Faith in Action: Trusting Elijah’s Word

1
00:00:00,020 –> 00:00:04,840
Randy Black:
What do you do when trusting God actually costs you something?

2
00:00:05,660 –> 00:00:12,160
Randy Black:
In 1 Kings 17, verses 13 through 16, we step into a moment where faith isn’t

3
00:00:12,160 –> 00:00:15,140
Randy Black:
just something to believe, it’s something to act on.

4
00:00:15,300 –> 00:00:20,980
Randy Black:
A widow already down to her last meal is asked by Elijah to give first before

5
00:00:20,980 –> 00:00:23,280
Randy Black:
she knows how things will turn out.

6
00:00:23,680 –> 00:00:28,140
Randy Black:
It’s a request that doesn’t make sense on the surface, yet it becomes a defining

7
00:00:28,140 –> 00:00:31,780
Randy Black:
moment, not just of belief, but of obedience.

8
00:00:32,220 –> 00:00:38,440
Randy Black:
Because sometimes faith shows up in the choices we make when the outcome is still uncertain.

9
00:00:39,140 –> 00:00:43,860
Randy Black:
And in this passage of Scripture, we see that God meets that kind of faith not

10
00:00:43,860 –> 00:00:49,960
Randy Black:
always with immediate abundance, but with steady daily provision that doesn’t run out.

11
00:00:50,440 –> 00:00:55,760
Randy Black:
This is Faith in Action, trusting Elijah’s word today on Word.

12
00:01:18,959 –> 00:01:24,000
Randy Black:
Welcome to Bible Bytes, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one bite

13
00:01:24,000 –> 00:01:26,780
Randy Black:
at a time. I’m your host, Randy Black.

14
00:01:28,480 –> 00:01:34,220
Randy Black:
Today, we continue our three-part series on the widow at Zarephath, found in 1 Kings 17.

15
00:01:35,080 –> 00:01:38,780
Randy Black:
In this second episode, we’re focusing on verses 13 through 16,

16
00:01:39,340 –> 00:01:43,720
Randy Black:
right at the heart of the interaction between Elijah and the widow.

17
00:01:44,520 –> 00:01:47,000
Randy Black:
Last time, we looked at the setting, the drought, the scarcity,

18
00:01:47,000 –> 00:01:49,380
Randy Black:
the difficult situation that the widow was facing.

19
00:01:49,720 –> 00:01:54,520
Randy Black:
We saw how God brought Elijah to her in the middle of that need.

20
00:01:55,240 –> 00:01:59,480
Randy Black:
Now the focus shifts and everything comes down to a single decision.

21
00:02:00,620 –> 00:02:05,580
Randy Black:
Elijah delivers a message from the Lord that requires more than agreement. It calls for action.

22
00:02:05,900 –> 00:02:11,400
Randy Black:
The widow is asked to give from what she has, even though it seems like it’s not enough.

23
00:02:11,800 –> 00:02:17,900
Randy Black:
In that moment, her response becomes a powerful example of what it looks like

24
00:02:17,900 –> 00:02:20,800
Randy Black:
to live out faith in real, tangible ways.

25
00:02:21,240 –> 00:02:25,199
Randy Black:
As we walk through the scripture today, we’ll look closely at what her obedience

26
00:02:25,199 –> 00:02:31,419
Randy Black:
teaches us about trust, about provision, and about what it really means to act

27
00:02:31,419 –> 00:02:35,500
Randy Black:
on God’s word when the outcome isn’t fully visible yet.

28
00:02:37,010 –> 00:02:40,570
Randy Black:
As we prepare to get into the Scripture, let’s first open up with a word of prayer.

29
00:02:41,449 –> 00:02:46,370
Randy Black:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today thankful for your Word and for the

30
00:02:46,370 –> 00:02:48,490
Randy Black:
way it teaches us to trust you more deeply.

