She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. Wrap your arms around her and remind her that shes not alone, that you see her and you love her very much. She was a Gentile, an outsider. (Viewed on January 18, 2023) . Comfort her when shes feeling overwhelmed. 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. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. Who was the Widow of Zarephath? He told her to sell the oil, pay back the debt, and she and her sons could live off of whatever remained. Another trial was going to test the widows faith. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijahs time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath was absolutely stretched to limits! We are never alone, He hears our every prayers, He answers our prayers in ways we would never imagine. The Message says she said, I swear, as surely as your God lives, I dont have so much as a biscuit. If everything was dying, she should have had more access to firewood. She went back to Elisha to ask what she was to do next. Elijah is commanded to go to Sidon, where he will be fed by a widow (17:9). 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. Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. God did not abandon that poor widow. Then you can make something afterward for you and your son. Moses, too, received his food from a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the well (Ex. ", But the man had persisted. God will do what He needs to do to secure your hearts complete loyalty. 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. 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. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. Most important she learned that the word of the LORD is the truth. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { So Elijah begged: OJehovah my God, please, let this childs life come back into him.1Kings 17:20,21. The Widow of Zarephath is an example of faith. What do we know about the Widow of Zarephath whose story is found in I Kings 17:8-24? He doesn't pat them on the back and say he's sorry life is so tough. 1 Kings 17: 10-16: "So he arose and went to Zarephath. It will likely take faith on your part. God heard Elijah and the boy lived once again. He would even take oil-lamps and wicks with him when he went from place to place, so as not to trouble others. But in this post, we focus in on Sarahs characteristics and what we can learn from, Continue reading Lessons from the life of Sarah in the Bible (characteristics and marriage lessons)Continue, The characteristics of Ruth in the Bible makes for an exciting study! And who was her son? (Read on to find out why he chose a drought over anything else). In Christs name we pray. She began to prepare for a final supper for herself and her child. 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. Chicago Style Citation: Try it FREE right now! Are you open to hearing His voice when He speaks through others? God mercifully preserved her and her son, even though they were not of His chosen people. The story of a widow, who remained unnamed in the Bible, was important enough to have her faith and obedience recorded in the Bible. 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. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. If she did not show faith in Jehovah, then another widow might have been chosen who would. Our God is still a miraculous provider, granting what we need sometimes in the most unexpected ways. When Elijah declared a drought in the name of the God of heaven, it was the beginning of a showdown. This was the last place that you should expect to find faith. Blessings to you also. A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. This is when God brings Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath together. You already have the key of rain, and you [also] want the key of the resurrection of the dead? For those who are being threatened by others and are feeling helpless, be their Defense. Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. 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). The woman, only referred to as the "widow of Zarephath," demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. The woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath, demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. The Rabbis applied to this the verse (Ps. Tears escaped her eyes, try as she might to blink them back. Then behind her, she hears him ask for a piece of bread. The is a very powerful Sermon. What could the widows husband have done differently? Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. She is a graduate of Psychology/Christian and Bible Counseling with Liberty University. What a time in my Christian walk to learn this? He took God at his word. How could she do so, since she was so poor? 31 December 1999. It is very likely that many Baal worshippers lived in Zarephath. Elijah had declared God's message of judgment on Israel and her wicked king, but the message fell on deaf ears. So keep fighting with God for your faith. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible story word search puzzle with coloring activity page. Her arms were spindly and rough, like the dry twigs she had gathered for kindling. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. What relationships does He want you to cultivate? God spoke to Elijah again and told him to go to Zarephath. It was in the middle of this drought that Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath become a part of each others lives. Was she the woman who would give food to the prophet? In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have a living prophet again on the earth! Elijahs life is saved.Her blessings were full to the running over. In that moment she chose to trust God. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. She depended on her husband to provide for her and their sons, but he was so busy studying and serving that he didnt bring in enough income to meet their basic needs. Not all those who lived in Zarephath were completely corrupt. And I mean bad in a good way. Start for FREE. He will watch over his word until it comes to pass. Did she expect a miracle or was she more practical minded? Are you willing to be used by God to speak His truth into the lives of others as He leads you. 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. God remember me . When we do this we are also forgetting the loving kindness of LORD God. Plead your case. She was a widow living in Zarephath, a city in Zidon about where Lebanon is today. You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, 2022, we are spotlighting women who rocked in Bible times! | To make matters worse, he died, leaving her with a debt she had no way of paying. 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.. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. } Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . Rabbah 4:2). (Psalm 37:25), And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. She needs a miracle. Have reminders sent directly to your email, Pause your devotional at any time to read at your own pace. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2541,. The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephtah can be found in the following Bible verses: 5 Faith lessons from the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible, Lessons from the life of Sarah in the Bible (characteristics and marriage lessons), Characteristics of Ruth in the Bible (and lessons from the story of Ruth and Boaz), Rizpah in the Bible Characteristics and lessons learned, Faith in Bible stories: 30+ inspirational examples and stories from Scripture, Daughters of Zelophehad Lessons for life, faith and prayer. Somehow, God pulled her to himself and transformed her heart from false worship to faith-filled. 4). The king of the kingdom of Israel was Ahab and his wife was Jezebel. Now the woman looks at her resurrected son and is thrilled to see his smile. Baal was said to be the god of the weather. Rabbah 2:5:3). He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. No one repented, and Elijah was forced to live in hiding. Kadari, Tamar. She was faithful and obedient to the commands of the LORD. Required fields are marked *. 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. (Luke 4:25,26) Her story teaches us that God blesses those doing good to his servants. Tell Him your situation. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. This was a humbling activity. Just Elijahs presence in the land was an offense to the enemy. Elisha could have just given her the money she needed. The Widow of Zarephath had doubt, just like we all do when we have reached our breaking point. The Widow of Zarephath. Jezebel, King Ahabs wife, tried to kill all of Gods prophets. When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to Zarephath with instruction to look to a widow to sustain him. 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. Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. Elijah worshipped Jehovah. There's a story about a widow of Zarephath. 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). 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.. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. 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). The Widow of Zarephath didnt blame Elijah or the LORD for the death of her son. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. 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. (1 Kings 17:17-23). However, the contents of this blog post may not be modified, compiled, combined with other content, copied, recorded, synchronized, transmitted, translated, formatted, distributed, publicly displayed, publicly performed, reproduced, given away, used to create derivative works and otherwise used or exploited (including for-profit or commercial gain) without the creators expressed permission. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Her sons would hand her an empty jar. Have you ever been in debt? 16) and the drought (beginning of chap. FACT #2 She was a gentile. Jehovah was listening. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. He will provide for our needs on a daily basis. 7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. The widow didnt have much. Jesus will be with you as you speak His words. And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. So he made the request for food on faith, knowing that God would no doubt watch over his word and make it come to pass. We learned she did not have but a handful of meal in her barrel, and a little oil in the curse she did not have a cake for Elijah. Have an update or correction? God told Elijah to go to Zarephath and find a widow. I have learned this though: Even for people who have denied Jesus, there is forgiveness and complete restoration. The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. The Prophet Elijah is invited into a widow 's home after he asks her for a piece of bread. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Are you searching for and helping such people? Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith. Ask God to make it obvious what youre supposed to do. We need to know about the time period she lived in and the events that led to her faithfulness to the LORD. When God sends Elijah to the Widow, the instruction was that he had commanded her to feed. Thanks so much for the exposition of the story of the widow of zarephath. (Psalm 23:3). Elijah had to run for his life. 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. The curse of the teacher is not fulfilled, but that of his disciple is? He might as well ask me to snap my fingers and produce a cow to feast on. 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