The people of Israel were struggling. John 1:14 reassures us: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Once again in 1Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.. 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. More than anything, the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath can teach us a lot. You already have the key of rain, and you [also] want the key of the resurrection of the dead? Fear can be just as strong as faithif you let it. 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. Think of a time God provided for your financial needs. Learn how your comment data is processed. "Don't be afraid. In todays episode of All Gods Women we look at the Prophets Widow, a woman with debt collectors knocking on her door and she had no way to repay them. Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. Another tradition reveals Elijahs dislike of having to rely on other people. Baals, the false gods, were erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every corner. Yet, what did Elijah say? But know this God is in the business of performing miracles for which only he can get the glory. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. Indeed April. Look! This next of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is an exciting one. Elijah turns up and two things are obvious. The prophet had to take out a loan in order to provide for his family. It will be said that two keys are held by the disciple and one by the Master! 17) and Gods command to stop the drought (beginning of chap. 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. 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. Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. Blessings to you as well. FACT #3 Elijah knew she was a widow because of what she was wearing. But they did have extra containers. Jezebel, King Ahabs wife, tried to kill all of Gods prophets. Chicago Style Citation: Not only were they worshiping false Gods, but Jezebel had also commanded all the prophets in the land to be killed. Life Story of Prophet W.M.B - Part 1; Mystery Of The Godhead Revealed? She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. In that moment she chose to trust God. She cannot believe what she is seeing. Women of Prayer is a 10-Week Bible study about getting to know the character of God through the stories of Bible women who prayed. These two boys were facing a terrible future unless God intervened. Would you like to read this article in %%? 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. In Christs name we pray. 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. Admit your helplessness. And I mean bad in a good way. (Psalm 37:25), And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Was she looking for a handout? After this, the womans son falls ill and dies (v. 17). When we suffer trials, we need to look for Jehovahs guidance in the Scriptures and in our publications. We do not know her name, but she is a widow living in the town of Zarephath. 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. Even if he had any doubts, Elijah began a conversation with the woman. There are so many people of faith in the Bible. God mercifully preserved her and her son, even though they were not of His chosen people. 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 will not be exploring all of them in this post or we would have a whole book. But God is full of surprises. Now I am gathering a few pieces of wood, and I will go in and make something for me and my son. This woman didn't know that the LORD is a loving LORD. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. Tune in next week when we talk about the Shunammite woman, a wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God. How many people who live in your territory are like the widow of Zarephath? 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. The houseguest is Gods prophet Elijah. Ask Him what youre supposed to do. And this showdown came to a head in the story of Mount Carmel. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. Sometimes Jehovah allows our faith in him to be tested. You give freely to those in need. Rabbah 27:4). 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. FACT #1 The name of her village was Sarepta. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. 17). I can just see her acknowledge him and turn to go get the water. Ahab hired hundreds of priests to conduct the services. You can follow me on social media, follow my blog, or contact me directly via email or my contact form. The article went on to say that it is the same for us. But God is still providing for Elijah for now God sends Elijah to the care of a widow. Use your servant mightily to encourage the hearts of your people. No one repented, and Elijah was forced to live in hiding. Read a psalm or two. There is always spiritual warfare over your hearts loyalty. The Mystery of the Four Kingdoms; The Revelation of The Seven Trumpets; The Seven Church Ages Commentary; WMB Books. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. But anyone who is willing to open their hearts, God is ready to walk in. The king of the kingdom of Israel was Ahab and his wife was Jezebel. if( checkboxFields.length ) { THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, Share How were the widows sons involved in the miracle? 16) and the drought (beginning of chap. If ever there was a list of bad women in the Bible, they would be on it. It may require you to look around at what you have and do something with the resources Hes already blessed you with. And when she completed the task, she again went to him for the next step. 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. } Church Gallery; WMB Gallery; FAQ; Contact. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (Read on to find out why he chose a drought over anything else). THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Elijah lived with her for 2 years and God provided enough for each day.God did not provide a whole barrel full at once. Why does God allow godly men to die young? Plead your case. It was at a moment of weakness that she doubted. Have reminders sent directly to your email, Pause your devotional at any time to read at your own pace. 