31
00:02:49,550 –> 00:02:53,169
Randy Black:
Lord, as we look at this passage of Scripture, we’re reminded that faith is

32
00:02:53,169 –> 00:02:56,730
Randy Black:
not only something we believe, but something we live out.

33
00:02:57,150 –> 00:02:59,130
Randy Black:
And at times, that can be difficult.

34
00:02:59,949 –> 00:03:05,610
Randy Black:
When you call us to act in ways that stretch us, especially when we don’t see

35
00:03:05,610 –> 00:03:06,990
Randy Black:
how things will work out.

36
00:03:07,810 –> 00:03:11,190
Randy Black:
Give us the courage to be able to trust you fully.

37
00:03:12,250 –> 00:03:16,190
Randy Black:
Help us to have hearts that are ready to respond in obedience even when it feels

38
00:03:16,190 –> 00:03:17,990
Randy Black:
uncomfortable or uncertain.

39
00:03:18,950 –> 00:03:24,570
Randy Black:
Teach us to rely on your promises rather than on our own circumstances and remind

40
00:03:24,570 –> 00:03:26,850
Randy Black:
us that you are faithful to provide

41
00:03:26,850 –> 00:03:32,370
Randy Black:
not always in the ways we expect but always in the ways that we need.

42
00:03:33,090 –> 00:03:34,810
Randy Black:
Guide our time today in your word.

43
00:03:35,590 –> 00:03:39,270
Randy Black:
Open our understanding through the Holy Spirit and shape our hearts so that

44
00:03:39,270 –> 00:03:46,930
Randy Black:
our faith would be active, not passive, trusting you, not just in thought, but in action.

45
00:03:47,570 –> 00:03:51,070
Randy Black:
We ask these things in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

46
00:03:53,660 –> 00:03:59,040
Randy Black:
As we come into verses 13 through 16, we’re stepping directly into the turning

47
00:03:59,040 –> 00:04:01,200
Randy Black:
point of this account in Scripture.

48
00:04:01,980 –> 00:04:05,240
Randy Black:
Up to this point, the widow had already explained her situation.

49
00:04:05,440 –> 00:04:09,720
Randy Black:
She has just enough flour and oil for one final meal.

50
00:04:10,060 –> 00:04:13,320
Randy Black:
From her perspective, this is the end of the road.

51
00:04:13,860 –> 00:04:17,760
Randy Black:
There’s no indication that anything is about to change.

52
00:04:18,580 –> 00:04:24,720
Randy Black:
Then Elijah responds in verse 13 with something that would have been incredibly difficult to hear.

53
00:04:25,560 –> 00:04:32,220
Randy Black:
Fear not. Go and do as thou hast said, but make me thereof a little cake first.

54
00:04:33,140 –> 00:04:35,100
Randy Black:
That word first matters.

55
00:04:36,500 –> 00:04:42,120
Randy Black:
Elijah isn’t dismissing her need. He’s asking her to trust God right in the middle of it.

56
00:04:42,420 –> 00:04:48,060
Randy Black:
He’s calling her to act, not after provision comes, but before it’s even visible.

57
00:04:48,980 –> 00:04:54,279
Randy Black:
In verse 14, the promise follows. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel,

58
00:04:54,480 –> 00:04:58,200
Randy Black:
the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise of oil fail.

59
00:04:59,360 –> 00:05:05,000
Randy Black:
Everything hinges on this. The instruction is tied directly to God’s word.

60
00:05:05,220 –> 00:05:08,420
Randy Black:
The question is whether she will trust it.

61
00:05:09,440 –> 00:05:13,779
Randy Black:
Now, the moment becomes personal. She has to decide.

62
00:05:14,160 –> 00:05:18,660
Randy Black:
Does she hold on to what she has? or does she release it in faith?

63
00:05:19,779 –> 00:05:21,580
Randy Black:
Verse 15 gives us the answer.

64
00:05:23,210 –> 00:05:30,690
Randy Black:
And it’s simple, but it’s significant. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah.

