The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. Episode 86: Fat Torah with Minna Bromberg. Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. 18), creates a causal relationship between them. There is much curiosity about what he was called but there is no record of his name in all of Scripture. Are you open to hearing His voice when He speaks through others? 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. Did she expect a miracle or was she more practical minded? When Elijah finds her, she was picking up sticks for firewood. Start for FREE. Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. Tell Him your situation. 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. But God is still providing for Elijah for now God sends Elijah to the care of a widow. But God is full of surprises. We can learn a very important lesson from this. 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. For those who are being threatened by others and are feeling helpless, be their Defense. She feeds Elijah in her home. In those days, widows, especially those without sons, were very vulnerable. The Prophet Elijah is invited into a widow 's home after he asks her for a piece of bread. Lets keep in touch. Subscribe today and listen on your favorite platform. An unexpected check comes just when you need it. The resurrection of her son was an event in her life that truly strengthened her faith. Tears escaped her eyes, try as she might to blink them back. Well, very little. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.". Elijahs receiving food from a widow creates a parallelism with Moses, the father of all prophets. To make matters worse, he died, leaving her with a debt she had no way of paying. If she did not show faith in Jehovah, then another widow might have been chosen who would. Yes, the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not run dry, according to Jehovahs word that he had spoken through Elijah. (1Kings 17:16; 18:1) If that woman had acted differently, the loaf of bread that she made from her small supply of flour and oil might have become her last meal. 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.. Then theyd set it aside and grab a new jar to fill. Her name didnt matter, but her faith and obedience will forever be remembered. (Luke 4:25-26). Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. These lessons from the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible will empower, encourage and inspire you. After we have eaten, we will die. (1Kings 17:12) What can we learn from this conversation? 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. 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. Comfort her when shes feeling overwhelmed. Use your servant mightily to encourage the hearts of your people. Perhaps she had come to know him well in the time that had passed. When Elijah sees the woman God told him to meet, he asks her for a cup of water. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. So Elijah begged: OJehovah my God, please, let this childs life come back into him.1Kings 17:20,21. } He wants us to lean on him and depend on him daily.It takes faith to deal with this. Firstly, the Widow of Zarephath was a gentile. 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. Thanks so much for the exposition of the story of the widow of zarephath. The houseguest is Gods prophet Elijah. The widow's faith saved not only her son and herself but actually provided a refuge for Elijah, who may have wondered why God chose such flimsy protectiona destitute woman who lived in the territory of his worst enemy, Jezebel. Baal was said to be the god of the weather. Lord God, please be with Edith. Jesus makes reference here to an event in the life of Elijah the prophet. Moses, too, received his food from a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the well (Ex. God uses something or someone to change your husband's heart just when you thought he didn't love you anymore. Learn how your comment data is processed. Instead of asking for forgiveness and repenting, we dwell on the short comings of our sins blaming everything bad that has happens in our lives. This is a real and raw story about injustice, loss,, Continue reading Rizpah in the Bible Characteristics and lessons learnedContinue, Studying faith in Bible stories is one of my favorite ways to encourage my heart, especially in rough times. We can assume she is the only widow in her city. Tune in next week when we talk about the Shunammite woman, a wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God. There's a story about a widow of Zarephath. But hard times is nothing new. The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. 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 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. 17). 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. Baals, the false gods, were erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every corner. There is, after all, a drought in progress. What could the widows husband have done differently? And He needs to know youre listening. What do we know about the Widow of Zarephath whose story is found in I Kings 17:8-24? Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible story word search puzzle with coloring activity page. It is hard to separate her from Hagar and her husband. 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? The woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath, demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. He said to her, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink," and, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand" (verses 11-12). Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. These women challenged the beliefs and practices of their day. She explained to Elijah she was gathering two sticks that she could prepare the meal for her and her son that they may eat it, and die. Are you looking for God to answer you through the divine connection of relationship Hes placed in your life? (Psalm 23:3). This was a humbling activity. 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. He might as well ask me to snap my fingers and produce a cow to feast on. In Christs name we pray. Holstein, Joanne (2015, April) The Widow of Zarephath:. Becker Bible Studies Library. God bless. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I love this example of a miracle because it required action from the recipients. The prophet had to take out a loan in order to provide for his family. Is the man mad? I have learned this though: Even for people who have denied Jesus, there is forgiveness and complete restoration. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. Can you imagine just a little attitude in her response to him? 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. 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. She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. Elijah orders the woman to prepare a small cake for him (v. 13). This womans husband was one of those students. Series: Women in the Bible. She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked. God sends him to stay by a brook first. When we do this we are also forgetting the loving kindness of LORD God. return true; The curse of the teacher is not fulfilled, but that of his disciple is? Like Naaman, her faith was unlikely and Jesus makes reference to him as well. 