God told Elijah to go to Zarephath and find a widow. These two boys were facing a terrible future unless God intervened. Blessings. It took great faith for Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath to believe God. Blessings to you as well. There is always spiritual warfare over your hearts loyalty. God multiplied the flour and oil so that she did not have to worry about food. But God sent Elijah out of Israel, to the town of Zarephath in Sidon instead. It was ironic since generally, Israelites were not supposed to be mixing with the surrounding nations. He took God at his word. The LORD knew her, knew all about her situation, and the condition of her heart. A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. Even if we ourselves are struggling, reaching out can save you both. 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. It will likely take faith on your part. These days she stood with shoulders hunched as though to hide her breasts. Just as Elijah had promised, the supply of flour and oil lasted day after day, month after month, never failing until at last the rains came and revived the land. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. Were told she was one of the wives of the sons of the prophets. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." Perhaps she had come to know him well in the time that had passed. Read a psalm or two. They are sure. | You can follow me on social media, follow my blog, or contact me directly via email or my contact form. 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. There is much curiosity about what he was called but there is no record of his name in all of Scripture. He wants us to lean on him and depend on him daily.It takes faith to deal with this. Later, the widow's faith would again be tested when her young son died. The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. if( checkboxFields.length ) { Now I am gathering a few pieces of wood, and I will go in and make something for me and my son. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. God sends him to stay by a brook first. If there was ever a Hallmark-worthy story in the Bible, this is it. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. If you are a Bible study teacher, you are free to allow this content to influence the lessons you teach or the sermons you present. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. That concludes this weeks episode of All Gods Women. This exposition, based on the juxtaposition of the resurrection of the widows son (end of chap. Indeed April. You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. 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. More than anything, the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath can teach us a lot. RECORDING DATE: July 3, 2020. Shelmith, oh how you have blessed my heart today by sharing your testimony :D. Praise the living God for sure! Elijah was staying with the widow and her household while there was a drought in the land. And in each case, God showed them that they . Elijahs life is saved.Her blessings were full to the running over. Here is a prayer for you Lord, I pray you will be with your servant Shelmith. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house (where Elijah was staying) became ill. This was the last place that you should expect to find faith. He said: Please, bring me a little water in a cup so that I may drink. When she went to get him some water, Elijah added: Please, bring me a piece of bread. (1Kings 17:10,11) The widow was not worried about giving this stranger a drink, but giving him bread was a problem. Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. Hiel had transgressed Joshuas prohibition against rebuilding Jericho (Josh. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. 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). I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die. }); This man of God is asking for the last of. Look! Baal was said to be the god of the weather. The first of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is that spiritual warfare goes up a notch in times of crisis. He stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this childs soul come into him again. The LORD heard the cries of Elijah and revived the child. Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. Instead of cursing the stranger for his callousness, as we might expect, the woman did exactly as he had requested, feeding him the food she had reserved for herself and her son. The Widow of Zarephaths story doesnt end there. A lesson that we can learn from this is that God blesses those who show faith in him. What relationships does He want you to cultivate? And he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.' And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' But he wants us to trust Him. At one point, Elijah thought he was the last living prophet (1 Kings 18:22). A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). There is, after all, a drought in progress. How hard it was to suffer her fears alone, to wake in the night with no one to warm her, no one to whisper sweet lies about tomorrow. 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. Elijah lived with her for 2 years and God provided enough for each day.God did not provide a whole barrel full at once. 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. She lashes out in her pain at the man she trusted, the man who God used to perform a miracle. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. Then behind her, she hears him ask for a piece of bread. We know this because she said: As surely as Jehovah your God is living. It seems that even though she knew some things about Israels God, she was not serving him. It was almost gone. Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts. The houseguest is Gods prophet Elijah. 4). This woman didn't know that the LORD is a loving LORD. Sometimes Jehovah allows our faith in him to be tested. Ahab and Jezebel worshipped Baal. Umma and her son were also food insecure. 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. After this, the womans son falls ill and dies (v. 17). This Widow demonstrates Christs invitation of His followers to Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first and all other things shall be added to them (Matthew 6:33). 11:1617]. 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 Have reminders sent directly to your email, Pause your devotional at any time to read at your own pace. 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. Here we find reciprocal hospitality: a Phoenician widow (a non-Israelite) feeding a Jewish prophet who will eventually save her son. Provide for her and her children. Ive stopped saying we should challenge God for big things.Actually, nothing challenges God. Series: Women in the Bible. The Widow of Zarephath was desperately poor! But she showed faith, trusted in Jehovah, and fed Elijah first. Rabbah 2:5:3). Her arms were spindly and rough, like the dry twigs she had gathered for kindling. You are our Provider when we have nothing. She prepared food for Elijah with the last of her food, and trusted his words that her barrel would not be empty. Amen. Moses had said: Take care not to be lured away to serve other gods [] For the Lords anger will flare up against you, and He will shut up the skies so that there will be no rain [Deut. She had failed in the most basic ways a mother could, unable to protect, nurture, and provide. 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. Why did Elisha have them pouring the oil in the privacy of their home? How special that Elisha involved the sons in the gathering and filling. The is a very powerful Sermon. We can learn a very important lesson from this. ". 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. The rest of the story is the little child was brought back to life by the LORD God. God provides for him through a raven. And thanks so much for that insight. We will be greatly blessed if we do what this wise proverb says: Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. There were so many possibilities to this story. Chicago Style Citation: God mercifully preserved her and her son, even though they were not of His chosen people. Through her obedience, God sustained the prophet and her household. I can just see her acknowledge him and turn to go get the water. From the Widow of Zarephath we can also learn secrets for success in life and business. The same held true for food: when he came to the widows house, she and he ate from his [that is, both the widow of Zarephath and Elijah partook of Elijahs food, which was miraculously provided to sustain him in the widows house]. 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. We can learn so many lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. Reinforce vocabulary and Bible studies with a fun printable wordsearch puzzle. 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. In this case, the widow appears to have been supportive of her husband. She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. She feeds Elijah in her home. He will not allow the enemy to snatch you up without a fight. And just as He provided for the prophets widow, so He can provide for you. Ask Him what youre supposed to do. It was according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which the LORD has shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Then theyd set it aside and grab a new jar to fill. This is a short story, but so much packed into it. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. Daily provision for food for three years. This man of God is asking for the last of all she has. Prophets always teach and testify of Christ. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. Is the man mad? But know this God is in the business of performing miracles for which only he can get the glory. As they filled up the vessels they were to set aside the ones that were full. This womans husband was one of those students. FACT #2 She was a gentile. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. (1 Kings 17:17-23). Lieberman], Ekev, p. 74). The city serves as part of her identification. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. Elijah needed to trust that if God said provision would be made, then Gods promise would be fulfilled. Her sons life is saved. 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.

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