65
00:05:31,510 –> 00:05:36,730
Randy Black:
There’s no hesitation recorded, no argument, no delay. She simply acts.

66
00:05:37,589 –> 00:05:43,370
Randy Black:
This is what faith in action looks like. It’s not just agreeing that God can provide.

67
00:05:43,570 –> 00:05:49,230
Randy Black:
It’s choosing to move forward based on his word, even when the outcome isn’t clear.

68
00:05:50,130 –> 00:05:55,910
Randy Black:
Then we see the result in verse 16. and the barrel of meal wasted not,

69
00:05:56,149 –> 00:06:01,029
Randy Black:
neither did the crews of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord.

70
00:06:02,170 –> 00:06:06,110
Randy Black:
Just as God had said, the provision was there.

71
00:06:07,210 –> 00:06:14,130
Randy Black:
But notice how it comes. This portion of scripture doesn’t describe an overflowing supply all at once.

72
00:06:15,250 –> 00:06:21,190
Randy Black:
Instead, it’s steady. Day by day, what was needed was there.

73
00:06:22,090 –> 00:06:28,350
Randy Black:
The lack didn’t disappear overnight, but it was met consistently by God’s faithfulness.

74
00:06:29,210 –> 00:06:33,870
Randy Black:
That detail matters. God’s provision here isn’t about excess.

75
00:06:34,190 –> 00:06:35,770
Randy Black:
It’s about sufficiency.

76
00:06:36,650 –> 00:06:41,050
Randy Black:
It’s about learning to trust Him not just once, but continually.

77
00:06:41,870 –> 00:06:46,210
Randy Black:
In these verses of Scripture, we see a clear pattern, a call to act,

78
00:06:46,570 –> 00:06:50,030
Randy Black:
a promise to trust, and a provision that follows.

79
00:06:50,750 –> 00:06:56,410
Randy Black:
Right at the center is a choice, to believe God’s word enough to live by it.

80
00:06:57,950 –> 00:07:02,550
Randy Black:
One of the clearest truths in this passage of scripture is that faith often

81
00:07:02,550 –> 00:07:04,670
Randy Black:
requires action before the outcome is visible.

82
00:07:05,250 –> 00:07:12,530
Randy Black:
The widow wasn’t asked to wait until she saw provision. She was asked to act upon God’s word first.

83
00:07:13,110 –> 00:07:17,490
Randy Black:
That kind of faith goes beyond agreement. It’s a willingness to trust enough

84
00:07:17,490 –> 00:07:21,470
Randy Black:
to take a step, even when the result isn’t guaranteed from a human perspective.

85
00:07:23,390 –> 00:07:27,450
Randy Black:
There’s also an important distinction between believing and obeying.

86
00:07:27,950 –> 00:07:32,310
Randy Black:
The widow could have acknowledged what Elijah said and still chosen not to act.

87
00:07:33,110 –> 00:07:38,010
Randy Black:
Instead, she responded. Her faith showed up in what she did.

88
00:07:38,410 –> 00:07:43,070
Randy Black:
This reminds us that genuine trust in God will eventually be reflected in our

89
00:07:43,070 –> 00:07:47,070
Randy Black:
actions, especially when obedience feels costly.

90
00:07:48,270 –> 00:07:52,590
Randy Black:
Another key takeaway we see in the scripture is how God provides.

91
00:07:53,390 –> 00:07:57,130
Randy Black:
The provision doesn’t come all at once. There’s no sudden abundance that removes

92
00:07:57,130 –> 00:07:58,630
Randy Black:
the need for further trust.

93
00:07:59,390 –> 00:08:06,630
Randy Black:
Instead, it comes steadily, day by day. That pattern requires ongoing dependence.

94
00:08:07,310 –> 00:08:11,310
Randy Black:
It shows that God’s faithfulness is not just something we experience once,

95
00:08:11,550 –> 00:08:14,070
Randy Black:
but something we rely on continually.

