Even a visitor from another world would soon realise that a huge proportion of the human race are gripped by poverty especially in the Third World. Food banks in Britain are springing up all over to help the less well off. The British Government continues to make cut-backs which are affecting the lives of everyone. It can come as no surprise then if we find many people with an attitude that focuses on lack and scarcity. 1 Kings 17: 7-16 describes such a situation. There had been no rain in the land and the brook from which Elijah had been drinking dried up. God directed him to go to Zaraphath where he would meet a widow. However, when Elijah met her, she was about to make her last meal as she had no food left owing to the famine.
Now, this is where the God bit comes in. Elijah makes a big ask of her as he requests that she makes him a meal before she has any for herself and her son. I wonder if you have found God asking you to do something that does not really make sense? Elijah makes her an unbelievable promise. If she will do as he asked, the jar of flower and the jug of oil will not run dry until the Lord sends rain.
Would you have had the faith to do that? It certainly would not have been easy for her to take that step of faith. But take a step of faith she did and as they say, the rest of the story is history. God provided for her just as Elijah had promised.
It is a very exciting time at the Old Meeting just now as it requires the same sort of faith as found in the story of the widow of Zaraphath to see God show up and meet the many needs facing the continuing ministry of this historic congregational church. At the Old Meeting, we want to be faithful to God and see Him perform a miracle here in the most forgotten church in Norwich.
John Clements
