Elijah could be seen as taking advantage of the vulnerable in society.Nevertheless, she was quite giving. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. How were the widows sons involved in the miracle? The story has three main characters: Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Thank you for stopping by. FACT #5 The son of the Widow at Zarephath remains nameless. Have you ever been in debt? Holstein, Joanne (2015) The Widow of Zarephath:. Becker Bible Studies Library (April), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2541, (accessed). Elijah had declared God's message of judgment on Israel and her wicked king, but the message fell on deaf ears. But in times of spiritual crisis, he prayed in faith and God answered. There is always spiritual warfare over your hearts loyalty. I am so happy that you have found what you need for you sermon. Reinforce vocabulary and Bible studies with a fun printable wordsearch puzzle. The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. Ask Him what youre supposed to do. What relationships does He want you to cultivate? And here, I erect idols on every ridge in the land, and the rains fall so copiously that it is impossible to walk to those ridges. In 1898, an article in Zions Watch Tower taught this lesson: If the widow had faith and obeyed Elijah, she would receive Jehovahs help. Think of a time God provided for your financial needs. 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. 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. Elijah struggled with wobbly faith, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. 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. When Elijah sees the woman God told him to meet, he asks her for a cup of water. It may require you to look around at what you have and do something with the resources Hes already blessed you with. 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. It will be said that two keys are held by the disciple and one by the Master! Youre welcome Frazer. Now how long would those last? The resurrection of her son was an event in her life that truly strengthened her faith. 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). Just as you saw the prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of Edith. In her mind, the end is near. Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. Elijah lived with her for 2 years and God provided enough for each day.God did not provide a whole barrel full at once. Women of Prayer is a 10-Week Bible study about getting to know the character of God through the stories of Bible women who prayed. Her name didnt matter, but her faith and obedience will forever be remembered. There is much curiosity about what he was called but there is no record of his name in all of Scripture. The article went on to say that it is the same for us. Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? (1 Kings 17:17-18 NIV). Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . What an amazing lesson they witnessed to see how God cared for them and provided for them. New International Version (NIV). They continued until all the vessels were full. Not all those who lived in Zarephath were completely corrupt. 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.' The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. But hard times is nothing new. Thanks so much for sharing. Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith, https://thefaithspace.com/lessons-from-the-woman-with-the-issue-of-blood/. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Copyright 2022| Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians |, The Psychological Condition of Depression. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. God will do what He needs to do to secure your hearts complete loyalty. Open job opportunities for her that will pay for her bills and help pay off her debts. Ahab and Jezebel worshipped Baal. 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. Jewish Women's Archive. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. Her arms were spindly and rough, like the dry twigs she had gathered for kindling. FACT #4 She was extremely poor. Like Naaman, her faith was unlikely and Jesus makes reference to him as well. For him to take up a love offering? "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." Yes, they are Bible characters from a long time ago but their faith in God has reached across time to uplift our hearts. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. Fear can be just as strong as faithif you let it. For him to pay the debt? A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. Shelmith, oh how you have blessed my heart today by sharing your testimony :D. Praise the living God for sure! The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephtah can be found in the following Bible verses: 1 Kings 17: 8-24. Their clothing set them apart so they could receive help from their community. 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). He would even take oil-lamps and wicks with him when he went from place to place, so as not to trouble others. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.". He obeyed, finding a woman gathering sticks. All she had to do was believe God the God of Israel and obey. She went back to Elisha to ask what she was to do next. She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. (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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. } 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). Oh Desmond, I hear you and I definitely understand the fear. (Viewed on January 18, 2023) . The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijah's story. The LORD knew her, knew all about her situation, and the condition of her heart. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. FACT #3 - Elijah knew she was a widow because of what she was wearing. He could have prayed and had God send away the debt collector or have the money delivered to her by someone else. 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. 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. But he had died before the drought, leaving her with a small son, a house, and little else. From where did the ravens bring meat? Ask God to make it obvious what youre supposed to do. The widow of Zarephath had felt utterly alone, not knowing God had his eye on her. STOP delaying to get to know the Bible better! God bless. Why does God allow godly men to die young? But know this God is in the business of performing miracles for which only he can get the glory. This was a humbling activity. 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. Another tradition reveals Elijahs dislike of having to rely on other people. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. Rabbah [ed. 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. 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 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). She replied: As surely as Jehovah your God is living, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the large jar and a little oil in the small jar. The LORD God had commanded this widow woman to sustain someone she did not know during a time of great drought and starvation. