A Mother obeying God’s word and loving her Child

I Kings 17:8-16

As we gather to honor mothers everywhere, as God has so stated in his word, Exodus 20:12, “Honor thy father and thy mother: that they may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

 In the middle of honoring mothers, let us also pray for mothers, because motherhood is very hard.

Mothers desperately want to take care of their children, and some want to please their children.

The greatest challenge for mothers is who comes first: God, her husband, or her child. 

Most mothers put their child first, in error.

God must come first, and by obeying God’s word, God intervenes in our lives and works out what needs to be worked out.

There is a mother in our text who loves her child and loves God.

The woman of Zarephath, located near Tyre and Sidon, is a Phoenician woman, a foreigner in a land that worships Baal. But somehow the Lord found her and saved her. She is a Gentile who loves Jehovah.

This mother’s faith is tested in regard to obeying God’s word during a very difficult time in her life.

Her test is, am I going to obey God’s word or feed my son with the last meal available?

 
  1. A Mother’s dilemma to obey God or not- vs.10-12
  2. A Mother’s challenge to put God first- vs.13
  3. God’s promise to this mother vs. 14
  4. God delivers on his promise- vs.15-16

Mothers love their children unconditionally, like God loves us!

Mothers who love God must trust God with their children.

Mothers can obey God and take care of their children too.
 
  1. A mother’s dilemma to obey God or not- vs. 10 – 12

“And she said as the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake but a 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.”

  1. The dilemma originates from God’s command and the mother’s plan.
  • God’s will always clash with our plans.
  1. God’s commandment is to put Him first, feed my prophet.
  • The mother’s will is to feed my child.
  1. The mother is gathering sticks because she loves her son.
  • The mother desires to meet their children's needs before anything else.
  1. The famine has drained her faith to the extent that she thinks her son and she is going to die.
  • The test is to renew her faith even in a draught.
 
  1. A mother’s challenge to put God first- vs. 13

“And Elijah said unto her fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first and bring it unto me and after for thee and for thy son.”

  1. Elijah encourages her to put her faith over fear.
  • Faith empowers us!
  • Fear weakens us.
  1. God says, execute the first part of your plan, cook the meal.
  2. Trust God by rearranging your serving order.
  • Elijah says, make me a little cake first.
  • Feed your son, and you last.
  1. In essence, by putting God first, God takes care of the child. 
  • God demands to be first in everything, because everything is of him and from him and for him.
 
  1.  God’s promise to this mother vs. 14

 “For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.”

  1. The authority of God’s word is the assurance and guarantee of his promise.
  2. Godly mothers live the best life, remembering God’s promises.
  3. The promise from God to this mother.
  • The barrel of meal shall not run out.
  • The cruse of cooking oil shall not fail.
  • I will send rain upon the earth.
  1. This mother listens to God.
  2. This mother believes God’s words.
  3. This mother trusts God in his words.
  4. This mother's faith is greater than her fears.
  5. This mother trusted in the promise of God.
 
  1. God delivers on his promise- vs.15-16

“And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she and he and her house, did eat many days.”

  1. The mother obeys God rather than her emotions.
  2. The mother realized you can obey God and love your child at the same.
  3. God blesses her, the prophet, and her son.
  4. God blesses everything she touches for a whole year.
  5. The barrel of meal never runs out.
  6. The cup of cooking oil was never consumed.
  7. God did just what he said he would do.


This mother didn’t have much, but she had what she needed. She had faith in God.

Every mother needs to trust God with your child.

Every mother must put God first.
  1. A Mother’s dilemma to obey God or not- vs.10-12
  2. A Mother’s challenge to put God first- vs.13
  3. God’s promise to this mother vs. 14
  4. God delivers on his promise- vs.15-16

God is a very present help in the times of trouble.

She didn’t know how God was going to do what he promised, but she believed he was going to take care of her and her son.

Mother, it might be raining in your life right now, but the sun will shine after a while.

Mothers, you may not be able to see your way through the storm and the rain, but God will make a way out of no way.

I am glad trouble doesn’t always last.

David says I’ve been young, but now I am old, but never have I seen the righteous forsaken and his seed begging bread.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.