Doubt and a double miracle

Today: 1 Kings 15-17

Have you ever doubted God--or even a person--even when they've already proven themselves to you?

Today's passage describes an interesting story along these themes. The prophet Elijah approached a widow and asked for a meal. Unfortunately, the widow only had a handful of flour and a little bit of oil--enough to make a final meal for herself and her son. But selflessly, she trusted Elijah. Here's what it says:

And she went right off and did it, did just as Elijah asked.

And it turned out as he said—daily food for her and her family.

The jar of meal didn't run out and the bottle of oil didn't become empty:

God's promise fulfilled to the letter, exactly as Elijah had delivered it!
Later on the woman's son became sick.

The sickness took a turn for the worse—and then he stopped breathing.
The woman said to Elijah,

"Why did you ever show up here in the first place—

a holy man barging in, exposing my sins, and killing my son?"
Elijah said, "Hand me your son."
He then took him from her bosom,

carried him up to the loft where he was staying,

and laid him on his bed.

Then he prayed, "O God, my God,

why have you brought this terrible thing on this widow

who has opened her home to me? Why have you killed her son?"
Three times he stretched himself out full-length on the boy,

praying with all his might,

"God, my God, put breath back into this boy's body!"

God listened to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body—

he was alive!

Elijah picked the boy up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him to his mother. "Here's your son," said Elijah, "alive!"
The woman said to Elijah,

"I see it all now—you are a holy man.

When you speak, God speaks—a true word!"

I thought this story was interesting because the widow had already witnessed one of God's miracles--He provided food to save her and her son. However, when her son was sick, her first reaction was to turn on Elijah, God's messenger in her life. But despite her doubt, God healed her son.

I can't imagine what this woman's life was like--she lost her husband, she faced desperate poverty, she watched her son suffer from severe illness and then she watched him die, too. I'm sure moments of doubt plagued her periodically. Where was God in her suffering? Why did all of these bad things happen to her?

I honestly don't know the answers to these questions and I don't think the woman in this story did, either. But the truly amazing thing is the fact that her life was not defined by her suffering. In the midst of her doubt, this widow selflessly gave her last meal in obedience to one of God's messengers. Her life wasn't defined by her suffering, but by a selfless step of faith...that ultimately led to a miracle.

Another interesting thing? Her second miracle didn't require anything on her part. She didn't do anything. She didn't even have the strength to believe her son could be healed or come back to life after death. But God intervened and performed a miracle anyway--it was pure grace and goodness.

By definition, all miracles are unexpected, supernatural gifts. I think that sometimes miracles happen partly because of faith (e.g. Jesus' words in Matthew 15). But one thing is certain: Miracles always happen because of God. God can make the impossible happen despite anything we do, think or believe--that's what makes Him God and what makes something truly miraculous.

Tomorrow: 1 Kings 18-20

The real guy-God in the cupboards

Today: Luke 23-24

Most gods fit on peoples' shelves or in their shrines. They're statues. They're hollow. They're made of gold, silver, ceramic or cement.

There are other gods that seem highly spiritual. Some people worship...well, spirits, energies, the Earth, ghosts, you name it.

While God is definitely a spirit, I also love that He was also once a real guy-God. As I read the story of Jesus' death and resurrection today for the third time in about a month (yup, we just finished our third Gospel today!), this is what stood out to me:

Jesus appeared to them and said,

"Peace be with you."

They thought they were seeing a ghost

and were scared half to death.

He continued with them,

"Don't be upset,

and don't let all these doubting questions take over.

Look at my hands; look at my feet

—it's really me. Touch me.

Look me over from head to toe.

A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this."

If you read the passage with me today, do you remember what happened next?

I never noticed it before, but it actually made me smile and just think how real, how cool Jesus really is. Here's what it says:

He asked, "Do you have any food here?"

They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked.

He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

I think it's actually kind of funny this little scene made it into the Bible. I mean, really? How important is it for us to know that Jesus ate some leftovers after His resurrection?

But as I read this, it struck me as one example of how real...how normal...He is. In the midst of one of the biggest supernatural events in history, He sounds like a typical guy hanging out with His friends saying, "Hey! Do you have anything I could eat?"

The disciples don't even think twice about offering Him leftovers--another fact I find interesting.

I don't know about you, but when most of my friends come to visit, I don't offer them leftovers. I make an extra effort for my guests...except for the friends who are truly like family. If those friends are visiting, I prepare some special meals for them or take them out to dinner. But I'll also show them around my refrigerator, pantry and cupboards and say, "Feel free to take anything you'd like. You know the ropes--this is your home."

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, they witnessed a major miracle. They believed that He was the Messiah and God in flesh...but they also saw Him as their close and trusted friend. He was the friend who didn't expect the fuss (even though He probably deserves it more than anyone!). He was real. He fit with them--and was close enough to know His way around their cupboards.

Tomorrow: John 1-2