Have you ever contemplated the unseen hand of God in your life? There are times when the hand of God is at work in our lives, but it may not be evident at the time. The hand of God was apparent when a friend who was a truck driver met another truck driver at a truck stop who led him to Jesus. Another friend attended Easter Service to satisfy his wife and encountered the living God during worship. This same man has now been a pastor for many years.
My wife and I were at the airport in Mexico City when our cell phones would not work. While contemplating what to do, a young man who could speak English and Spanish asked if we needed help. With his help, we used his cell phone to make our travel connections. If we reflect on our own lives, we will see the unseen hand of God throughout our lives, guiding and intervening like a loving parent.
A Desperate Widow
A widow with a young son lived in Zarephath near Sidon, a Gentile country just north of Israel. They did what they could to survive a drought, but it looked bleak. God had caused the drought to show that He controlled the weather, not the false god Baal. King Ahab and many people worshiped the false god Baal, who they believed caused the rain.
God sent the prophet Elijah to the King, telling him it would not rain again until he said so. To protect Elijah, the Lord guided him to this widow. 1 Kings 17:10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.” [1]
Despite her desperation, the woman did not know God was moving on her behalf. 1 Kings 17:12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” [2]
God Will Provide
To the woman’s surprise, Elijah had a word from the Lord for her. 1 Kings 17:14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” [3] The unseen hand of God would preserve her life as the Lord would miraculously provide for flour and oil.
Today, you may be crying out to God, not realizing the unseen hand of God is already at work in ways you may not be aware of. As you move forward in faith, expect God to work in ways you did not expect. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. [4]
To learn, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/elijah-and-the-widow
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.