Shes all alone and desperately trying to protect her children. There were so many possibilities to this story. Reach US; Reach our Team; Locations; Join on Telegram; Alternate . Hello Diana. All she had to do was believe God the God of Israel and obey. (Psalm 37:25), And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Elijahs names means Yahweh is my God. It is sometimes said we wear our sins on our sleeves. We ask today that you be with those women who are struggling financially, especially those who are widows or single moms. }); This man of God is asking for the last of. But these were difficult times. Perhaps she had come to know him well in the time that had passed. return false; I have learned this though: Even for people who have denied Jesus, there is forgiveness and complete restoration. The story of Peter in the Bible teaches that. Then do it. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. 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. When Elijah sees the woman God told him to meet, he asks her for a cup of water. She lashes out in her pain at the man she trusted, the man who God used to perform a miracle. So they willingly gave. You can imagine what some people might have said: Give away our last meal? And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. There is, after all, a drought in progress. The Rabbis applied to this the verse (Ps. evt.preventDefault; God mercifully preserved her and her son, even though they were not of His chosen people. Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought and wanted to kill him. God is in the business of protecting his reputation. Luke 4:25-26. The Mystery of the Four Kingdoms; The Revelation of The Seven Trumpets; The Seven Church Ages Commentary; WMB Books. It is common for us all to blame ourselves and our sins for things that happen to us. He said: Please, bring me a little water in a cup so that I may drink. When she went to get him some water, Elijah added: Please, bring me a piece of bread. (1Kings 17:10,11) The widow was not worried about giving this stranger a drink, but giving him bread was a problem. I love this example of a miracle because it required action from the recipients. When Elijah finds her, she was picking up sticks for firewood. She was not an Israelite. 7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. His need condemned her. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. But he wants us to trust Him. FACT #3 - Elijah knew she was a widow because of what she was wearing. Now how long would those last? Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath. Once she had the jars, jugs, and pots collected she was to shut the door behind her and she and her sons would pour the oil they had into the vessels theyd gathered. Lieberman], Ekev, p. 74). 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? Hiel had transgressed Joshuas prohibition against rebuilding Jericho (Josh. This was not a miracle to be witnessed by the masses, but rather a private blessing for this little family to see God at work. God doesn't ignore the needs of those who cannot help themselves. The Message says she said, I swear, as surely as your God lives, I dont have so much as a biscuit. Its easy to not deny Him when we are in love with Jesus. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. These days she stood with shoulders hunched as though to hide her breasts. Join the women of prayer simulstudy Coming January 9, All Gods Women Bible Study Facebook group, Shunammite Woman: Cool, Calm, Collected Sharon Wilharm Christian Storyteller. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. } Here are a few details about her that will help you to understand her story. What relationships does He want you to cultivate? So many people are prevented from reaching their goals, accessing their blessings, and living an abundant life because of fear. Her name didnt matter, but her faith and obedience will forever be remembered. In her mind, the end is near. Second, she was in no position to feed anybody. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD. 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. This misfortune turned out to be a miracle and not only did the widow of Zarephath receive the blessing that her supply of flour and oil would never run out but she gained the life of her son after he died. Elijahs life is saved.Her blessings were full to the running over. It was located between Sidon and Tyre which would be in modern day Lebanon. Jesus will be with you as you speak His words. Blessings. The widow didnt have much. If ever there was a list of bad women in the Bible, they would be on it. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. Check out our on demand resources, Experience Hope Daily Devotional Family Life Radio Updates. Elisha could have just given her the money she needed. Plus, she was literally down to her last meal. 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. FACT #2 She was a gentile. Did she expect a miracle or was she more practical minded? Another mother gives you her kids' outgrown clothing so you can clothe your own children. 3). She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked. Shelmith, oh how you have blessed my heart today by sharing your testimony :D. Praise the living God for sure! Bible Gateway Plus makes it simple. He will watch over his word until it comes to pass. You might be living from hand to mouth but recognize that it is Gods hands to your mouth. The same held true for food: when he came to the widows house, she and he ate from his [that is, both the widow of Zarephath and Elijah partook of Elijahs food, which was miraculously provided to sustain him in the widows house]. Hopefully we can see it as God positioning us for blessing. This was another name for Zarephath. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. Open job opportunities for her that will pay for her bills and help pay off her debts. (Psalm 23:3). The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. Am shelmith from Kenya. Her body shook as she stood over the fire, greedily sipping and sucking the steam from the pan, as though the smell of frying bread could fill her belly and soothe her fears. 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. She was faithful and obedient to the commands of the LORD. 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. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . It was a wicked time where the worship of false gods was practice. I look forward to hearing from you! (Luke 4:25-26). Church Gallery; WMB Gallery; FAQ; Contact. It will be said that two keys are held by the disciple and one by the Master! Claim and trust Gods promises. So inspiring and, encouraging and hope-giving. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. Admit your helplessness. We can assume she is the only widow in her city. 31 December 1999. And He needs to know youre listening. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. This is another lesson we as women of Christ always need to be reminded of. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. There the LORD provided safety from Jezebel. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. There are so many people of faith in the Bible. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. She had failed in the most basic ways a mother could, unable to protect, nurture, and provide. Why did Elisha have them pouring the oil in the privacy of their home? The widow's faith in Elijah's God, Jehovah, preserved her and her son alive. God did not abandon that poor widow. Baal was said to be the god of the weather. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.". Though she starved herself to feed her child, his distended belly accused her. Holstein, Joanne (2015, April) The Widow of Zarephath:. Becker Bible Studies Library. The Rabbis expound that the cake that the widow made for Elijah was similar to mazzah (unleavened bread) and to the mazzah cakes eaten by the Israelites when they departed from Egypt. She had no idea that the stranger was Elijah, a prophet who had the gall to inform King Ahab that God was withholding rain to punish Israel's idolatry. Are debt collectors knocking on your door or calling you on the phone? Her sons would hand her an empty jar. Are you willing to be used by God to speak His truth into the lives of others as He leads you. God sends him to stay by a brook first. Why? 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). 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. Im sorry I didnt respond sooner. Shed fill it with oil from her original container. Today she had scraped the last bit of flour from the barrel and poured the last drop of oil from the jug. This was a humbling activity. We need to know about the time period she lived in and the events that led to her faithfulness to the LORD. 4). As they filled up the vessels they were to set aside the ones that were full. 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. The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. 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. (Luke 4:25,26) Her story teaches us that God blesses those doing good to his servants. PRIVACY POLICY What a comfort . If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. (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. 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. God heard Elijah and the boy lived once again. I hope you have been encouraged by these lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. Through her obedience, God sustained the prophet and her household. Do you stare at the bills and wonder how on earth theyre ever going to get paid? Sometimes Jehovah allows our faith in him to be tested. 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. He dedicated his life to studying and serving God which meant he was dependent on others to provide for him financially. It was at a moment of weakness that she doubted. God did not abandon that poor widow. But God is full of surprises. She is a leading authority on historical development of Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults. Thanks so much for sharing. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijah's story. Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . The city serves as part of her identification. 1 Kings 17: 9- 24. Like Naaman, her faith was unlikely and Jesus makes reference to him as well. The Widow of Zarephaths story begins while she is at the gate gathering a few sticks so she can go home and prepare the last little bit of food for herself and her son. 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. She heard, understood and walked that walk of faith. 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. You already have the key of rain, and you [also] want the key of the resurrection of the dead? But know this God is in the business of performing miracles for which only he can get the glory. Elisha had the widow AND her sons going to their neighbors and asking for vessels. The widow could see that Elijah was an Israelite who served God. The Widow of Zarephath didnt blame Elijah or the LORD for the death of her son. ( 1Ki 17:8-24; Lu 4:25, 26) It later marked an . The life of a ministers wife can be difficult. And for those of us who struggle in our faith, He always meets us where we are in our imperfect faith and helps us grow. And in each case, God showed them that they . 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. Our God is still a miraculous provider, granting what we need sometimes in the most unexpected ways. In this case, the widow appears to have been supportive of her husband. For some reason I wasnt getting notifications. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." TERMS OF USE God multiplied the flour and oil so that she did not have to worry about food. Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. Her joy: To experience repeated miracles of God's provision. 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. I am blessed that you have been encouraged. Well, very little. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 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. Did you know that All Gods Women can be heard around the world? The widow of Zarephath had felt utterly alone, not knowing God had his eye on her. Series: Women in the Bible. 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). 2:20): Ask him in to break bread (Pesikta Rabbati chap. 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. (Philippians 4:19). Have you ever been in as desperate a situation as the widow was in? if( checkboxFields.length ) { STOP delaying to get to know the Bible better! 11:1617]. Required fields are marked *. Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith, https://thefaithspace.com/lessons-from-the-woman-with-the-issue-of-blood/. First, go directly to God. 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. In that moment she chose to trust God. As we read more about her, we will learn some very important lessons. The woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath, demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. Make learning about the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:7-24 fun with this no prep, printable activity sheet word-find and digital EASEL activity. 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.

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