Required fields are marked *. Completely. Firstly, the Widow of Zarephath was a gentile. This was his calling. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. I am so happy that you have found what you need for you sermon. The Prophet Elijah is invited into a widow 's home after he asks her for a piece of bread. 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. When Elijah arrived at Zarephath, he saw a poor widow collecting pieces of wood. She prepared food for Elijah with the last of her food, and trusted his words that her barrel would not be empty. And this showdown came to a head in the story of Mount Carmel. Did the woman remember a past sin that bothered her conscience? The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. How many people who live in your territory are like the widow of Zarephath? But she showed faith, trusted in Jehovah, and fed Elijah first. When Elijah declared a drought in the name of the God of heaven, it was the beginning of a showdown. (Psalm 37:25), And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. She heard, understood and walked that walk of faith. These women challenged the beliefs and practices of their day. What a comfort . I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die. 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. 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. 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. The life of a ministers wife can be difficult. And when she completed the task, she again went to him for the next step. She was not an Israelite. What relationships does He want you to cultivate? She feeds Elijah in her home. This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Reach US; Reach our Team; Locations; Join on Telegram; Alternate . Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. In Christs name we pray. Here is a widow with a son who was not one of the children of Israel 1 Kings 17:10. God never leaves his people without guidance and direction. So Elijah, the prophet of God, declared a three year drought over the land of Israel. Ravens feed Elijah for many days, but when the brook dries up he is commanded to go to, There was also a growing desire for integration in Latin America, and several steps were taken in this direction. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. Her name didnt matter, but her faith and obedience will forever be remembered. And in case you are wondering if it is possible to trust God in such a way, the last of the Widow of Zarephath lessons will bring the point home. 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. 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 widow could see that Elijah was an Israelite who served God. If you want to continue learning from the Widow of Zarephath story, I encourage you to check out someother Bible studies. The Widow of Zarephath. She left a legacy of faith that has lasted for generations. 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. The Widow of Zarephath is a picture of faith. Elijah had declared God's message of judgment on Israel and her wicked king, but the message fell on deaf ears. Shelmith, oh how you have blessed my heart today by sharing your testimony :D. Praise the living God for sure! God did not abandon that poor widow. Another trial was going to test the widows faith. Then Elisha had the widow and her sons closing the door before filling the jars. 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. The widows faith in Elijahs God, Jehovah, kept her and her son alive. The king of the kingdom of Israel was Ahab and his wife was Jezebel. 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. Jewish Women's Archive. As they filled up the vessels they were to set aside the ones that were full. That emotional resurrection happened almost 3,000 years ago. 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.. There was a famine of food. 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.. In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, 2022, we are spotlighting women who rocked in Bible times! Bible Gateway Plus makes it simple. 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. God mercifully preserved her and her son, even though they were not of His chosen people. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. // check if at least one field is required Are you open to hearing His voice when He speaks through others? God loves you. The widow's faith in Elijah's God, Jehovah, kept her and her son alive. In their meeting in the mourners house, Ahab asked Elijah: The curse of Joshua is fulfilled, but the curse of Moses is not? We do know she was a Phoenician woman living in a pagan land and that she showed extraordinary hospitality by providing safe harbor for one of God's prophets during a period of famine. The Widow of Zarephath lessons that we will explore in this post might challenge you. Provide for her and her children. 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/ ). He encouraged her to gather as many as she could. I look forward to hearing from you! He scooped him up and carried him back downstairs to his mother. This exposition, based on the juxtaposition of the resurrection of the widows son (end of chap. 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. 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. 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. 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. Elijah was feed by ravens for many days. Read a psalm or two. This was before the loving kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared. She is introduced to us by saying she was gathering sticks when Elijah called her to fetch him a little water and a morsel of bread. Let's begin in Luke.4.25-26. Our God is still a miraculous provider, granting what we need sometimes in the most unexpected ways. Were not told of her praying to God herself, but she did know to go to Gods man for direction, and possibly, a miracle. (Psalm 23:3). The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. I will not be exploring all of them in this post or we would have a whole book. It was in the middle of this drought that Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath become a part of each others lives. He obeyed, finding a woman gathering sticks. Women Who Rocked the BibleStories of Those Who Shaped Their Culture and Still Inspire You Today. Yes, they are Bible characters from a long time ago but their faith in God has reached across time to uplift our hearts. And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. This woman didn't know that the LORD is a loving LORD. (Luke 4:25,26) Her story teaches us that God blesses those doing good to his servants. This exegesis is based on the juxtaposition between the episode of Hiel the Bethelite (I Kings, end of chap. There is hardly a person who cannot relate to struggling with something for a long, Continue reading 5 Faith lessons from the woman with the issue of blood in the BibleContinue, The lessons from the life of Sarah in the Bible are all so interesting because her story is filled so much drama. Sometimes our blessing is bound up with our serviceWhen we share, no matter how small, we are enriched. Jehovah listened to Elijahs prayer and brought the child back to life. The Mystery of the Four Kingdoms; The Revelation of The Seven Trumpets; The Seven Church Ages Commentary; WMB Books. } Why? 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. Her sons would hand her an empty jar. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { The woman, only referred to as the "widow of Zarephath," demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. This is when God brings Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath together. Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. Elijah turns up and two things are obvious. He provided for them in ways they didnt expect, and in doing so, demonstrated His amazing love for them. He might as well ask me to snap my fingers and produce a cow to feast on. ", Graciously, she had gone to fetch it, only to have him call after her, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread.". She said to Elijah, What do you have against me, man of God? The Widow of Zarephath helps us to better understand that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. 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). There is much curiosity about what he was called but there is no record of his name in all of Scripture. When Elijah finds her, she was picking up sticks for firewood. Forgive us when we lose faith and forget what an awesome God You are. It takes courage to go to your neighbors and ask them for something. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. He takes the boy from her arms, carries him upstairs to his room and lays him on his bed. Umma and her son were also food insecure. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. When the Widow of Zarephath expresses concern for her meagre meal, Elijah told her, Do not be afraid.. You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. 2). Read about other women who rocked in the Bible: Deboraha Faithful Focus on What You Can Do, Want more? She had a home; she was the "mistress" of the house in 1 Kings 17:17, yet she was "house poor," possessing little to nothing beyond her home. Elijahs stay in the house of the widow was meant to bring him closer to the suffering prevalent in the world, and to acquaint him with the hunger and want from which the women and children suffered. 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. We might easily assume this widow is not of Hebrew lineage, but she clearly believed in the Hebrews God and trusted Him. When God sends Elijah to the Widow, the instruction was that he had commanded her to feed. Then he died, leaving his helpless widow owing money and having no way to pay off the debt. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Then sit back and listen to what He has to say. 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! Elijahs life is saved.Her blessings were full to the running over. 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. 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 Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith, Publication download options But hard times is nothing new. If only her husband were alive to squeeze a harvest from the fields. For him to pay the debt? Lord God, these are difficult times for so many. When the brook of Cheribth dried up the LORD told Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath where there was a widow woman there that would sustain him. Rabbah 2:5:3). This widow was from Sidon. She had lived her life a stone's throw from the Mediterranean, at Zarephath, seven miles south of Sidon, in a territory ruled by Jezebel's father. The Widow of Zarephath. Elijah struggled with wobbly faith, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. And just as He provided for the prophets widow, so He can provide for you. (1 Kings 17:17-23). Series: Women in the Bible. But he wants us to trust Him. 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. Elijah was staying with the widow and her household while there was a drought in the land. The town of Zarephath was one hundred miles from the brook Cherith, where Elijah had been in hiding from King Ahab. Get out your Bible. It is not because of our righteousness or any of our good works that we were saved by Him. The Rabbis relate that this son was Jonah son of Amittai, who was completely righteous, and would eventually enter the Garden of Eden while still alive (Midrash Tehilim 26:7). Claim and trust Gods promises. She began to prepare for a final supper for herself and her child. Reinforce vocabulary and Bible studies with a fun printable wordsearch puzzle. In fact, our biggest following is in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. 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. Her joy: To experience repeated miracles of God's provision. 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. 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. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. This is why the ketiv [the Scriptural text as written, in v. 15] has he and she had food, while the keri [the traditional reading] has she and he had food. The Rabbis ask why, then, does God say: I have designated a widow there to feed youdid he eat from her food? Elisha could have just given her the money she needed. 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. We meet the Prophets Widow in 2 Kings chapter 4. But she wasnt prepared for his death. 1 Kings 17:9-24, Luke 4:25-26. Rabbah 4:2). She feeds Elijah in her home. When Elijah sees the woman God told him to meet, he asks her for a cup of water. Ask God to make it obvious what youre supposed to do. It took great faith for Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath to believe God. Ahab was the king in Israel at a crucial time. Indeed April. Go in and do as you said. 3). She needs a miracle. 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. return true; We will get back to the context of Jesus . RECORDING DATE: July 3, 2020. 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.' 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. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. God tells us to go here or thereto do this or thatand its easy to think its about us. But he had died before the drought, leaving her with a small son, a house, and little else. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But God is full of surprises. Well, very little. He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. The Widow had her last bit of sustenance left in this life.But she was so willing to give from it. Elijah arose and went to Wadi Cherith, where the ravens brought him bread and meat (v. 2). Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Sure enough, the brook runs dry. She was a widow living in Zarephath, a city in Zidon about where Lebanon is today. Shed fill it with oil from her original container. A lesson that we can learn from this is that God blesses those who show faith in him. Even her name is lost to the history. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. Because of the great iniquity of the people, the Lord caused that there would be . When Elijah declares that her food would not run out, the Widow steps out on this word and uses her last bit of flour and oil to make him a meal. } (Luke 4:25-26). We need to know about the time period she lived in and the events that led to her faithfulness to the LORD. In Christs name we pray. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. He will be a Provider, a Protector, and a Friend in order to help you endure.Exodus 3:13-15. Lets keep in touch. In all your ways take notice of him, and he will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5,6. This was a humbling activity. This womans husband was one of those students. And in each case, God showed them that they werent alone and that He cared for them. Just as you saw the prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of Edith. The widow didnt have much. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { (Viewed on January 18, 2023)
the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
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