1KI 17:19 "...behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."

To see the blessed significance of our text, we must first consider the character of the prophet Elijah to whom the Lord spoke these words. JAM 5:17 says he was, "a man subject to like passions as we are." He was a man with a meek heart, but an unwavering character.

By God's commission he withstood King Ahab with all the armies of Israel and slew 400 prophets of Baal. The very next day this same Elijah fled from the voice of a woman for fear of his own life, 1KI 18:19-19:5.

To the wicked King Ahab Elijah was, "...he that troubleth Israel," 1KI 18:17. To the Godly widow of Zarephath he was a friendly benefactor, or an angel of peace bringing the blessings of the Almighty! Meekness of heart and an unwavering character must go hand in hand to lead an upright life according to the will of God.

Self-sacrificial love demonstrates the true character of Christ. Scripture repeatedly teaches that giving comes before receiving. We must put our all on the altar, before we are to expect to receive anything from the Lord.

When Elijah asked the widow for a little water and a morsel of bread she answered, "As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

Think of the trial of her faith when, "Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son." This poor widow must first bring Elijah a cake made from her last grain of meal, but God always supports faith with a promise upon obedience!

Elijah said, "For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth."

Self-sacrificial love is always required before receiving a blessing from the Lord. When the Lord is ready to give, He first demands, but He demands so little by comparison of that which He gives. JOHN 4 teaches that Jesus said unto the Samaritan woman, "Give me to drink," before He gave her the living water of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus began preaching the gospel by demanding repentance before receiving the remission of sins! MAT 4:17 says, "Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach the gospel saying, "That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name," LUK 24:47. This certainly teaches that there will be no remission of sins without a true Godly sorrow for and a turning from sin.

It was after Abraham put his Isaac on the altar that the Lord said, "...now I know that thou fearest God." This tremendous trial of faith proved that Abraham's will was dissolved in the will of God. It was by putting his all on the altar through the obedience of faith that Abraham received the blessing.

"In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven...And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice," GEN 22:17-18. Amen.