Pastor Rusty Milton1 Kings 17:8-16 ESV"God's Universal Interest and Influence in the Believer's Life"God is always fathering us no matter where we are, and that includes when we pass through trials and tribulations. The providence of God touches all things that impact our lives. We see this play out in 1 Kings 17 when God sends Elijah to a gentile widow for provision. For Elijah, the woman was to be a vessel for God's provision. For the woman, Elijah was to be a vessel for God's supernatural intervention and life (vv. 8-11). In their interaction, we see God making his providential will known by validating his prophetic word to Elijah with the congruent works of the gentile widow. Like Elijah and the widow, we can rest in knowing that no matter what we experience, there is no unfathered ground in our lives. Our greatest provision to sustain us is Christ. We can therefore remind ourselves that:-God's interest and influence in our lives is universal; he cares about all things in our lives. -Providence accomplishes the Father's good purposes for us; nothing stops it.-Providence is to your greatest benefit and comfort. God is good. And because he's good, his providence is good.1 Kings 17:8-16English Standard VersionThe Widow of Zarephath8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.