Did Elijah ever get tired of that bread and water? (1 Kings 17) When I first ate canned salmon and peach juice in that storm, I was ever so grateful. By lunch time and definitely by supper, I was more cranky than thankful. And that was only for a day or so…
Elijah’s next experience with food actually came through a human… I bet he was grateful… I sure would be!
When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to the town of Zarephath and Elijah obeyed. Do you sense a common theme here?
Just as God said, he met a widow there and asked her…
“Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink.” …. “And while you’re at it, would you bring me something to eat?” (1 Kings 17:11, MSG)
Elijah learned that God will provide. Now the widow will learn obedience, provision and tithing.
She said, “I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don’t have so much as a biscuit… Elijah said “Don’t worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what you’ve said. But first make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then go ahead and make a meal from what’s left for you and your son.” (From 1 Kings 17:12-14, MSG)
DID YOU CATCH THAT LINE?? First make a meal for me (that is to God, via his prophet- servant.) That, Dear Friends, is called tithing, giving the first 10 % to God.
And guess what? The jar of meal didn’t run out and the bottle of oil didn’t become empty.
Prayer – Lord, how dare we expect you to provide for us when we don’t obey in even the smallest things, like tithing? Ouch and Amen
That was NOT tithing. It was a freewill sacrificial offering. Stop twisting scripture.
Also, firstfruits and tithes are NOT the same thing!