“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 make for thee and for thy son” (1 Kings 17:13)

Elijah, the prophet of God, had prayed that God would stop the rain and the dew upon Israel, and God stopped the rain and the dew. Because of this, there was a great famine in the land of Israel. God then commanded Elijah to go to a widow in Zarephath where he would be sustained throughout the famine.

Elijah met the widow as she was gathering sticks to go in and prepare the final meal for her and her son; then she expected them both to die, for there was no more food for them.

Elijah asked the widow to get him a drink of water and to bring him a morsel of bread. The widow replied, “As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse…that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (verse 12). Elijah said “Fear not … but make me thereof a little cake first” (verse 13),for God said, “The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail…” (verse 14).

The words “Fear not” are recorded in God’s written word seventeen times. Each time it was used when human frailty had succumbed to an inherit characteristic of the flesh: fear of the unknown. Webster says that fear “as a general term implies great anxiety and usually loss of courage. It is an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger.” Synonyms would be dread, fright, and panic.

When God’s people are faced with a situation that requires supernatural intervention to overcome, fear can and often does overcome them. Fear can cause the child of God to doubt God’s Word and God’s power to overcome the situation. If fear is not checked by fleeing to God and resting in His promises, then fright and panic can take control. When this happens, the child of God starts running in the wisdom of the flesh and not of the Spirit. The child of God then can and will do things and say things that bring about defeat and destruction when he walks in fear.

Thank God, He knows the weakness of our flesh. Therefore He has given us, the born-again believer, Faith (Christ living in us; Galatians 2:20). He has given us His Holy Spirit to give us understanding and wisdom of the problem we face, and has given us power by His Spirit to perform in our adversity (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The widow and her son were faced with one meal and then death. But here was Elijah, the prophet of God, telling her to feed him first. Fear said, “No, why feed him and bring death to me and my son sooner?” But faith said, “Listen to and follow the Word of God.” Faith told her to believe in God; don’t look at the situation, but look to God for Salvation.

The secret is, do you have faith living in you? If you do, take heed how you hear this Word of God. Meditate on God’s Promises; trust God rather than the outward appearance; then obey God’s Word. Fear not – Stand still – Wait on God – Move at His command. Don’t be a “hearer” only, but be a “doer” of God’s Word, and you shall have success; you shall have victory (Joshua 1:5).

Child of God, I challenge you today to not look at your enemy, your adversity, your valley, your trial; but listen to God’s Word, “Fear Not.” Look up the references in His Word of the phrase “Fear Not” and follow His instructions and believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Thus the child of God has the victory living within them. The secret is, believe God; place your feet into the Jordan River and see God part the waters for you (Hebrews 11:1). (Read Joshua 1 – 3.)

John wrote in 1 John 5:4-5, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Hallelujah to the Lamb of God; in Christ, in His blood Atonement, in His Victory we have Victory. “Fear Not” for Christ was raised from the grave, Romans 1:4 “…declared to be the Son of God with power…” and in Matthew 28:18, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Therefore if you be “in Christ,” you have His power. “Fear Not,” call on Him; believe in His Word and walk by Faith; and you will triumph over your situation with the supernatural power of God.

1 Kings 17:15, “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.”

(This devotional was previously posted on January 17.)