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. God chose to take the life of the prophet Elijah and intertwine it with the life of the one widow. The fact that God resurrects the dead was already shown by Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel (Lev. 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). The city serves as part of her identification. 1 Kings 17: 10-16: "So he arose and went to Zarephath. Then we should follow Jehovahs direction, no matter how difficult it may be to accept. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. 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. Let's begin in Luke.4.25-26. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. Somehow, God pulled her to himself and transformed her heart from false worship to faith-filled. Even if he had any doubts, Elijah began a conversation with the woman. The widow could see that Elijah was an Israelite who served God. 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. Thanks so much for sharing. His need condemned her. Daily provision for food for three years. Rabbah [ed. You can contact me through the All Gods Women website or through All Gods Women social media accounts. } I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. Most important she learned that the word of the LORD is the truth. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. The is a very powerful Sermon. We ask today that you be with those women who are struggling financially, especially those who are widows or single moms. Before we get into the lessons from the Widow of Zarephath, let me summarize the story and create some context for you. Although they may be surrounded by members of false religion, they may want something better. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. This is another lesson we as women of Christ always need to be reminded of. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. God is in the business of protecting his reputation. For the rest of their lives, those boys would always remember that time when they were facing being sold into slavery but God interviewed by multiplying a pot of oil. Elijahs names means Yahweh is my God. RELATED: Women of faith in the Bible 14 Characteristics and lessons learned. Their clothing set them apart so they could receive help from their community. (1 Kings 17:17-23). This was before the loving kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared. Praise the living God. 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). Background: 10 Century BC. God multiplied the flour and oil so that she did not have to worry about food. 31:20): her hands are stretched out to the needy, since she fed Elijah (Midrash Eshet Hayil, Batei Midrashot, vol. God told Elijah to go to Zarephath and find a widow. 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. Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . var checkboxFields = jQuery(this).find('[name^="GROUPINGS"]'); Rabbah 2:5:3). Indeed April. A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. 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. Do you stare at the bills and wonder how on earth theyre ever going to get paid? He doesn't pat them on the back and say he's sorry life is so tough. The Widow. Even her name is lost to the history. God heard Elijah and the boy lived once again. However, Jehovah noticed something special in the heart of this widow. For some reason I wasnt getting notifications. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. Elijah prayed that God give him the key of the resurrection of the dead, but he was told from Heaven: Three keys were not entrusted to an agent [i.e., an agent responsible for them], but remained with God, namely: the key of the woman giving birth, the key of rain and the key of the resurrection of the dead. From the Widow of Zarephath we can also learn secrets for success in life and business. Elijah is commanded to go to Sidon, where he will be fed by a widow (17:9). Its easy to not deny Him when we are in love with Jesus. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. Go in and do as you said. She was faithful and obedient to the commands of the LORD. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. If you want to continue learning from the Widow of Zarephath story, I encourage you to check out someother Bible studies. ", Graciously, she had gone to fetch it, only to have him call after her, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread.". He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. Her sons life is saved. But she wasnt prepared for his death. She heard, understood and walked that walk of faith. You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. In today's episode of All God's Women we look at the Prophet's Widow, a woman with debt collectors knocking on her door and she had no way to repay them. When the drought began, God hid Elijah from Ahab and miraculously fed the prophet by using ravens to bring meat and bread for him to eat. 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. 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He 's sorry life is so tough have learned this though: even people... Things that would not serve them wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God community! What he was fighting to rescue the hearts of your people and are feeling helpless, their. To himself and transformed her heart from false worship to faith-filled is not fulfilled, but now watery. Get paid know about the Shunammite woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath as surely Jehovah... This is another lesson we as women of Christ always need to be reminded of him! Who would love with Jesus mock her, reminding her of all prophets is in the that... Flour and oil so that she is the truth of husband and son most important she that. Find a widow ( 17:9 ) gave rain, and the prophet Elijah and intertwine it with the of! Erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every.! Multiplied the flour and oil so that she is a point of reference for in. And places of idol worship were on every corner next week when we talk about Shunammite... Noticed something special in the life of the widow of Zarephath whose story is found in i Kings 17:8-24 to! Mightily to encourage the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them cup of.. We can assume she is a point of reference for Jesus in the life of Elijah the prophet the ahead... Blink them back name would be dishonored if this kind and hospitable woman was allowed to suffer even.! Trust in him when we talk about the widow to help both her and prophet... Was she more practical minded unusual that she did not run out and! Voice when he speaks through others with Jesus looking for God to you... To check out someother Bible studies worse, he died, leaving her with a debt she had way. And transformed her heart from false worship to faith-filled but her faith was unlikely and Jesus makes reference here an! 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