96
00:08:14,950 –> 00:08:18,350
Randy Black:
We also see that God’s provision is directly connected to His Word.

97
00:08:18,770 –> 00:08:25,090
Randy Black:
What sustained the widow wasn’t just the act itself, but the promise that was behind it.

98
00:08:25,710 –> 00:08:30,090
Randy Black:
According to the word of the Lord, the meal and the oil did not fail.

99
00:08:30,590 –> 00:08:36,710
Randy Black:
Our confidence rests not in the action alone, but in the reliability of what God has said.

100
00:08:37,770 –> 00:08:42,290
Randy Black:
Finally, this passage of scripture highlights that what we hold on to most tightly

101
00:08:42,290 –> 00:08:46,650
Randy Black:
can sometimes be the very thing that God asks us to trust him with.

102
00:08:47,450 –> 00:08:54,830
Randy Black:
For the widow, it was her last portion of food. Letting go wasn’t just practical, it was deeply personal.

103
00:08:55,670 –> 00:09:00,270
Randy Black:
And yet it became the place where she experienced God’s provision most clearly.

104
00:09:01,429 –> 00:09:05,130
Randy Black:
Taken together, these truths point to a simple but challenging reality.

105
00:09:06,010 –> 00:09:11,530
Randy Black:
Faith in God is not just about what we believe internally, but about how we

106
00:09:11,530 –> 00:09:16,030
Randy Black:
respond when we’re asked to trust Him in real, tangible ways.

107
00:09:17,710 –> 00:09:23,470
Randy Black:
This passage of Scripture brings the conversation out of the abstract and into something personal.

108
00:09:24,330 –> 00:09:29,150
Randy Black:
It’s one thing to talk about trusting God in general terms, but it’s another

109
00:09:29,150 –> 00:09:33,670
Randy Black:
when that trust requires us to let go of something that we feel we need.

110
00:09:34,470 –> 00:09:41,890
Randy Black:
For the widow, this wasn’t theoretical. She was facing limited resources and an uncertain future.

111
00:09:42,809 –> 00:09:48,670
Randy Black:
Yet, in that moment described in the scripture She was asked to act in a way

112
00:09:48,670 –> 00:09:50,650
Randy Black:
that didn’t align with what she could see,

113
00:09:51,370 –> 00:09:56,070
Randy Black:
That raises an important question When things feel tight or uncertain,

114
00:09:56,309 –> 00:09:57,809
Randy Black:
what’s our first instinct?

115
00:09:58,330 –> 00:10:02,549
Randy Black:
Do we hold tighter or are we willing to trust God with it?

116
00:10:04,850 –> 00:10:09,330
Randy Black:
There’s also something here about timing. The widow acted before she saw any

117
00:10:09,330 –> 00:10:10,730
Randy Black:
evidence that things would change.

118
00:10:11,270 –> 00:10:15,809
Randy Black:
That’s often the hardest part of obedience, moving forward without confirmation.

119
00:10:16,630 –> 00:10:20,750
Randy Black:
It challenges the idea that we need everything figured out before taking a step.

120
00:10:21,370 –> 00:10:24,950
Randy Black:
Sometimes the step itself is part of how God works.

121
00:10:26,710 –> 00:10:30,590
Randy Black:
It’s also worth considering how we recognize God’s provision.

122
00:10:31,490 –> 00:10:36,030
Randy Black:
The scripture here doesn’t describe a dramatic one-time miracle that removes all difficulty.

123
00:10:36,950 –> 00:10:40,770
Randy Black:
Instead, it shows a steady, ongoing supply.

124
00:10:42,010 –> 00:10:46,590
Randy Black:
If we’re not careful, that kind of provision can be easy to overlook.

125
00:10:47,290 –> 00:10:54,570
Randy Black:
We may be waiting for something big while missing the ways God is already sustaining us day by day.

