Faithful In Times of Adversity. Part [8] 09/14/2025 (Evening thought)

1st Kings 18: 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

What would we do if placed in a similar situation? Would we seek for a way to escape our obligations, or would we bite the proverbial bullet and trust the promises of God? Believe it or not, these are some of the stark choices that may come your way, but let us remember that faith that is not tested, cannot be trusted, especially in times of adversity.

[Prophets and Kings pp 124] A year passes, and yet there is no rain. The earth is parched as if with fire. The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived. Streams dry up, and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress. Once-flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands, a desolate waste.

The air is dry and suffocating; dust storms blind the eyes and nearly stop the breath. Once-prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning. Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality. Famine, with all its horror, comes closer and still closer.

1st Kings 18: 6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Faithful In Times of Adversity. Part [7] 09/13/2025 (Morning thought)

1st Kings 18:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

The question comes home forcibly to us: Does the Lord expect folks to still be faithful in tithes and offerings when they are on their last leg of existence or does He give us a pass, until better can be done? In other words, let’s say the widow woman had to choose between feeding her son, and returning her tithe and offerings, what do you think God would expect her to do in such a life and death situation?

As we study the narrative, let us put ourselves in her shoes, and let us observe the principles of putting God, and the interests of His kingdom, first, for this is what faithfulness, in times of extreme adversity, demonstrates…… 1st Kings 17: 8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

At this time water was so scarce that even Ahab the king had to lay aside his kingly robes, and go looking for water, just like everybody else. It was humble pie in the extreme, because the people and beasts were dying, left right, and center. Thus, it is a very grim request Elijah is making, and the widow will have to make some difficult choices in this first round of testing. Would she put God first in the person of Elijah, or would she seek to provide for her son and herself first?

1st Kings 18:12 And she said, As the Lord thy God lives, 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.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!