Advent Ten - Vulnerability

Ravens by Rukmini Reddy Fine Art MA
Credit: Brighton.ac.uk

Elijah Fed by Ravens

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 1Kings 17:2-14

Most people across the globe, and across time understand that life is a fragile thing.  "A candle in the wind" says Elton John.  

I recall being very impressed when a youth paster at St Swithin's Church, Bath, ran through the whole of the bible pointing at the many occasions when the line of David was almost extinguished.  Indeed, as soon as Jesus was born, an edict went out to kill all baby boys.  His parents had to flee to Egypt.  But close calls are only that when people do survive and live.  We celebrate the coming of a fragile point of light that will grow into a all consuming fire.  

PRAYER:  I will live my life like Elijah, and the widow of Zarphath.  I know that you provide for me.