the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
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The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. Provide for her and her children. And when she completed the task, she again went to him for the next step. Fear can be just as strong as faithif you let it. Just a short time earlier, she had gently held his lifeless body in her arms. Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. This a very short Widow of Zarephath lesson about the power of fear versus the power of faith.. You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. Then sit back and listen to what He has to say. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . Even if we ourselves are struggling, reaching out can save you both. When we suffer trials, we need to look for Jehovahs guidance in the Scriptures and in our publications. 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. More than anything, the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath can teach us a lot. 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. Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. Then we should follow Jehovahs direction, no matter how difficult it may be to accept. And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. PRIVACY SETTINGS, The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/402014124/univ/art/402014124_univ_sqr_xl.jpg, THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/ws/E/20140215/wpub/ws_E_20140215_lg.jpg, Share When the Widow of Zarephath expresses concern for her meagre meal, Elijah told her, Do not be afraid.. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives as well. Oh Desmond, I hear you and I definitely understand the fear. 4). 31:20): her hands are stretched out to the needy, since she fed Elijah (Midrash Eshet Hayil, Batei Midrashot, vol. Not in a way that is driven by anxiety. Are you looking for God to answer you through the divine connection of relationship Hes placed in your life? 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? They went door to door collecting. The Widow of Zarephath was desperately poor! The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. Well, very little. What could the widows husband have done differently? 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. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith. This next of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is an exciting one. Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts (Ex. 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. 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. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. God did not abandon that poor widow. Hiel had transgressed Joshuas prohibition against rebuilding Jericho (Josh. Not only were they worshiping false Gods, but Jezebel had also commanded all the prophets in the land to be killed. In her mind, the end is near. He wants us to lean on him and depend on him daily.It takes faith to deal with this. So many wonderful points. Chicago Style Citation: She literally was going to eat her last meal and then she was going to starve to death. For him to take up a love offering? Do not be afraid. The Widow of Zarephath helps us to better understand that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. Our lives are intertwined for mutual provision and blessing. The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. We know a lot about the Widow of Zarephath even though we do not now her name. 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. I am blessed that you have been encouraged. for(var i=0; i. Moses, too, received his food from a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the well (Ex. 2). In 1898, an article in Zions Watch Tower taught this lesson: If the widow had faith and obeyed Elijah, she would receive Jehovahs help. }); This man of God is asking for the last of. What was she expecting when she went to Elisha for help? Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. 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. You can imagine what some people might have said: Give away our last meal? We can assume she is the only widow in her city. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. 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 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). Blessings to you as well. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. 18), creates a causal relationship between them. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that persons well-being. A Phoenician town 'belonging to' or apparently dependent upon Sidon in Elijah's day. Like a baby who knows that mom will come when she needs something, God truly wants us to expect him to show up for us. 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/ ). God richly bless you. This was before the loving kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared. The woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath, demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. This is a short story, but so much packed into it. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephtah can be found in the following Bible verses: 1 Kings 17: 8-24. It is hard to separate her from Hagar and her husband. Those who worshipped Baal believed he was the god who brought rains and bountiful harvestso the words Elijah spoke for God were profanity against Jezebels god. They are sure. The woman said to Elijah (v. 18): [] that you should come here to recall my sin and cause the death of my son? In the midrashic expansion, she tells him: Until you came here, God would weigh my actions in comparison with the local people, and I would be found worthy. Soon after, her son dies, and Elijah pleads to God for the power to resurrect him. He encouraged her to gather as many as she could. Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith, https://thefaithspace.com/lessons-from-the-woman-with-the-issue-of-blood/. When the husband is supposed to provide for the family, and hes busy studying and serving and the family suffers, its easy to feel resentful, to get angry with the husband and with God. Read the story of the prophets widow in 2 Kings 4. He doesn't urge them to pick themselves up and get going when they have no resources to do so. The Widow of Zarephath is a picture of faith. But in times of spiritual crisis, he prayed in faith and God answered. The husband may have been called by God, but the wife may feel shes just along for the ride with no say in the situation. Required fields are marked *. Elisha had the widow AND her sons going to their neighbors and asking for vessels. