others and strive to get the other's attention. But God says different. Even at a situation where the women was about to die after eating the bread, (She and her son). God sends word to Elijah to go and ask for the bread from that woman.

In Proverbs chapter 23. The author - Solomon says that we should not envy what is happening with others(especially the wicked), because God has every purpose and aim in his works.

Proverbs 23:17-18New International Version (NIV)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

What is important is that we need to understand from his point of view. Forgiveness is given for not the one who does everything right to you, but the one who wrongs. The goodness of life can be able to realized only when there is badness around us. If everything is good, then you will not be able to differentiate between the good and bad, we have lost that opportunity when the First Adam had sinned in the Garden of Eden.

v. 13 - Obedience is seen as an important aspect for miracles. If God says to do something, we should not think like a analyst, who analyses what happens if the word does not come true? because it is said by God (his promises) we can rely and trust in it completely. Justice delayed is not Justice denied.

Matthew 5:23-24 New International Version (NIV)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 

Important aspects we can see through the God's view on how we should react to the wrong judgment or bad or difficulty happening to our life when we do good.

Our hope on God's Judgment is never ceased. In this life if we were mis-judged and humiliated or persecuted. God has a better home - his heaven for us to welcome and make all those unjust remarks as a valuable one. We could see the parable of the rich man and Lazarus(Luke 16:19-31) for this.