Beware of 'the pseudo Intimacy with God'
Verses:1 Kings 17:11-14
"As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” She replied, “As surely as the Lord your God lives, I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
The story of the widow of Zarephath is a profound illustration of what it means to walk faithfully with God, even in the absence of what we might call "intimacy" with Him. This woman, a Gentile living in Sidon, had no prior relationship with the God of Israel. She was not a prophetess, nor did she have a deep theological understanding of Yahweh. Yet, in her moment of desperation, she encountered God through His servant Elijah. Her faithfulness in the midst of her circumstances reveals a truth that challenges our modern notions of intimacy with God.
When Elijah approached her, she was preparing what she believed would be her last meal. She had no grand expectations of divine intervention. She called God “the Lord your God,” indicating that He was Elijah’s God, not hers. She did not claim any special closeness to Him. Yet, in her honesty and vulnerability, she demonstrated a raw faithfulness that God honored. She obeyed Elijah’s request, trusting in the promise that her flour and oil would not run out. Her faith was not rooted in a deep, emotional connection to God, but in her willingness to be faithful where she was, with what she had.
This story dismantles the myth that intimacy with God is defined by emotional experiences, grand spiritual revelations, or a constant sense of His presence. The widow’s relationship with God was not marked by the kind of intimacy we often romanticize—no visions, no ecstatic worship, no profound declarations of love. Instead, it was characterized by simple obedience and trust in the midst of dire circumstances. She did not know the fullness of who God was, but she acted faithfully in the moment, and God met her there.
Elijah, on the other hand, referred to God as “the Lord, the God of Israel.” His relationship with God was personal and covenantal. He knew God’s character and had seen His power firsthand. Yet, both Elijah and the widow were used by God in this moment, not because of their level of intimacy with Him, but because of their faithfulness to His call. The widow’s story reminds us that God is not limited by our understanding of Him. He works through our faithfulness, even when our knowledge of Him is incomplete.
Our relationship with God is not meant to mirror human relationships. We cannot reduce it to the language of romance or friendship, as if God were merely a lover or a confidant. He is God—transcendent, holy, and beyond our full comprehension. Our love for Him is not expressed through physical gestures or emotional highs, but through a steadfast commitment to obey Him wherever He has placed us. The widow’s faithfulness in Sidon, a place far removed from the religious center of Israel, shows us that God values our loyalty in the ordinary and the mundane.
This passage does not tell us whether the widow was “saved” or “born again” in the way we might define those terms today. Instead, it highlights the myth that intimacy with God requires a deep, emotional connection or a perfect understanding of His nature. The widow’s story challenges us to rethink what it means to be close to God. It is not about proving our devotion through grand gestures or spiritual achievements. It is about being faithful in the circumstances He has placed us, trusting that He sees us and will provide for us.
God is more than a lover or a fiancé. He is God—the Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of life, the Redeemer of His people. We do not need to fabricate a relationship with Him to earn His love or favor. He meets us where we are, in our brokenness and our lack, and He asks only that we trust Him and obey His word. The widow’s jar of flour and jug of oil did not run dry because she had a perfect relationship with God, but because she was faithful with what little she had.
Let us learn from her example. Let us stop striving for a fabricated intimacy with God and instead focus on being faithful where He has placed us. Whether we feel close to Him or not, whether we understand His ways or not, our calling is to trust and obey. In doing so, we will find that He is faithful to meet us in our need, just as He met the widow of Zarephath.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to be faithful where You have placed us, even when we do not fully understand Your ways. Teach us to trust You in the ordinary and the difficult moments of life. Remind us that our relationship with You is not defined by emotions or grand experiences, but by our willingness to obey and follow You. Thank You for meeting us in our need and for being faithful even when we are weak. Amen.