Preacher: Bob Bryant | Series: Good Father

1 Kings 17:8 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath. 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, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 “For thus says the Lord God of Israel; ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”

15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

QUESTIONS FOR LIFE

Please read this passage: Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath. I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. (1 Kings 17:8-13)

 2.How do you think you would feel if you were that widow and Elijah said this to you?

3. What do you think the handful of flour and the little oil in a jar represent in your life?

4. Please read this passage: “For thus says the Lord God of Israel; ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:14-16)

5. How do you think you would feel now if you were that widow?

6. In what way might this mother represent:

Your mother?

Your wife?

What you want to experience as a mother or grandmother?

7. What do the words to this song mean to you?

When all you have is oil in a jar

That’s a reflection of where you are

That’s when He steps in

Let Him take it and bless it and break it and give it

He’ll multiply it in the moment you live it

And in the moment you call When you’ve given your all,

He steps in, He steps in

And He’ll say,

What’s that you have in your hand

I can use it, if you’re willing to lose it

Take the little you have and make it grand

I am El-Shaddai and I’ll more that supply your need

8. What does today’s story mean to you as you think about God being your good Father?