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. I will be praying for you my brother in Christ. Jezebel had commanded all the prophets in the land to be killed. Though she starved herself to feed her child, his distended belly accused her. The Widow of Zarephath is a picture of faith. Here is a prayer for you Lord, I pray you will be with your servant Shelmith. 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Do you stare at the bills and wonder how on earth theyre ever going to get paid? Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Moses, too, received his food from a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the well (Ex. 16) and the drought (beginning of chap. The widows faith in Elijahs God, Jehovah, kept her and her son alive. These days she stood with shoulders hunched as though to hide her breasts. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. There is, after all, a drought in progress. And this showdown came to a head in the story of Mount Carmel. It is very likely that many Baal worshippers lived in Zarephath. It was almost gone. Elijah undergoes a process of change: the death of the son enables him to understand Gods suffering at the sight of His starving handiwork and he is therefore willing to return the key of rain. God sent Elijah to a woman who had nothing so that He could provide for her and her family supernaturally as a result of her faith. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. She had every right to refuse. I have learned this though: Even for people who have denied Jesus, there is forgiveness and complete restoration. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. When her level of faith was compared to those who claimed to know God, she stood head and shoulders above them. That emotional resurrection happened almost 3,000 years ago. The Widow of Zarephath is that perfect example of going hand in hand with Jesus I so often speak about. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. And when she gave, something amazing happened. In that moment she chose to trust God. Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. We can learn a very important lesson from this. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. 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. How like God to construct a parable of grace during a time of judgment, to display his mercy and power in the midst of weakness and need. 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. We can really pray for and trust God for BIG things. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). As they filled up the vessels they were to set aside the ones that were full. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. Ahab was the king in Israel at a crucial time. Would you like to read this article in %%? Lord God, these are difficult times for so many. 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. There's a story about a widow of Zarephath. God provides for him through a raven. (Psalm 23:3). The Widow of Zarephaths story doesnt end there. }); This man of God is asking for the last of. Tune in next week when we talk about the Shunammite woman, a wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God. Beg for His mercy and provision. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that persons well-being. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath. When Elijah declared a drought in the name of the God of heaven, it was the beginning of a showdown. During this time in history God rose up prophets like Elisha who held prophecy schools where they tutored or trained other prophets in the ancient Law. When God sends Elijah to the Widow, the instruction was that he had commanded her to feed. God multiplied the flour and oil so that she did not have to worry about food. The reviving of the dead in this narrative serves the Rabbis as a model of the future Resurrection of the Dead, since whatever God will do in the World to Come He has already shown to humans in this world. 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. They are sure. 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. Hello Diana. Shes all alone and desperately trying to protect her children. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." 10 So he went to Zarephath. This was the hometown of Jezeb el, wife of King Ahab. 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. 1 Kings 17: 9- 24. Today she had scraped the last bit of flour from the barrel and poured the last drop of oil from the jug. 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.. Elijah asks her to give her son to him. After we have eaten, we will die. (1Kings 17:12) What can we learn from this conversation? But how precious that they were able to be active participants in the miraculous provision for their needs. This was his calling. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. And just as He provided for the prophets widow, so He can provide for you. That concludes this weeks episode of All Gods Women. Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts. You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. How special that Elisha involved the sons in the gathering and filling. 31:20): her hands are stretched out to the needy, since she fed Elijah (Midrash Eshet Hayil, Batei Midrashot, vol. At Zarephath the prophet was shown hospitality by a poor widow, whose flour and oil were miraculously sustained during a great famine and whose son Elijah, in God's power, subsequently raised from death. The faith of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath helps us to realize that God wants to trust Him each day. The woman said to Elijah (v. 18): [] that you should come here to recall my sin and cause the death of my son? In the midrashic expansion, she tells him: Until you came here, God would weigh my actions in comparison with the local people, and I would be found worthy. Elisha told her to go to all of her neighbors and borrow empty vessels from them. Before we get into the lessons from the Widow of Zarephath, let me summarize the story and create some context for you. God did not abandon that poor widow. Jehovah listened to Elijahs prayer and brought the child back to life. The story of Peter in the Bible teaches that. The widow had shown faith and had cared for Elijahs needs. For her to move forward in obedience and faith, she needed to put away fear. The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. He will provide for our needs on a daily basis. Join with other women in theAll Gods Women Bible Study Facebook group. 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. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. Just enough for them to live on a daily basis. She is a graduate of Psychology/Christian and Bible Counseling with Liberty University. Am shelmith from Kenya. for(var i=0; i
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