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The Prophet Elijah is invited into a widow 's home after he asks her for a piece of bread. There was a famine of food. Yes, in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.Acts 10:35. Go home and do as you have said. Tune in next week when we talk about the Shunammite woman, a wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God. She feeds Elijah in her home. Wrap your arms around her and remind her that shes not alone, that you see her and you love her very much. The article went on to say that it is the same for us. Every night she hoped for rain, but every morning she woke to a brilliant sky. Shes all alone and desperately trying to protect her children. 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. Have an update or correction? First, go directly to God. Why does God allow godly men to die young? The widow could see that Elijah was an Israelite who served God. 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. It was ironic since generally, Israelites were not supposed to be mixing with the surrounding nations. 1 Kings 17: 9- 24. Amen. God bless. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. Hello Diana. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. How special that Elisha involved the sons in the gathering and filling. God did not abandon that poor widow. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { She needs a miracle. Remember, she was looking at the possibility of dying a bit earlier if she gave away her very last meal. This was another name for Zarephath. If youre a listener in Nairobi, Id love to hear from you and pray with you. It is not because of our righteousness or any of our good works that we were saved by Him. New International Version (NIV). 1 Kings 17: 10-16: "So he arose and went to Zarephath. Here are a few details about her that will help you to understand her story. He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. Imagine the widows great joy when Elijah said: See, your son is alive! She looked to Elijah for answers. 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. And thanks so much for that insight. Ahab was the king in Israel at a crucial time. ". Although they may be surrounded by members of false religion, they may want something better. Amen Blessings to you. Before we get into the lessons from the Widow of Zarephath, let me summarize the story and create some context for you. Her sons would hand her an empty jar. 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 gives rain on the land.' This womans husband was one of those students. 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 faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. The widow did exactly as he instructed. Thanks so much for the exposition of the story of the widow of zarephath. 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. 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. Yes, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not run dry . Elijah took the boy and laid him upon his own bed and cried unto the LORD. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. The Widow of Zarephath (Women in the Bible Series) July 10. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. We will get back to the context of Jesus . Then behind her, she hears him ask for a piece of bread. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked. Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Check out our on demand resources, Experience Hope Daily Devotional Family Life Radio Updates. God will do what He needs to do to secure your hearts complete loyalty. Give guidance and wisdom so that we know exactly what to do in whatever situation we may find us in. The Widow of Zarephath. The LORD God had commanded this widow woman to sustain someone she did not know during a time of great drought and starvation. The Widow of Zarephath lessons that we will explore in this post might challenge you. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. Prophets always teach and testify of Christ. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. I am so happy that you have found what you need for you sermon. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. (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. The widow didnt have much. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. From the Widow of Zarephath we can also learn secrets for success in life and business. So inspiring and, encouraging and hope-giving. 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. PRIVACY POLICY She cannot believe what she is seeing. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. 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. Elijah worshipped Jehovah. She is a leading authority on historical development of Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults. FACT #1 The name of her village was Sarepta. Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. Most important she learned that the word of the LORD is the truth. He doesn't pat them on the back and say he's sorry life is so tough. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. 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. He obeyed, finding a woman gathering sticks. We can learn so many lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. 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). 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. If there was ever a Hallmark-worthy story in the Bible, this is it. The Widow had her last bit of sustenance left in this life.But she was so willing to give from it. An unexpected check comes just when you need it. Church Gallery; WMB Gallery; FAQ; Contact. she wondered. 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). Her houseguest says: See, your son is alive.. 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 was a human being, even as we are. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. There it was the promise of a miracle. Just as you saw the prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of Edith. We might easily assume this widow is not of Hebrew lineage, but she clearly believed in the Hebrews God and trusted Him. Why? Rabbah [ed. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. This was the last place that you should expect to find faith. Even her name is lost to the history. In fact, our biggest following is in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Elijah also had a moment of doubt. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house (where Elijah was staying) became ill. God remember me . This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD. The Widow of Zarephaths story doesnt end there. So keep fighting with God for your faith. 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. 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. When Elijah finds her, she was picking up sticks for firewood. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that person's well-being. 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! 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. 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. Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. She said to Elijah, What do you have against me, man of God? There's a story about a widow of Zarephath.
