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. Elijahs receiving food from a widow creates a parallelism with Moses, the father of all prophets. And in each case, God showed them that they . This was the case with the faith of the Widow of Zarephath. We might easily assume this widow is not of Hebrew lineage, but she clearly believed in the Hebrews God and trusted Him. What about you? Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. She did what had to be done because she had faith in the LORD. The city serves as part of her identification. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. A lesson that we can learn from this is that God blesses those who show faith in him. But God is full of surprises. 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. Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. 4). 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. ", But the man had persisted. So glad you were encouraged. These lessons from the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible will empower, encourage and inspire you. And who was her son? Here is a widow with a son who was not one of the children of Israel 1 Kings 17:10. They are sure. Kadari, Tamar. Just a short time earlier, she had gently held his lifeless body in her arms. But then a stranger had called to her: "Woman, would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink? All she had to do was believe God the God of Israel and obey. It was a wicked time where the worship of false gods was practice. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible story word search puzzle with coloring activity page. 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. This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. 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. Admit your helplessness. Completely. 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. 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. 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). Those who worshipped Baal believed he was the god who brought rains and bountiful harvestso the words Elijah spoke for God were profanity against Jezebels god. The Word of the LORD is in reality truth and reliable. The Message says she said, I swear, as surely as your God lives, I dont have so much as a biscuit. This man of God is asking for the last of all she has. Are you looking for God to answer you through the divine connection of relationship Hes placed in your life? STOP delaying to get to know the Bible better! We need to know about the time period she lived in and the events that led to her faithfulness to the LORD. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. Her arms were spindly and rough, like the dry twigs she had gathered for kindling. They teach so, Continue reading Daughters of Zelophehad Lessons for life, faith and prayerContinue, Thank you very much and may God bless you. I am blessed that you have been encouraged. 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). Beg for His mercy and provision. 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. Elijahs life is saved.Her blessings were full to the running over. (Read on to find out why he chose a drought over anything else). Gods purposes are so much higher and wider than what we imagine. This was another name for Zarephath. Her sons would hand her an empty jar. How many people who live in your territory are like the widow of Zarephath? Thank you so much J. The Widow of Zarephath is an example of faith. It was in the middle of this drought that Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath become a part of each others lives. It takes courage to go to your neighbors and ask them for something. 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. The widow could see that Elijah was an Israelite who served God. Are debt collectors knocking on your door or calling you on the phone? Reinforce vocabulary and Bible studies with a fun printable wordsearch puzzle. But they did have extra containers. The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. 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. 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/ ). BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. What could the widows husband have done differently? (Psalm 23:3). 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? I will be praying for you my brother in Christ. Today she had scraped the last bit of flour from the barrel and poured the last drop of oil from the jug. When Elijah finds her, she was picking up sticks for firewood. He will be a Provider, a Protector, and a Friend in order to help you endure.Exodus 3:13-15. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Sure enough, the brook runs dry. Have you ever been in debt? Such a powerful reminder of another of Gods promises at the perfect time. This widow was from Sidon. Daily provision for food for three years. Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. 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. The is a very powerful Sermon. 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. Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. Read the story of the prophets widow in 2 Kings 4. You give freely to those in need. "Then the LORD said to Elijah, 'Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. return true; 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 woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. Elijah could be seen as taking advantage of the vulnerable in society.Nevertheless, she was quite giving. And He needs to know youre listening. All she had to do was believe God the God of Israel and obey. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die. You might be living from hand to mouth but recognize that it is Gods hands to your mouth. She left a legacy of faith that has lasted for generations. It is very likely that many Baal worshippers lived in Zarephath. We meet the Prophets Widow in 2 Kings chapter 4. After that, every time she dipped her hand into the flour, every time she poured oil from the jug, the widow saw another miracle unfold, another sign of favor, additional evidence of God's provision. 17) and Gods command to stop the drought (beginning of chap. 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. Facilitator: Amah Linda. After we eat it, well die (1 Kings 17:12 MSG). God is also always looking for opportunities to show up in your life and show off. For this is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: The large jar of flour will not run out, and the small jar of oil will not run dry until the day Jehovah makes it rain on the surface of the ground.1Kings 17:11-14. Then theyd set it aside and grab a new jar to fill. There is a widow there who will feed you. Just Elijahs presence in the land was an offense to the enemy. 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. 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 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. Is the man mad? Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. Was she looking for a handout? But she wasnt prepared for his death. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. 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. I will not talk much about Naomi here as I have dedicated an entire, Continue reading Characteristics of Ruth in the Bible (and lessons from the story of Ruth and Boaz)Continue, The story of Rizpah in the Bible is one of the absolutely gory and heartbreaking sagas in all of Scripture. We can assume she is the only widow in her city. 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). Her life is saved. He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. Their clothing set them apart so they could receive help from their community. For him to pay the debt? In 1898, an article in Zions Watch Tower taught this lesson: If the widow had faith and obeyed Elijah, she would receive Jehovahs help. For those who are being threatened by others and are feeling helpless, be their Defense. When Elijah sees the woman God told him to meet, he asks her for a cup of water. Edith, just checking back to see how you are doing. Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? (1 Kings 17:17-18 NIV). An unexpected check comes just when you need it. She was obedient and faithful to the LORD. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. Get out your Bible. Thank you for loving us always. She feeds Elijah in her home. He will not allow the enemy to snatch you up without a fight. Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . She looked to Elijah for answers. The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. She literally was going to eat her last meal and then she was going to starve to death. This midrash seemingly comes to somewhat moderate Elijahs powers as they are presented in the Biblical narrative, since he does not control everything, but receives only one key at a time. She was a widow living in Zarephath, a city in Zidon about where Lebanon is today. Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 17:8-24; Luke 4:25-26 She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. It is not because of our righteousness or any of our good works that we were saved by Him. Now how long would those last? 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. Background: 10 Century BC. She cannot believe what she is seeing. Zarephath rest inside the region of Sidon, the native country of Queen Jezebel, the woman who married the wicked King Ahab . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This was a humbling activity. These mazzah cakes miraculously sufficed for the Israelites for thirty days, until the manna began to descend (Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Masekhta de-Pisha, Bo 14). Elijah lived with her for 2 years and God provided enough for each day.God did not provide a whole barrel full at once. It is hard to separate her from Hagar and her husband. The Bible does not tell us, but we know this: The widow did not accuse God of doing anything wrong. He will provide for our needs on a daily basis. Use your servant mightily to encourage the hearts of your people. The Widow of Zarephath didnt blame Elijah or the LORD for the death of her son. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. 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. Elijah had to run for his life. 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