Chicago Style Citation: It was at a moment of weakness that she doubted. Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? (1 Kings 17:17-18 NIV). Completely. She lashes out in her pain at the man she trusted, the man who God used to perform a miracle. Well, very little. But she showed faith, trusted in Jehovah, and fed Elijah first. 17) and Gods command to stop the drought (beginning of chap. The Bible account says: After these things, the son of the woman who owned the house fell sick, and his sickness became so severe that he stopped breathing. Trying to find a reason why this tragedy happened, the grieving mother said to Elijah: What do you have against me, Oman of the true God? You can follow me on social media, follow my blog, or contact me directly via email or my contact form. This a very short Widow of Zarephath lesson about the power of fear versus the power of faith.. Not all those who lived in Zarephath were completely corrupt. God sends him to stay by a brook first. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. But these were difficult times. She was not an Israelite. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. There are so many people of faith in the Bible. This is so insightful and inspiring. Her sons life is saved. Then sit back and listen to what He has to say. It will likely take faith on your part. Chances are, their neighbors were struggling as well, so they likely didnt have money or food to spare. So inspiring and, encouraging and hope-giving. God heard Elijah and the boy lived once again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Elijah was a fugitive but God used this widow to give him a place where he could be at rest and have some comfort as he waited for Gods promise to be fulfilled. The Word of the LORD is in reality truth and reliable. Wrap your arms around her and remind her that shes not alone, that you see her and you love her very much. This is a short story, but so much packed into it. It is hard to separate her from Hagar and her husband. God tells us to go here or thereto do this or thatand its easy to think its about us. Today she had scraped the last bit of flour from the barrel and poured the last drop of oil from the jug. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, The WatchtowerStudy Edition (Simplified)| February2014. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijah's story. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible story word search puzzle with coloring activity page. The people of Israel were struggling. She reminded him that her husband had studied with him and that he had feared the Lord, but now he was dead and the creditor was threatening to take her two sons as slaves if she didnt pay off the loan. Then we should follow Jehovahs direction, no matter how difficult it may be to accept. The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah (1 Kings 17:15-16 NKJV). John 1:14 reassures us: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Once again in 1Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.. Like Naaman, her faith was unlikely and Jesus makes reference to him as well. When the drought began, God hid Elijah from Ahab and miraculously fed the prophet by using ravens to bring meat and bread for him to eat. From the Widow of Zarephath we can also learn secrets for success in life and business. Her life is saved. We are never alone, He hears our every prayers, He answers our prayers in ways we would never imagine. You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. The LORD knew her, knew all about her situation, and the condition of her heart. Ravens feed Elijah for many days, but when the brook dries up he is commanded to go to, There was also a growing desire for integration in Latin America, and several steps were taken in this direction. Such a powerful reminder of another of Gods promises at the perfect time. If there was ever a Hallmark-worthy story in the Bible, this is it. It was almost gone. Elijah began to entreat God, and said (v. 20): Will You bring calamity upon this widow whose guest I am, and let her son die? The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that persons well-being. Losing a spouse is hard enough, but now, while this woman is still dealing with the grief of her loved one, she discovers that he took out a loan and shes required to pay it off. 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Tell Him your situation. "Don't be afraid. The first of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is that spiritual warfare goes up a notch in times of crisis. 1 Kings 17: 10-16: "So he arose and went to Zarephath. A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. In that moment she chose to trust God. She did exactly what he instructed to the letter. Now how long would those last? The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, Audio download options Are you looking for God to answer you through the divine connection of relationship Hes placed in your life? However, the contents of this blog post may not be modified, compiled, combined with other content, copied, recorded, synchronized, transmitted, translated, formatted, distributed, publicly displayed, publicly performed, reproduced, given away, used to create derivative works and otherwise used or exploited (including for-profit or commercial gain) without the creators expressed permission. Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. So keep fighting with God for your faith. The Rabbis also learned that giving food to someone else is a virtue that results in the resurrection of the dead before its time: because the widow from Zarephath gave food to Elijah, she merited the reviving of her son. alert("Please select at least one list. WMB English Version; WMB Tamil Version; Gallery. We meet the Prophets Widow in 2 Kings chapter 4. Jewish Women's Archive. 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 gives rain on the land.' The widow of Zarephath had felt utterly alone, not knowing God had his eye on her. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijahs time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. How many people who live in your territory are like the widow of Zarephath? There is a widow there who will feed you. The Widow of Zarephaths story begins while she is at the gate gathering a few sticks so she can go home and prepare the last little bit of food for herself and her son. In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, 2022, we are spotlighting women who rocked in Bible times! return true; Elijah turns up and two things are obvious. Another trial was going to test the widows faith. And when she completed the task, she again went to him for the next step. Let us know. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. 1 Kings 17:17 tells us it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so bad, that there was no breath left in him. But he wants us to trust Him. The fact that God resurrects the dead was already shown by Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel (Lev. This woman didn't know that the LORD is a loving LORD. And in each case, God showed them that they werent alone and that He cared for them. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die. Soon after, her son dies, and Elijah pleads to God for the power to resurrect him. Elijah orders the woman to prepare a small cake for him (v. 13). Firstly, the Widow of Zarephath was a gentile. Like a baby who knows that mom will come when she needs something, God truly wants us to expect him to show up for us. Remember, she was looking at the possibility of dying a bit earlier if she gave away her very last meal. The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. Daily provision for food for three years. The story of a widow, who remained unnamed in the Bible, was important enough to have her faith and obedience recorded in the Bible. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives, as well. To help you get started in organizing your time, here are some sample Sunday School schedules for preschool through grade 6 for varying classroom lengths: If you have a 30-minute class, consider taking two weeks per lesson or following a schedule such as this: "Come on in" games: 5 minutes.. 9 images found in 1 Kings 17. But they did have extra containers. STOP delaying to get to know the Bible better! Used with permission. Yes, the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not run dry, according to Jehovahs word that he had spoken through Elijah. (1Kings 17:16; 18:1) If that woman had acted differently, the loaf of bread that she made from her small supply of flour and oil might have become her last meal. Here are a few details about her that will help you to understand her story. Give back the key of rain, and take the key of the resurrection of the dead. Accordingly, after Elijah revived the widows son, the Biblical text states (I Kings 18:1): Go, appear before Ahab; then I will send rain, because he had to return the key of rain and stop the drought (BT Sanhedrin 113a). Upon seeing her son, the widow said to Elijah, Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth (1 Kings 17:24 NKJV). Baal was said to be the god of the weather. Why? God is in the business of protecting his reputation. Rather, because she received him hospitably and attended to him, this hospitality is ascribed to her, and she also merited having Elijah revive her son (Cant. For some reason I wasnt getting notifications. FACT #1 The name of her village was Sarepta. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. Am shelmith from Kenya. But in a way that is grounded in abiding trust. The Widow of Zarephath did not know who Elijah was, and she did not know that there would be more meal and oil left over after she had fed him. Ask God to make it obvious what youre supposed to do. Was she looking for a handout? Plus, she was literally down to her last meal. Here we find reciprocal hospitality: a Phoenician widow (a non-Israelite) feeding a Jewish prophet who will eventually save her son. Rabbah 27:4). They continued until all the vessels were full. New International Version (NIV). Series: Women in the Bible. The Rabbis expound that the cake that the widow made for Elijah was similar to mazzah (unleavened bread) and to the mazzah cakes eaten by the Israelites when they departed from Egypt. A lesson that we can learn from this is that God blesses those who show faith in him. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. Im sorry I didnt respond sooner. She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked. After we have eaten, we will die. (1Kings 17:12) What can we learn from this conversation? The A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrash explains why Elijah stopped the rains and how it happened that he was commanded to go to the home of the woman in Zarephath. There was a famine of food. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. PRIVACY SETTINGS, The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/402014124/univ/art/402014124_univ_sqr_xl.jpg, THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/ws/E/20140215/wpub/ws_E_20140215_lg.jpg, Share The woman, only referred to as the "widow of Zarephath," demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. Have you ever been in debt? They may have little or no knowledge of Jehovah and need help to accept true worship. She had no idea that the stranger was Elijah, a prophet who had the gall to inform King Ahab that God was withholding rain to punish Israel's idolatry. God is also always looking for opportunities to show up in your life and show off. When Elijah declared a drought in the name of the God of heaven, it was the beginning of a showdown. Your email address will not be published. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. She depended on her husband to provide for her and their sons, but he was so busy studying and serving that he didnt bring in enough income to meet their basic needs. Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 17:8-24; Luke 4:25-26 Her name didnt matter, but her faith and obedience will forever be remembered. Imagine the widows great joy when Elijah said: See, your son is alive! So many wonderful points. FACT #2 - She was a gentile. When the brook of Cheribth dried up the LORD told Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath where there was a widow woman there that would sustain him. Shed fill it with oil from her original container. How could she do so, since she was so poor? But how precious that they were able to be active participants in the miraculous provision for their needs. Because of the reviving of her son, she knew that Elijah was a man of the LORD God, and that the word of the LORD in his mouth is truth. For the rest of their lives, those boys would always remember that time when they were facing being sold into slavery but God interviewed by multiplying a pot of oil. He dedicated his life to studying and serving God which meant he was dependent on others to provide for him financially. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. It was ironic since generally, Israelites were not supposed to be mixing with the surrounding nations. Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. Our lives are intertwined for mutual provision and blessing. But God sent Elijah out of Israel, to the town of Zarephath in Sidon instead. Not only that, but the debt collector is trying to take away her two sons and turn them into slaves. Just as Elijah promised, Jehovah added to her supply of food so that there was enough to feed Elijah, her, and her son until the drought ended. The city serves as part of her identification. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. The story of the woman with the issue of blood and many other stories show Jesus doing that (https://thefaithspace.com/lessons-from-the-woman-with-the-issue-of-blood/ ). This exposition, based on the juxtaposition of the resurrection of the widows son (end of chap. Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. evt.preventDefault; Shes angry. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. This was the case with the faith of the Widow of Zarephath. Subscribe today and listen on your favorite platform. It is not because of our righteousness or any of our good works that we were saved by Him. Background: 10 Century BC. Luke 4:25-26. If we have faith, it said, we will get the blessing; if we do not [have faith], we will lose it.. Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith, https://thefaithspace.com/lessons-from-the-woman-with-the-issue-of-blood/. Open job opportunities for her that will pay for her bills and help pay off her debts. Right now, feel free to press pause, and get on your knees and pour out your heart to the Lord Jesus. Elijah is commanded to go to Sidon, where he will be fed by a widow (17:9). I can just see her acknowledge him and turn to go get the water. Amen. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. (Luke 4:25-26). The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. We can learn so many lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. Just Elijahs presence in the land was an offense to the enemy. Zarephath was a gentile country.