the widow of zarephath showed hospitality to prophet
The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. Provide for her and her children. And when she completed the task, she again went to him for the next step. Fear can be just as strong as faithif you let it. Just a short time earlier, she had gently held his lifeless body in her arms. Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. This a very short Widow of Zarephath lesson about the power of fear versus the power of faith.. You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. Then sit back and listen to what He has to say. Its blessing for me to be Gods instrument of inspiration at this time in your Christian walk . Even if we ourselves are struggling, reaching out can save you both. When we suffer trials, we need to look for Jehovahs guidance in the Scriptures and in our publications. 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. More than anything, the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath can teach us a lot. 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. Indeed, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not . Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. Then we should follow Jehovahs direction, no matter how difficult it may be to accept. And he was fighting to rescue the hearts of his people from worshiping things that would not serve them. PRIVACY SETTINGS, The Widow of Zarephath Was Rewarded for Her Faith, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/402014124/univ/art/402014124_univ_sqr_xl.jpg, THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/ws/E/20140215/wpub/ws_E_20140215_lg.jpg, Share When the Widow of Zarephath expresses concern for her meagre meal, Elijah told her, Do not be afraid.. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives as well. Oh Desmond, I hear you and I definitely understand the fear. 4). 31:20): her hands are stretched out to the needy, since she fed Elijah (Midrash Eshet Hayil, Batei Midrashot, vol. Not in a way that is driven by anxiety. Are you looking for God to answer you through the divine connection of relationship Hes placed in your life? 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? They went door to door collecting. The Widow of Zarephath was desperately poor! The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. Well, very little. What could the widows husband have done differently? 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. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith. This next of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is an exciting one. Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts (Ex. 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. 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. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. God did not abandon that poor widow. Hiel had transgressed Joshuas prohibition against rebuilding Jericho (Josh. Not only were they worshiping false Gods, but Jezebel had also commanded all the prophets in the land to be killed. In her mind, the end is near. He wants us to lean on him and depend on him daily.It takes faith to deal with this. So many wonderful points. Chicago Style Citation: She literally was going to eat her last meal and then she was going to starve to death. For him to take up a love offering? Do not be afraid. The Widow of Zarephath helps us to better understand that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. Our lives are intertwined for mutual provision and blessing. The woman from Zarephath wasn't a Jew, but a Phoenician. We know a lot about the Widow of Zarephath even though we do not now her name. 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. I am blessed that you have been encouraged. for(var i=0; i. Moses, too, received his food from a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the well (Ex. 2). In 1898, an article in Zions Watch Tower taught this lesson: If the widow had faith and obeyed Elijah, she would receive Jehovahs help. }); This man of God is asking for the last of. What was she expecting when she went to Elisha for help? Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. 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. You can imagine what some people might have said: Give away our last meal? We can assume she is the only widow in her city. Elijah took him and delivered him unto his mother. 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 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). Blessings to you as well. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. 18), creates a causal relationship between them. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that persons well-being. A Phoenician town 'belonging to' or apparently dependent upon Sidon in Elijah's day. Like a baby who knows that mom will come when she needs something, God truly wants us to expect him to show up for us. 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/ ). God richly bless you. This was before the loving kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared. The woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath, demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. This is a short story, but so much packed into it. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephtah can be found in the following Bible verses: 1 Kings 17: 8-24. It is hard to separate her from Hagar and her husband. Those who worshipped Baal believed he was the god who brought rains and bountiful harvestso the words Elijah spoke for God were profanity against Jezebels god. They are sure. The woman said to Elijah (v. 18): [] that you should come here to recall my sin and cause the death of my son? In the midrashic expansion, she tells him: Until you came here, God would weigh my actions in comparison with the local people, and I would be found worthy. Soon after, her son dies, and Elijah pleads to God for the power to resurrect him. He encouraged her to gather as many as she could. Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith, https://thefaithspace.com/lessons-from-the-woman-with-the-issue-of-blood/. When the husband is supposed to provide for the family, and hes busy studying and serving and the family suffers, its easy to feel resentful, to get angry with the husband and with God. Read the story of the prophets widow in 2 Kings 4. He doesn't urge them to pick themselves up and get going when they have no resources to do so. The Widow of Zarephath is a picture of faith. But in times of spiritual crisis, he prayed in faith and God answered. The husband may have been called by God, but the wife may feel shes just along for the ride with no say in the situation. Required fields are marked *. Elisha had the widow AND her sons going to their neighbors and asking for vessels. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The Prophet Elijah is invited into a widow 's home after he asks her for a piece of bread. There was a famine of food. Yes, in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.Acts 10:35. Go home and do as you have said. Tune in next week when we talk about the Shunammite woman, a wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God. She feeds Elijah in her home. Wrap your arms around her and remind her that shes not alone, that you see her and you love her very much. The article went on to say that it is the same for us. Every night she hoped for rain, but every morning she woke to a brilliant sky. Shes all alone and desperately trying to protect her children. 