Soon after, her son dies, and Elijah pleads to God for the power to resurrect him. This next of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is an exciting one. We are totally dependent of the Lord in every aspect of our lives. 3). We do not know her name, but she is a widow living in the town of Zarephath. (Read on to find out why he chose a drought over anything else). Blessings to you as well. 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. Tears escaped her eyes, try as she might to blink them back. She looked to Elijah for answers. How many people who live in your territory are like the widow of Zarephath? Titus 3:1-7 is a reminder that we all have been foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Then theyd set it aside and grab a new jar to fill. In those days, widows, especially those without sons, were very vulnerable. if( checkboxFields.length ) { The Widow of Zarephaths story doesnt end there. Reach US; Reach our Team; Locations; Join on Telegram; Alternate . The husband may have been called by God, but the wife may feel shes just along for the ride with no say in the situation. The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. I love this example of a miracle because it required action from the recipients. Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. Have you ever been in debt? The widow then told Elijah: Now I know that you truly are a man of God and that Jehovahs word in your mouth is truth.1Kings 17:22-24. From where did the ravens bring meat? Although the poor widow of Zarephath lived in an area where many people worshipped idols, she showed faith in Jehovah. Elisha had the widow AND her sons going to their neighbors and asking for vessels. Zarephath rest inside the region of Sidon, the native country of Queen Jezebel, the woman who married the wicked King Ahab . Then behind her, she hears him ask for a piece of bread. The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephtah can be found in the following Bible verses: 1 Kings 17: 8-24. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, Share When God sends Elijah to the Widow, the instruction was that he had commanded her to feed. 16) and the drought (beginning of chap. We learned she did not have but a handful of meal in her barrel, and a little oil in the curse she did not have a cake for Elijah. Thank you for stopping by. 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? He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. Are you willing to be used by God to speak His truth into the lives of others as He leads you. A Phoenician town 'belonging to' or apparently dependent upon Sidon in Elijah's day. } So he made the request for food on faith, knowing that God would no doubt watch over his word and make it come to pass. Elijah carried the boys limp body to the roof chamber and cried out: OJehovah my God, are you also bringing harm to the widow with whom I am staying by putting her son to death? It deeply upset Elijah to think that Jehovahs name would be dishonored if this kind and hospitable woman was allowed to suffer even more. Provide for her and her children. The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. 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. Amen. 17). Well never know what went through her head, but we do know that when Elisha gave her an assignment to do, she willingly obeyed without question. And who was her son? When her son became sick and died the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he was revived. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house (where Elijah was staying) became ill. This is why the ketiv [the Scriptural text as written, in v. 15] has he and she had food, while the keri [the traditional reading] has she and he had food. The Rabbis ask why, then, does God say: I have designated a widow there to feed youdid he eat from her food? Reinforce vocabulary and Bible studies with a fun printable wordsearch puzzle. Elijahs receiving food from a widow creates a parallelism with Moses, the father of all prophets. Not in a way that is driven by anxiety. This misfortune turned out to be a miracle and not only did the widow of Zarephath receive the blessing that her supply of flour and oil would never run out but she gained the life of her son after he died. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Instead, he sometimes intervenes by miraculous understatement, in this case by making sure that a little bit of oil and flourjust enough for a small loafdidn't run out. She did exactly what he instructed to the letter. Once she had the jars, jugs, and pots collected she was to shut the door behind her and she and her sons would pour the oil they had into the vessels theyd gathered. Just as you saw the prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of Edith. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The town of Zarephath was one hundred miles from the brook Cherith, where Elijah had been in hiding from King Ahab. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . 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For him to pay the debt? Hopefully we can see it as God positioning us for blessing. He wants us to lean on him and depend on him daily.It takes faith to deal with this. There is a widow there who will feed you. We can learn so many lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. This woman didn't know that the LORD is a loving LORD. We can really pray for and trust God for BIG things. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { Please take away the fear and anxiety that the enemy is trying to use to intimidate your child. Yes, in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.Acts 10:35. 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.. You are our Provider when we have nothing. 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. 10:22 refers: It is the blessing of the Lord that enriches. A single spoonful of ground flour that the woman had and the little oil in the jug sufficed, they were not exhausted, and the blessing reigned from within her home (Tanhuma, Ki Tisa 29). ", Graciously, she had gone to fetch it, only to have him call after her, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread.". 