The Master Teacher

Sometimes in my haste to make a lesson interesting for my Young Women, I search for object lessons or handouts to use.  I need to remember that the Savior was the Master Teacher and His lessons are often all that is needed and certainly more powerful.  In a lesson on sacrifice, an example is given in the supplement of the widow of Zaraphath as told in 1 Kings 17:12-16 upon meeting the prophet Elijah.  It states: And she said, "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: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

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." 

 

How much is a handful of meal?  I decided to find out.  I have a rather large hand and for me this measured to be about 1/3 of a cup.  I placed the measured amount in a plastic bag and took it to my class.  All that stood between this woman, her son, and starvation was this small measure of meal and some oil, yet in her faith she gave it to the prophet who promised her:  "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah."

 

A visual presentation of a just how much a handful represented was all that was needed as the Spirit testified of the truths of this lesson to the Young Women.  I felt it testify to me as well.  How wonderful to be taught by the Master!

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