URC Daily Devotion 3rd September 2026
1 Kings 17:8-14
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’”
Reflection
In the verses preceding this story there is a drought, and God tells Elijah where he should find water and that he will be fed by ravens. Here, though, Elijah is instructed to go to Zarephath, where a widow has been told to look after him. The widow, who remains nameless, is tested by Elijah as to the quality of her hospitality: Asked to provide a little food, she replies that she has virtually nothing even for herself and is about to prepare a final meal for herself and her son before they lay down and die. Her response must have made Elijah think that the ravens were a better deal!
Elijah reminds the woman that God is a God of hope, and that if she trusts in God, she will have enough for her and her son – and to feed a guest. This story goes way beyond generosity and demonstrates how our lives are intertwined. God instructs the widow; God gives direction to Elijah – and together they provide for each other.
But what about now? During 2025, some areas of the UK experienced hosepipe bans – not quite drought, but it came pretty close. The cost of living continued to increase, while shrinkflation has meant we pay more to purchase less. More people are experiencing food poverty, while donations to Foodbanks have declined.
Yet, Elijah’s God is still present in our world today – the same generous God who promises to look after us. And the spirit which goes beyond generosity is still evident where we see our lives as being linked and together, drawing in and drawing on those often relegated to the margins of society.
Today’s story also offers encouragement to keep faith – even when things may look bleak. Just as the widow discovered, God may have other ideas about what should happen next… So, if ‘your plan’ isn’t working out, why not try God’s plan instead?
Prayer
Generous God,
giver of life,
we give you thanks and praise.
May we be ready to listen to your voice –
and help us to respond as best we can,
especially when hope seems far away.
Help us to play our part in showing your love to others,
through words and deeds.
Amen