126
00:10:55,950 –> 00:10:57,510
Randy Black:
Finally, the moment here in

127
00:10:57,510 –> 00:11:01,429
Randy Black:
the scripture invites us to think about what faith looks like in practice,

128
00:11:02,290 –> 00:11:07,950
Randy Black:
Not just in what we say we believe But in how we respond when we’re faced with a choice,

129
00:11:08,650 –> 00:11:12,510
Randy Black:
The widow’s account in the scripture reminds us that faith is often revealed

130
00:11:12,510 –> 00:11:18,110
Randy Black:
in small Decisive actions choices that build trust over time,

131
00:11:19,309 –> 00:11:23,830
Randy Black:
As you reflect on this scripture Consider where this might apply in your own

132
00:11:23,830 –> 00:11:28,590
Randy Black:
life Is there an area where God is calling you to trust him more fully?

133
00:11:29,330 –> 00:11:35,850
Randy Black:
And if so, what might it look like to take that step right where you are right now?

134
00:11:37,530 –> 00:11:40,570
Randy Black:
As we prepare to finish up today, let’s go to the Lord in prayer again.

135
00:11:42,320 –> 00:11:46,700
Randy Black:
Lord, we thank you for the truth of this passage and for the reminder that faith

136
00:11:46,700 –> 00:11:49,440
Randy Black:
is not only something we believe, but something we live out.

137
00:11:50,260 –> 00:11:54,040
Randy Black:
You know how easy it is for us to rely on what we can see and understand,

138
00:11:54,040 –> 00:11:59,880
Randy Black:
and yet you call us to trust you beyond that, to act on your word even when

139
00:11:59,880 –> 00:12:01,179
Randy Black:
the outcome isn’t fully clear.

140
00:12:01,880 –> 00:12:05,540
Randy Black:
Help us to grow, to grow in that kind of faith.

141
00:12:06,700 –> 00:12:10,299
Randy Black:
Give us the courage to take those steps of obedience when they come,

142
00:12:10,299 –> 00:12:13,320
Randy Black:
when we’re tempted to hold tightly to what we have.

143
00:12:13,960 –> 00:12:18,059
Randy Black:
Remind us that you are our true source.

144
00:12:18,760 –> 00:12:23,920
Randy Black:
Teach us to trust you, not just in moments of abundance, but in seasons where

145
00:12:23,920 –> 00:12:25,600
Randy Black:
we feel the tension of uncertainty.

146
00:12:26,640 –> 00:12:33,360
Randy Black:
Lord, help us to recognize your provision in our lives, even when it comes in quiet, steady ways.

147
00:12:34,299 –> 00:12:42,000
Randy Black:
Open our eyes to see how you are sustaining us day by day and deepen our dependence on you through it.

148
00:12:42,620 –> 00:12:47,920
Randy Black:
And as we move forward, shape our hearts so that our faith will be active,

149
00:12:48,300 –> 00:12:53,980
Randy Black:
responding to your word with trust, with obedience, and with confidence in your faithfulness.

150
00:12:54,680 –> 00:12:58,260
Randy Black:
We ask these things in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

151
00:13:00,380 –> 00:13:05,340
Randy Black:
Before we close out today’s episode, take a moment to reflect on this idea of faith in action.

152
00:13:06,300 –> 00:13:10,180
Randy Black:
In the passage, the widow didn’t wait until everything made sense before she responded.

153
00:13:10,900 –> 00:13:15,100
Randy Black:
She acted on what she had been given and trusted God with the rest.

154
00:13:15,500 –> 00:13:20,340
Randy Black:
It was a simple step, but it became part of something much bigger than she could

155
00:13:20,340 –> 00:13:21,400
Randy Black:
have seen in that moment.

156
00:13:22,040 –> 00:13:27,540
Randy Black:
In a similar way, the opportunities we have to respond in faith today may seem small.

157
00:13:28,340 –> 00:13:33,960
Randy Black:
It may be a conversation, an encouragement, or even sharing something that’s impacted you.

