The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath is very familiar, as it occurs in the lectionary every year (Trinity 15 and 16). Today’s OT reading in the TDP (1 Kings 16:29–17:24) cast a different light on that story for me this morning. Before Elijah goes to the Widow of Zarephath and asks her for water and bread, Elijah had been in hiding by the brook Cherith. During the divinely-imposed drought, Elijah received his water from the brook, and food was brought to him by ravens each morning and evening. As the ancient Israelites received their manna at the appointed time, so Elijah received his food. In all of this, they were learning through experience the petition, “Give us this day our daily…