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). Lets keep in touch. 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. As a woman who endured extreme difficulties, her story reveals God's power to provide what we need the mosta commodity of the heart called faith. God did not abandon that poor widow. From the Widow of Zarephath we can also learn secrets for success in life and business. She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. You might be living from hand to mouth but recognize that it is Gods hands to your mouth. There is a widow there who will feed you. If there was ever a Hallmark-worthy story in the Bible, this is it. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. No matter how little, we have something we can use to bless someone. 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. Imagine the widows great joy when Elijah said: See, your son is alive! Elijah had to run for his life. For him to take up a love offering? Go in and do as you said. Thank you for loving us always. Youre welcome Frazer. The Widow of Zarephath had doubt, just like we all do when we have reached our breaking point. Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. Jesus makes the point that during a time of drought and famine, there were many widows in Israel who had need. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. } So Elijah begged: OJehovah my God, please, let this childs life come back into him.1Kings 17:20,21. 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. The midrash apparently understands that the food eaten by Elijah during his stay with the widow was of miraculous origin, since the entire land was suffering from a severe drought. I can just see her acknowledge him and turn to go get the water. 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 There is always spiritual warfare over your hearts loyalty. Required fields are marked *. She was faithful and obedient to the commands of the LORD. This request was a huge test of faith. Join with other women in theAll Gods Women Bible Study Facebook group. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. 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 sends rain on the land.. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. God tells us to go here or thereto do this or thatand its easy to think its about us. In that moment she chose to trust God. The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. | (Luke 4:25,26) Her story teaches us that God blesses those doing good to his servants. 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. She looked to Elijah for answers. It is very likely that many Baal worshippers lived in Zarephath. (Viewed on January 18, 2023) . The first of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is that spiritual warfare goes up a notch in times of crisis. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." 10 So he went to Zarephath. But it was also a declaration that although it seemed like God was absent, He was very much present. The story of the bleeding woman is one of the most moving in the Scriptures. I feel encouraged my name is Edith a single mother from Nairobi Kenya .av been going through tough times and its not easy at all kindly pray with me for job opportunities am a qualified interior designer , declutter and organising expert.it really crashes my I got bills and debts and am not able to pay. Even if he had any doubts, Elijah began a conversation with the woman. The faith of the Widow of Zarephath turned out to lead to the provision for a tired, depressed, and hungry prophet on the run for his life. From Ahabs slaughterhouse. Just as you saw the prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of Edith. While that is often a part of his plan, our eyes usually rest on ourselves, when in fact it has less to do with us and more to do with what He wants to do through our relationships with the people to whom He connects us. The Widow of Zarephath (Women in the Bible Series) July 10. For him to pay the debt? The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that person's well-being. Ask Him what youre supposed to do. Now how long would those last? Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. God sends him to stay by a brook first. 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. Are debt collectors knocking on your door or calling you on the phone? Every night she hoped for rain, but every morning she woke to a brilliant sky. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. What a comfort . In Christs name we pray. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Her character: A Phoenician woman, she showed extraordinary hospitality to one of God's prophets, providing a safe harbor for him during a period of famine. What about you? The Widow of Zarephath. The second of the encouraging Widow of Zarephath lessons is a bit of a cliche. God heard Elijah and the boy lived once again. Ive been serving the Lord for sometime know,but I still have this fear in me,and Im also afraid of going to hell,because Jesus says in his word,deny me on earth and I deny you on the day of jugdment,this sermon give Im hope in putting faith before my fear Amen. Did the woman remember a past sin that bothered her conscience? He doesn't pat them on the back and say he's sorry life is so tough. Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { Her houseguest says: See, your son is alive.. The widow didnt have much. They saw first hand how the oil from one jar filled enough jars to not only pay off their fathers debt, but for the family to live off of. 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. What was she expecting when she went to Elisha for help? 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. (Philippians 4:19). The faith of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath helps us to realize that God wants to trust Him each day. But she wasnt prepared for his death. Sometimes our blessing is bound up with our serviceWhen we share, no matter how small, we are enriched. But in times of spiritual crisis, he prayed in faith and God answered. 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. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . The prophet had to take out a loan in order to provide for his family. The widow had shown faith and had cared for Elijahs needs. Right now, feel free to press pause, and get on your knees and pour out your heart to the Lord Jesus. This was before the loving kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared. In this case, the widow appears to have been supportive of her husband. TERMS OF USE He takes the boy from her arms, carries him upstairs to his room and lays him on his bed. God did not abandon that poor widow. Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. God chose to take the life of the prophet Elijah and intertwine it with the life of the one widow. For those who are being threatened by others and are feeling helpless, be their Defense. 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. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." Why did Elisha have them pouring the oil in the privacy of their home? But the brook dried up after a while. We will get back to the context of Jesus . He dedicated his life to studying and serving God which meant he was dependent on others to provide for him financially. This is so insightful and inspiring. Another trial was going to test the widows faith. She went back to Elisha to ask what she was to do next. Let's begin in Luke.4.25-26. And in each case, God showed them that they werent alone and that He cared for them. Make learning about the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:7-24 fun with this no prep, printable activity sheet word-find and digital EASEL activity. His need condemned her. Elijah worshipped Jehovah. While in the widows house, Elijah performs the miracle of the jar of flour and the jug of oil, to which, according to the Rabbis, Prov. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. This widow was from Sidon. Kadari, Tamar. How were the widows sons involved in the miracle? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? (1 Kings 17:17-18 NIV). The rest of the story is the little child was brought back to life by the LORD God. But he wants us to trust Him. Blessings to you as well. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives, as well. 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. Im sorry I didnt respond sooner. Through her obedience, God sustained the prophet and her household. The is a very powerful Sermon. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have a living prophet again on the earth! That concludes this weeks episode of All Gods Women. 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. They are sure. The widow's faith in Elijah's God, Jehovah, preserved her and her son alive. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. Chances are, their neighbors were struggling as well, so they likely didnt have money or food to spare. The LORD knew her, knew all about her situation, and the condition of her heart. PRIVACY POLICY Get out your Bible. There was a famine of food. And just as He provided for the prophets widow, so He can provide for you. I am so happy that you have found what you need for you sermon. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. I will not be exploring all of them in this post or we would have a whole book. After we eat it, well die (1 Kings 17:12 MSG). 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. All she had to do was believe God the God of Israel and obey. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { To make matters worse, he died, leaving her with a debt she had no way of paying. Lord God, please be with Edith. Did she think that her sons death was punishment from God and that Elijah was Gods messenger of death? Plus, she was literally down to her last meal. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. 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. 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/ ). Not only that, but the debt collector is trying to take away her two sons and turn them into slaves. There is, after all, a drought in progress. Ask God to make it obvious what youre supposed to do. And thanks so much for that insight. We have to allow the Lord into our lives and accept His loving kindness and live by faith that He is with us through our journey through live. He could have prayed and had God send away the debt collector or have the money delivered to her by someone else. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible story word search puzzle with coloring activity page. 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. Her joy: To experience repeated miracles of God's provision. Baals, the false gods, were erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every corner. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. Plead your case. Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. Another Rabbinic teaching states: If someone tells you that God does not resurrect the dead, say to him: Elijah the Gileadite attests that God resurrects the dead (Deut. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. She heard, understood and walked that walk of faith. Just a short time earlier, she had gently held his lifeless body in her arms. But she showed faith, trusted in Jehovah, and fed Elijah first. The Rabbis also learned from this episode that giving food to someone else is a great 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 (Cant. In mourning of the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet night she hoped for rain, but the debt collector have... And obedient to the commands of the LORD heard the cries of Elijah and had... 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