158
00:13:34,160 –> 00:13:40,140
Randy Black:
But those small steps when placed in God’s hands can have a far greater reach than we often realize.

159
00:13:41,660 –> 00:13:46,500
Randy Black:
If Bible Bytes has been meaningful to you, one way you can put that into action

160
00:13:46,500 –> 00:13:48,300
Randy Black:
is by sharing it with someone else.

161
00:13:48,620 –> 00:13:55,160
Randy Black:
You never know how God might use a single episode to speak into someone’s life at just the right time.

162
00:13:55,960 –> 00:13:59,880
Randy Black:
We also ask that you continue to pray for this ministry, that these episodes

163
00:13:59,880 –> 00:14:03,420
Randy Black:
would reach those who need them and that God’s word would continue to take a

164
00:14:03,420 –> 00:14:05,220
Randy Black:
root in the hearts of those who hear it.

165
00:14:05,920 –> 00:14:11,740
Randy Black:
And if you feel led to support financially, you can visit bible-bytes.com support.

166
00:14:12,220 –> 00:14:17,060
Randy Black:
That’s bible-bytes, B-Y-T-E-S.com support.

167
00:14:17,920 –> 00:14:22,380
Randy Black:
There you can give securely using PayPal or Venmo and your support helps continue

168
00:14:22,380 –> 00:14:26,920
Randy Black:
the work of creating and sharing content that points others toward trusting

169
00:14:26,920 –> 00:14:29,020
Randy Black:
and living out their faith in God.

170
00:14:29,660 –> 00:14:31,640
Randy Black:
Thank you for being a part of this work.

171
00:14:33,900 –> 00:14:37,600
Randy Black:
As we wrap up today’s episode, we’re left with a simple but challenging picture

172
00:14:37,600 –> 00:14:39,880
Randy Black:
of what faith looks like in real life.

173
00:14:40,480 –> 00:14:45,220
Randy Black:
The widow didn’t have certainty about the outcome, but she had a word from the

174
00:14:45,220 –> 00:14:48,820
Randy Black:
Lord, and in that moment, she chose to act on it.

175
00:14:49,220 –> 00:14:52,900
Randy Black:
What followed was an instant abundance, but something just as meaningful,

176
00:14:53,300 –> 00:14:57,480
Randy Black:
a steady, reliable provision that met her needs day by day.

177
00:14:58,280 –> 00:15:03,580
Randy Black:
That’s often how God works. Not always by removing the situation immediately,

178
00:15:04,160 –> 00:15:08,660
Randy Black:
but by meeting us in it, teaching us to trust him one step at a time.

179
00:15:09,380 –> 00:15:14,660
Randy Black:
The scripture reminds us that faith isn’t just about what we believe internally.

180
00:15:15,000 –> 00:15:19,980
Randy Black:
It’s about how we respond when we’re given the opportunity to trust God in a tangible way.

181
00:15:20,340 –> 00:15:24,820
Randy Black:
And sometimes those moments come when it feels like we have the least to give.

182
00:15:26,320 –> 00:15:30,020
Randy Black:
Next time on Bible Bytes, we’ll conclude our three-part series on the widow

183
00:15:30,020 –> 00:15:35,400
Randy Black:
at Zarephath as we move into 1 Kings 17, verses 17-24.

184
00:15:35,700 –> 00:15:39,880
Randy Black:
That episode is titled Lessons on Hospitality and Obedience.

185
00:15:40,160 –> 00:15:44,480
Randy Black:
In the final part of the account, we’ll see how this story continues to unfold

186
00:15:44,480 –> 00:15:49,860
Randy Black:
and what it reveals about trusting God even in the face of much deeper challenges.

187
00:15:50,620 –> 00:15:54,060
Randy Black:
Thank you for listening to Bible Bytes, and join us next time as we continue

188
00:15:54,060 –> 00:15:56,980
Randy Black:
to work to inspire faith, one bite at a time.