A Story about Trust

She looked again just to make sure.  It was the same as before.  There was just enough, just enough for one last small loaf of bread.  The rainy season was gone, and now there was nothing but hot sun, blistering winds stripped the landscape and filtered into every crevice and corner of her humble shack. 

And the measure of oil – well, was meager.  Maybe enough for one more loaf to go with her flower.  He son came in just then, and he headed straight for the fireplace, hoping against hope that there might be something to eat.  Disappointed again.

The mother watched her son, sighed deeply and finally gathered her small sack and headed out to the village. 

As she walked along her eyes were on the ground, for she was in search of a few sticks to use to make one last fire.  And after that, what?  The end.  It would be over soon for her and her son.

They would starve.

As she walked along a strange man called out to her.  She did not recognize him, and her nature was to be wary of strangers, yet somehow she felt no fear, only intrigue.  She moved closer and he repeated his request.

“Would you please bring me a bit of water in a jar, for I am parched?”  She turned to leave.  Surely she could do this, for he did indeed seem more desperate than she. 

As she turned to go, he continued speaking, “and could you bring me a piece of bread, please?”

She was astounded.  How dare he ask for bread, today of all days?  Didn't he know these were desperate times?  Didn't he know the crops were failing with this drought?  Didn't he know everybody in town was scrounging for any scrape of food they could find?  Why, the very nerve of him.  Who did he think he was?

That is what she thought, but she responded with, “Sir, I’m sorry.  I’m just now looking for a few sticks to make a fire.  You see, I only have a handful of flour and barely a thimbleful of oil.  Just today I am going home to make a loaf of bread for my son and me and then we shall die.”

He spoke again.  “Please go home and make me one small portion of bread, and then go and make one for you and your son.”  He continued.  “Have no fear. The God whom I serve says this, ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not go dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.” 

She was astonished.  She wasn't sure she had heard correctly.  But she obeyed. 

She went home and made the loaf just as this stranger had said.  All the while thinking to herself, “What are we gonna do?  What are we gonna do?”

The bread finished baking and she took it to the strange man. 

All the way back home the hunger pains increased.  The smell of that loaf was driving her crazy with hunger.  And now she faced her son, no oil, no flour and no hope. 

She started laughing.  What was it he had said?  “‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not go dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.” 

“Oh, that’s a good one” she said out loud.  And continued chuckling to herself.

She rounded the last bend in the road and headed up hill to her home and her son. 

As she entered, she swatted at a few flies, and had to nudge a small lizard that had scampered in through the window. 

Just out of curiosity she removed the lid from the oil jar.  Just an hour ago she had turned it up and poured every drop it held into the mixing bowl. 

She could not believe her eyes.  There in the bottom was what appeared to be as much oil as she had before.  But how?

She reached for the flour.  It didn’t feel empty as it had before.  It felt heavy.  She looked inside.  Her eyes were playing tricks on her.  There was flour in the bottom.  What is going on?

She again replayed that old man’s words in the village. 

‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not go dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.” 

And for as long as the drought continued, every day she looked, there was oil in the jar and flour in the cupboards.

The faithfulness of God is again on display.

The word is trust. 

This story is based on a Biblical account in 
I Kings 17:8-16.  It is a word of hope and encouragement at God’s ability to meet our needs. 

It is an anchor on which to place your trust.

P Michael Biggs

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