Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
Elijah, one of the greatest of the prophets, has some of the best and most exciting stories in the Old Testament. He's an Israelite, and his career is marked by a conflict with Israel's wicked and semi-pagan King Ahab. He's introduced here with words of judgement on the land: a drought and a famine (verse 1). He himself is fed 'bread and meat' by ravens (verse 6); perhaps we're to understand 'carrion', the ravens' normal food. His request for bread from the widow of Zarephath, who with her son is at the point of starvation, provides an object lesson in faith: do the right thing even when it seems absurd, it says, and God will bless you.
We should be careful how we read this story, though. Miracles tell us what God can do; they don't guarantee what he will do. Sometimes we act in faith and do what we believe is right, and in the eyes of the world we don't gain a thing: the flour and oil do run out. That's when we need to hear other Bible stories, too: like that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3, for instance. Told by the king to worship his god or be thrown into a furnace, they answer that God is able to rescue them; but 'even if he doesn't', they won't bow down to his statue.
Perhaps that's the point about faith: there are no guarantees, otherwise it wouldn't be faith. As Job says, 'Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him' (13.15, NIV).
God, help me to be willing to give and not to count the cost, and to be faithful to you even when you are my only hope.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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