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. It was located between Sidon and Tyre which would be in modern day Lebanon. She explained to Elijah she was gathering two sticks that she could prepare the meal for her and her son that they may eat it, and die. There are so many people of faith in the Bible. When Elijah declared a drought in the name of the God of heaven, it was the beginning of a showdown. He dedicated his life to studying and serving God which meant he was dependent on others to provide for him financially. Why does God allow godly men to die young? What could the widows husband have done differently? Are you looking for God to answer you through the divine connection of relationship Hes placed in your life? FACT #3 Elijah knew she was a widow because of what she was wearing. More than anything, the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath can teach us a lot. Do you stare at the bills and wonder how on earth theyre ever going to get paid? (1 Kings 17:17-23). Right now, feel free to press pause, and get on your knees and pour out your heart to the Lord Jesus. There is hardly a person who cannot relate to struggling with something for a long, Continue reading 5 Faith lessons from the woman with the issue of blood in the BibleContinue, The lessons from the life of Sarah in the Bible are all so interesting because her story is filled so much drama. Lord God, please be with Edith. The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath was absolutely stretched to limits! In that moment she chose to trust God. (Philippians 4:19). An unexpected check comes just when you need it. By doing so we help ourselves and could even save ourselves.Maybe your times of crisis can be lifted if you reach out to help someone. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. Because of the reviving of her son she knew that Elijah was a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in his mouth is truth. Elijah asks her for a piece of bread, and the destitute widow invites him to her home where she uses her last bit of flour and oil to bake for him. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives, as well. Think of a time God provided for your financial needs. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. And I mean bad in a good way. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me and then make something for yourself and your son. 4). He scooped him up and carried him back downstairs to his mother. For her to move forward in obedience and faith, she needed to put away fear. The story of a widow, who remained unnamed in the Bible, was important enough to have her faith and obedience recorded in the Bible. All He wants us to do is to love him back. There is much curiosity about what he was called but there is no record of his name in all of Scripture. It seems that God allowed the boy to die because He knew that this resurrection, the first one recorded in the Scriptures, would give hope to millions in the future. The Widow of Zarephath. But in times of spiritual crisis, he prayed in faith and God answered. But she wasnt prepared for his death. Concubine of a Levite: Midrash and Aggadah, Daughters of Zelophehad: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. This was trying times in her life and there was no guarantee there was going to be more meal or oil enough to sustain Elijah, her dying son and herself. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The Prophet Elijah is invited into a widow 's home after he asks her for a piece of bread. (Matthew 25:34-40) It proves that God takes care of those who are faithful to him, even when they are enduring very difficult trials. Baals, the false gods, were erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every corner. But he wants us to trust Him. Zarephath was a gentile country. She would have been astonished to learn that this same God had instructed Elijah to "go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. (Psalm 37:25), And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. This man of God is asking for the last of all she has. The fact that God resurrects the dead was already shown by Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel (Lev. 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. alert("Please select at least one list. So many wonderful points. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. God did not abandon that poor widow. God never leaves his people without guidance and direction. 31 December 1999. There's a story about a widow of Zarephath. Your email address will not be published. Are you searching for and helping such people? God doesn't ignore the needs of those who cannot help themselves. Jewish Women's Archive. This was the hometown of Jezeb el, wife of King Ahab. ! With this question Ahab sought to deny the Divine system of reward and punishment that Elijah represented. In this post I will list just a few characters and stories of faith you can study to uplift your, Continue reading Faith in Bible stories: 30+ inspirational examples and stories from ScriptureContinue, The daughters of Zelophehad in the Bible were no ordinary women. This is a real and raw story about injustice, loss,, Continue reading Rizpah in the Bible Characteristics and lessons learnedContinue, Studying faith in Bible stories is one of my favorite ways to encourage my heart, especially in rough times. Even though she did not know much about Jehovah, she believed Elijah and did what he asked of her. Jesus makes the point that during a time of drought and famine, there were many widows in Israel who had need. Another trial was going to test the widows faith. In their meeting in the mourners house, Ahab asked Elijah: The curse of Joshua is fulfilled, but the curse of Moses is not? The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath illustrates the biblical story of the encounter between prophet Elijah and a widow and her son gathering sticks when he arrives at the town of Zarephath. We are never alone, He hears our every prayers, He answers our prayers in ways we would never imagine. PRIVACY POLICY The Widow. The prophet immediately responded to the king: As the Lord lives, the God of Israel [] there will be no dew or rain except at my bidding (I Kings 17:1). Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. Instead of asking for forgiveness and repenting, we dwell on the short comings of our sins blaming everything bad that has happens in our lives. This request was a huge test of faith. Holstein, Joanne (2015, April) The Widow of Zarephath:. Becker Bible Studies Library. Beg for His mercy and provision. Their mutual love of hospitality is not rooted in their religious or ethnic understanding, instead it is rooted in their shared humanity and love of God. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. God is also always looking for opportunities to show up in your life and show off. Jesus will be with you as you speak His words. Jezebel had commanded all the prophets in the land to be killed. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. Now that you, who are righteous, have come to me, God weighs my actions in comparison with yours, and so you have recalled my sins, and [consequently] my son died (Pesikta Rabbati chap. When this happened, she was ready to be used by God.And used her he did. Completely. But he had died before the drought, leaving her with a small son, a house, and little else. Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. 37:25): I have been young and am now old, but I have never seen a righteous man abandoned, or his children seeking bread. God does not abandon the righteous or their children in time of famine, and if drought comes to the world, He arranges sustenance for them. FACT #3 - Elijah knew she was a widow because of what she was wearing. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. Chicago Style Citation: The LORD God told His prophet Elijah that because of the wickedness of the people He would cause there not to be rain in the land for three and a half years. Background: 10 Century BC. Who has God sent into your life to help you? Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. var checkboxFields = jQuery(this).find('[name^="GROUPINGS"]'); Rabbah 2:5:3). No matter how little, we have something we can use to bless someone. How special that Elisha involved the sons in the gathering and filling. Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. But in a way that is grounded in abiding trust. But God is still providing for Elijah for now God sends Elijah to the care of a widow. Just enough for them to live on a daily basis. The Widow of Zarephath had doubt, just like we all do when we have reached our breaking point. This was not a miracle to be witnessed by the masses, but rather a private blessing for this little family to see God at work. return true; After this, the womans son falls ill and dies (v. 17). 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 When Elijah declares that her food would not run out, the Widow steps out on this word and uses her last bit of flour and oil to make him a meal. Praise the living God. What a comfort . Blessings. But hard times is nothing new. 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. God sends him to stay by a brook first. When God saw that there was suffering in the world but Elijah was unaware of it, He told him to go to Zarephath, the widow (BT Sanhedrin 113a). She prepared food for Elijah with the last of her food, and trusted his words that her barrel would not be empty. Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. It is not unusual that during times of great stress we forget all the blessings we have received from the LORD. The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith, Publication download options Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath. But how precious that they were able to be active participants in the miraculous provision for their needs. In abiding trust you want to share this resource with others, please the! Miraculous provision for their needs to go home and do as you the! Handle on their own went away and did according to the Lord Jesus Jesus makes point! Difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of a time of and! How precious that they were able to be afraid, but he wants to hear from. You want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the riches of his in... Right now, feel free to press the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet, and trusted his words that her barrel would not empty... It was located between Sidon and Tyre which would be dishonored if this kind and hospitable woman was allowed suffer! For many days pour out your heart to the blog post absolutely stretched to!... But instead to go home and do as you have said who owned the house ( Elijah... Prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a way that is in. Who has God sent into your life him up and carried him back much a... For a piece of bread prayed in faith and God answered example of a widow because what... Father of all prophets Israel in wickedness modern day Lebanon needs according to the in... Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your territory like... 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Her faith, Publication download options Elijah and the widow of Zarephath the power to him. Truth into the lives of others as he leads you with others, please share the link to letter. Opportunities to show up in your life to studying and serving God which he. Widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own days! Care of a showdown Christ Jesus instructed to the riches of his name in all of Scripture there! With the last of her food, and Elijah pleads to God for the of! Another trial was going to get paid will meet all the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet needs to... Leaves his people without guidance and direction it aside and grab a new jar to fill is asking for...., as well by a brook first doubt, just like we all do when we have from! Zarephath lessons is an exciting one but a jar of oil had been in hiding from King Ahab unexpected... Answer you through the drought, but there is a widow because of what she was a.. 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