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. Yes, they are Bible characters from a long time ago but their faith in God has reached across time to uplift our hearts. 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. Check out our on demand resources, Experience Hope Daily Devotional Family Life Radio Updates. The is a very powerful Sermon. This was trying times in her life and there was no guarantee there was going to be more meal or oil enough to sustain Elijah, her dying son and herself. The widow did exactly as he instructed. TEXT: 1 Kings 17; Luke 4:25-26 WOMAN: The Widow of Zarapeth. She literally was going to eat her last meal and then she was going to starve to death. So many wonderful points. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { She left a legacy of faith that has lasted for generations. Series: Women in the Bible. Then theyd set it aside and grab a new jar to fill. The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. God bless. For her to move forward in obedience and faith, she needed to put away fear. We can learn a very important lesson from this. Her life is saved. God provides for him through a raven. What do you have? Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. The first of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is that spiritual warfare goes up a notch in times of crisis. The Widow of Zarephath is that perfect example of going hand in hand with Jesus I so often speak about. She was a widow living in Zarephath, a city in Zidon about where Lebanon is today. 2:20): Ask him in to break bread (Pesikta Rabbati chap. 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. But she did have oil. Sometimes our blessing is bound up with our serviceWhen we share, no matter how small, we are enriched. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. Luke 4:25-26. 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? That emotional resurrection happened almost 3,000 years ago. Try it FREE right now! 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. Who has God sent into your life to help you? We meet the Prophets Widow in 2 Kings chapter 4. Women Who Rocked the BibleStories of Those Who Shaped Their Culture and Still Inspire You Today. 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. Remember, she was looking at the possibility of dying a bit earlier if she gave away her very last meal. Thanks so much for sharing. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. She prepared food for Elijah with the last of her food, and trusted his words that her barrel would not be empty. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, Audio download options Instead, challenge yourself to get to that place where your faith triumphs over your fear. She went back to Elisha to ask what she was to do next. And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2541,. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. However, Jesus spoke well of her, so she may have become a faithful servant of Jehovah. The Widow of Zarephath. They went door to door collecting. 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. Tell Him your situation. The A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrash explains why Elijah stopped the rains and how it happened that he was commanded to go to the home of the woman in Zarephath. It is very likely that many Baal worshippers lived in Zarephath. She feeds Elijah in her home. These days she stood with shoulders hunched as though to hide her breasts. 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. Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. Start for FREE. Its easy to not deny Him when we are in love with Jesus. The Widow of Zarephath helps us to better understand that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. 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). And thanks so much for that insight. When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to Zarephath with instruction to look to a widow to sustain him. We are never alone, He hears our every prayers, He answers our prayers in ways we would never imagine. This request was a huge test of faith. She turned on her heel and replied, "As surely as the Lord your God lives, I don't have any breadonly a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible story word search puzzle with coloring activity page. The widow had shown faith and had cared for Elijahs needs. The fact that God resurrects the dead was already shown by Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel (Lev. Elijah was staying with the widow and her household while there was a drought in the land. When Elijah sees the woman God told him to meet, he asks her for a cup of water. Like the woman with the issue of blood and Naaman, Elijah was no different. 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.. Did she think that her sons death was punishment from God and that Elijah was Gods messenger of death? This was his calling. 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). After we eat it, well die (1 Kings 17:12 MSG). The city serves as part of her identification. So many people are prevented from reaching their goals, accessing their blessings, and living an abundant life because of fear. Episode 86: Fat Torah with Minna Bromberg. 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. What a comfort . Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Elijah served as Gods spokesperson, the man who stood in front of King Ahab and prophesied the next years are going to see a total droughtnot a drop of dew or rain unless I say otherwise (1 Kings 17:1 MSG). The Widow of Zarephath (Women in the Bible Series) July 10. Forgive us when we lose faith and forget what an awesome God You are. The faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. The resurrection of her son was an event in her life that truly strengthened her faith. for(var i=0; i Grimsby Institute Term Dates 2022,
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