Incapable, Unprepared, and Commanded

Scripture: The word of the Lord came to him [Elijah], saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there. I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he got up and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and said, “Please get a small cup of water for me to drink.” As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” She said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, but only a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a jar. I am gathering two sticks, that I can go in and make it for me and my son, so we may eat it and die.” 1 Kings 17:8-12

Observation: In taking care of Elijah - first by feeding him using ravens near a stream, and now sending him to live with a widow - God uses an interesting definition of the concept of "commanded". God says he has "commanded" a widow in Zaraphath to provide for Elijah. When Elijah gets there, however, he does NOT find a widow who is prepared based on a command from God to provide for him. He instead finds a widow who ...

-- Is not at all expecting Elijah (she is gathering sticks, not waiting for him)
-- Does not herself have strong faith in God (refers to 'your' God)
-- Is preparing to die because she cannot even care for herself and her son (has only enough for their final meal)

This is not someone who has been commanded to receive and feed Elijah ... in fact, she had no possible means of even performing the work described by God.

This seems like one of those "tense" issues with God ... he so loves to speak of what he will do in the past tense. God had not appeared to this widow and commanded her. Instead, he was sending Elijah to her with the command himself. Therefore, it did not matter that she was completely incapable and unprepared to fulfill the command. She would become capable once the command was received IF she obeyed.

Application: This is an interesting thought about receiving God's instructions. I believe we would all like to know God's will and direction for us so we can then prepare and proceed and obey. However, God is much more of a "real-time" instruction giver. God may have a plan for our work, but he may not reveal it and let us figure out how to fulfill it. Rather, he is more likely to drop it on us and expect our real-time obedience whether or not we even think we are prepared.

The widow had one meal left, yet obeyed the instruction to give the first portion of that meal to a stranger. In God's plan, that meant she had already been commanded to feed Elijah for months.

And this begs the question ... have I been commended (past tense) to do something someday (future) that I have never heard of, and for which I am completely unprepared. I'm betting the answer is ... "well, yes, of course you have/will!" I pray I have the courage and faith to say 'yes' when the command finally echoes down to me.

Prayer: Lord, here I am. Please use me according to your plans. I anticipate the work you have prepared for me in advance. Amen.