Umma and her son were also food insecure. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. 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). He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. } (Acts 24:15) Surely these are excellent reasons for remembering the widow of Zarephath. Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. The Widow of Zarephath is an example of faith. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. Fear can be just as strong as faithif you let it. 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. At one point, Elijah thought he was the last living prophet (1 Kings 18:22). Later, the widow's faith would again be tested when her young son died. Did she think that her sons death was punishment from God and that Elijah was Gods messenger of death? She lashes out in her pain at the man she trusted, the man who God used to perform a miracle. The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith, Publication download options Were told she was one of the wives of the sons of the prophets. 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. Her houseguest says: See, your son is alive.. God never leaves his people without guidance and direction. Remember, she was looking at the possibility of dying a bit earlier if she gave away her very last meal. Provide for her and her children. He might as well ask me to snap my fingers and produce a cow to feast on. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. 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. So many people are prevented from reaching their goals, accessing their blessings, and living an abundant life because of fear. Episode 86: Fat Torah with Minna Bromberg. The Widow of Zarephath is a picture of faith. Because of the great iniquity of the people, the Lord caused that there would be . Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. Just as Elijah promised, Jehovah multiplied her meager supplies so that they sustained Elijah, the widow, and her son until the drought ended. The Widow of Zarephath. While Ahab and Jezebel and Elijah were drawing swords on earth, that was just a representation of what was happening in the spiritual word. Jewish Women's Archive. God is also always looking for opportunities to show up in your life and show off. God provides for him through a raven. Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD. Umma, the widow of Zarephath lived in a prime real estate location but did not have two sticks to rub together and make a fire. Are you searching for and helping such people? He will provide for our needs on a daily basis. God loves you. 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. Here is a widow with a son who was not one of the children of Israel 1 Kings 17:10. 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. We know a lot about the Widow of Zarephath even though we do not now her name. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that persons well-being. Can you imagine just a little attitude in her response to him? Elijah was staying with the widow and her household while there was a drought in the land. You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. The widow's faith in Elijah's God, Jehovah, kept her and her son alive. Ive stopped saying we should challenge God for big things.Actually, nothing challenges God. It was in the middle of this drought that Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath become a part of each others lives. Right now, feel free to press pause, and get on your knees and pour out your heart to the Lord Jesus. } Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. Joanne Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. Rabbah 2:5:3). In this case, the widow appears to have been supportive of her husband. The widow's faith saved not only her son and herself but actually provided a refuge for Elijah, who may have wondered why God chose such flimsy protectiona destitute woman who lived in the territory of his worst enemy, Jezebel. 18), creates a causal relationship between them. Elijah took the boy and laid him upon his own bed and cried unto the LORD. Zarephath was a gentile country. Check out our on demand resources, Experience Hope Daily Devotional Family Life Radio Updates. Have you ever been in debt? Elijah needed to trust that if God said provision would be made, then Gods promise would be fulfilled. Even if he had any doubts, Elijah began a conversation with the woman. Our lives are intertwined for mutual provision and blessing. She is a great example of having faith, trust and obedience to the LORD. 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. Was she the woman who would give food to the prophet? Well, very little. The midrash thus draws a parallel between the death of the widows son, on the one hand, and the drought and the resulting famine on the other. It will be said that two keys are held by the disciple and one by the Master! New International Version (NIV). She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. No matter how small or insignificant, we have something to give to someone else to help them. Open job opportunities for her that will pay for her bills and help pay off her debts. Elijah orders the woman to prepare a small cake for him (v. 13). Perhaps she had come to know him well in the time that had passed. What about you? If everything was dying, she should have had more access to firewood. Am much encouraged at the same time I was looking for further understanding about the story of Elijah and the widow since for the first time I will be giving the word of God where I fellowship.i thank God for leading me and giving me what I was looking for through this page.for sure fear and anxiety has been killing me but this word has ministered to me.help me God. Through her obedience, God sustained the prophet and her household. When we suffer trials, we need to look for Jehovahs guidance in the Scriptures and in our publications. 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. Admit your helplessness. 11:1617]. When Elijah arrived at Zarephath, he saw a poor widow collecting pieces of wood. Her name didnt matter, but her faith and obedience will forever be remembered. They handed those empty vessels to their mom and watched as she filled them with oil. Shes angry. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. Are you willing to be used by God to speak His truth into the lives of others as He leads you. Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. Another tradition reveals Elijahs dislike of having to rely on other people. Zarephath rest inside the region of Sidon, the native country of Queen Jezebel, the woman who married the wicked King Ahab and required her god, Baal to be worshipped instead of God Almighty (1 King 21:25-26). This widow was from Sidon. But she would also be the first woman to witness God's power to raise the dead, which he did in response to Elijah's repeated prayers on behalf of her child. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Are debt collectors knocking on your door or calling you on the phone? The widow didnt have much. Holstein, Joanne (2015) The Widow of Zarephath:. Becker Bible Studies Library (April), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2541, (accessed). Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. Lord God, these are difficult times for so many. return false; God doesn't ignore the needs of those who cannot help themselves. He provided for them in ways they didnt expect, and in doing so, demonstrated His amazing love for them. Yet, what did Elijah say? Soon after, her son dies, and Elijah pleads to God for the power to resurrect him. 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. I hope you have been encouraged by these lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. Read a psalm or two. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. It was then that the widow knew that Elijah was a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth. (Read on to find out why he chose a drought over anything else). Second, she was in no position to feed anybody. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. The city serves as part of her identification. There are so many people of faith in the Bible. Please take away the fear and anxiety that the enemy is trying to use to intimidate your child. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. For some reason I wasnt getting notifications. All He wants us to do is to love him back. It was located between Sidon and Tyre which would be in modern day Lebanon. Give guidance and wisdom so that we know exactly what to do in whatever situation we may find us in. Then you can make something afterward for you and your son. Then do it. It was a wicked time where the worship of false gods was practice. Did she expect a miracle or was she more practical minded? The is a very powerful Sermon. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The king of the kingdom of Israel was Ahab and his wife was Jezebel. Why does God allow godly men to die young? Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. Jesus will be with you as you speak His words. 3). 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. But what a wise decision she made! In her mind, the end is near. Your email address will not be published. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. for(var i=0; i
the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
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