During the prophet Elijah's time God closed up the heavens for many months because of Israel's disobedience. The time came when Elijah could no longer be sustained in Israel, so God sent him to a widow to the north of Israel.

When Elijah saw the widow for the first time, he called out to her: "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink" (1 Kings 17:10). He was also hungry, so he expanded his request: "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand" (verse 11).

The lack of rain had also affected the area where the widow lived, reflected in her answer to Elijah: "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" (verse 12).

Her pantry was so depleted that she apparently thought she would be preparing a final meal for herself and her son.

The Bible doesn't tell us that specifically, but her physical condition (lack of food) must have been visible to Elijah. How would we expect a servant of God to react in that situation? Shouldn't he do something for the widow, taking care of her first? That's would many would expect a man of God to do.

But Elijah insisted that the widow first feed him from the little she had remaining, and afterwards she could feed herself and her son: "Make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son" (verse 13).

What was the outcome supposed to be? "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" (verse 14).

And that is exactly what happened.

It pays to put God first – even if we only have a little.

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!