Serving Those Who Are In CrisisSýnishorn

“Serving the Humble With Humility”

What if God calls us to help someone who is homeless or a drug addict? We may believe that because of our position in life or extensive experience in ministering to others we should be helping important people or groups of people instead of a “lowly” individual. Elijah might have felt that way when God called him to rescue a widow and her son who were about to die from starvation. Elijah was a prophet who God sent to Israel’s king Ahab to tell him that Israel’s sins would be punished by drought and famine. The Lord also gave Elijah power to pray in the drought, and to pray down rain to lift the drought.

Despite Elijah’s prominence, God sent him to help two ordinary people – a widow and her son. Elijah’s intervention produced a never-empty bowl of flour and a constantly-flowing jar of oil that kept the widow and her son – and Elijah – from starvation.

There was one more humility factor. Elijah was an Israelite. God sent him to a woman in the land of the Gentiles, people who were considered by the Israelites to be unclean. Yet Elijah put aside his pride and served her and her son. And he was blessed. The widow provided a home for Elijah for many days, as he hid from Ahab. Thus, just as Elijah helped someone in crisis, he received help – shelter and food during a time of crisis in his life.