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. Have an update or correction? First, go directly to God. Why does God allow godly men to die young? The widow could see that Elijah was an Israelite who served God. 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. It was ironic since generally, Israelites were not supposed to be mixing with the surrounding nations. 1 Kings 17: 9- 24. Amen. God bless. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. Hello Diana. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD and would not be punished her by taking her son. How special that Elisha involved the sons in the gathering and filling. God did not abandon that poor widow. if( checkboxFields[i].checked ) { She needs a miracle. Remember, she was looking at the possibility of dying a bit earlier if she gave away her very last meal. This was another name for Zarephath. If youre a listener in Nairobi, Id love to hear from you and pray with you. It is not because of our righteousness or any of our good works that we were saved by Him. New International Version (NIV). 1 Kings 17: 10-16: "So he arose and went to Zarephath. Here are a few details about her that will help you to understand her story. He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. Imagine the widows great joy when Elijah said: See, your son is alive! She looked to Elijah for answers. 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. And thanks so much for that insight. Ahab was the king in Israel at a crucial time. ". Although they may be surrounded by members of false religion, they may want something better. Amen Blessings to you. Before we get into the lessons from the Widow of Zarephath, let me summarize the story and create some context for you. Her sons would hand her an empty jar. 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 gives rain on the land.' This womans husband was one of those students. 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 faith of the Widow of Zeraphath is unusual that she is a point of reference for Jesus in the New Testament. The widow did exactly as he instructed. Thanks so much for the exposition of the story of the widow of zarephath. 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. 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. Yes, "the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not run dry . Elijah took the boy and laid him upon his own bed and cried unto the LORD. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. The Widow of Zarephath (Women in the Bible Series) July 10. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. We will get back to the context of Jesus . Then behind her, she hears him ask for a piece of bread. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked. Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Check out our on demand resources, Experience Hope Daily Devotional Family Life Radio Updates. God will do what He needs to do to secure your hearts complete loyalty. Give guidance and wisdom so that we know exactly what to do in whatever situation we may find us in. The Widow of Zarephath. The LORD God had commanded this widow woman to sustain someone she did not know during a time of great drought and starvation. The Widow of Zarephath lessons that we will explore in this post might challenge you. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. The Widow of Zarephath had nothing for her own family to eat, much less a prophet. Prophets always teach and testify of Christ. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Yet for some reason she believed Elijah and acted accordingly, giving him everything she had. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. I am so happy that you have found what you need for you sermon. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. (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. The widow didnt have much. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. From the Widow of Zarephath we can also learn secrets for success in life and business. So inspiring and, encouraging and hope-giving. 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. PRIVACY POLICY She cannot believe what she is seeing. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. 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. Elijah worshipped Jehovah. She is a leading authority on historical development of Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults. FACT #1 The name of her village was Sarepta. Thanks for stopping by Evangelist Solomon. She thought it was a punishment because of her sins. Most important she learned that the word of the LORD is the truth. He doesn't pat them on the back and say he's sorry life is so tough. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. 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. He obeyed, finding a woman gathering sticks. We can learn so many lessons from the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. 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). 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. If there was ever a Hallmark-worthy story in the Bible, this is it. The Widow had her last bit of sustenance left in this life.But she was so willing to give from it. An unexpected check comes just when you need it. Church Gallery; WMB Gallery; FAQ; Contact. she wondered. 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). Her houseguest says: See, your son is alive.. 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 was a human being, even as we are. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. There it was the promise of a miracle. Just as you saw the prophets widow through difficult times, may you work in a miraculous to take care of Edith. We might easily assume this widow is not of Hebrew lineage, but she clearly believed in the Hebrews God and trusted Him. Why? Rabbah [ed. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. This was the last place that you should expect to find faith. Even her name is lost to the history. In fact, our biggest following is in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Elijah also had a moment of doubt. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house (where Elijah was staying) became ill. God remember me . This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD. The Widow of Zarephaths story doesnt end there. So keep fighting with God for your faith. 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. 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. When Elijah finds her, she was picking up sticks for firewood. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that person's well-being. 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! 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. 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. Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. She said to Elijah, What do you have against me, man of God? There's a story about a widow of Zarephath.
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