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. This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Her houseguest says: See, your son is alive.. No matter how little, we have something we can use to bless someone. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.". This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD. Media information about this sermon Title: Raising The Faith Of The Widow Of ZarephathTitle in Tamil: . Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. Facilitator: Amah Linda. Just a short time earlier, she had gently held his lifeless body in her arms. We will get back to the context of Jesus . 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? Here we find reciprocal hospitality: a Phoenician widow (a non-Israelite) feeding a Jewish prophet who will eventually save her son. The Message says she said, I swear, as surely as your God lives, I dont have so much as a biscuit. } When the Widow of Zarephath expresses concern for her meagre meal, Elijah told her, Do not be afraid.. If she did not show faith in Jehovah, then another widow might have been chosen who would. alert("Please select at least one list. jQuery('.mc4wp-form').find('form').on('submit', function(evt) { They are sure. The widow did exactly as he instructed. Read the story of the prophets widow in 2 Kings 4. Elisha had the widow AND her sons going to their neighbors and asking for vessels. It is common for us all to blame ourselves and our sins for things that happen to us. We can really pray for and trust God for BIG things. Go home and do as you have said. if( checkboxFields.length ) { 31 December 1999. Please take away the fear and anxiety that the enemy is trying to use to intimidate your child. ( 1Ki 17:8-24; Lu 4:25, 26) It later marked an . But God sent Elijah out of Israel, to the town of Zarephath in Sidon instead. 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 God is full of surprises. 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. It was ironic since generally, Israelites were not supposed to be mixing with the surrounding nations. 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. God did not abandon that poor widow. Are debt collectors knocking on your door or calling you on the phone? 31:20): her hands are stretched out to the needy, since she fed Elijah (Midrash Eshet Hayil, Batei Midrashot, vol. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2541,. Shes all alone and desperately trying to protect her children. Jezebel, King Ahabs wife, tried to kill all of Gods prophets. Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Now the woman looks at her resurrected son and is thrilled to see his smile. Ive stopped saying we should challenge God for big things.Actually, nothing challenges God. Amen. It is hard to separate her from Hagar and her husband. She looked to Elijah for answers. The Widow of Zarephath didnt blame Elijah or the LORD for the death of her son. In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, 2022, we are spotlighting women who rocked in Bible times! Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. 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.' 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. Rabbah 2:5:3). To make matters worse, he died, leaving her with a debt she had no way of paying. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith. Completely. 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. 1 Kings 17: 9- 24. Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought and wanted to kill him. There is much curiosity about what he was called but there is no record of his name in all of Scripture. In those days, widows, especially those without sons, were very vulnerable. From where did the ravens bring meat? She feeds Elijah in her home. When her level of faith was compared to those who claimed to know God, she stood head and shoulders above them. Used with permission. The town of Zarephath was one hundred miles from the brook Cherith, where Elijah had been in hiding from King Ahab. 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. 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). It was located between Sidon and Tyre which would be in modern day Lebanon. The widow didnt have much. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED) February2014, Audio download options God provides for him through a raven. Tell Him your situation. Rabbah 2:5:3). | Background: 10 Century BC. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. We meet the Prophets Widow in 2 Kings chapter 4. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have a living prophet again on the earth! The city serves as part of her identification. } Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts. Just as Elijah had promised, the supply of flour and oil lasted day after day, month after month, never failing until at last the rains came and revived the land. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house (where Elijah was staying) became ill. The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath illustrates the biblical story of the encounter between prophet Elijah and a widow and her son gathering sticks when he arrives at the town of Zarephath. All He wants us to do is to love him back. Read a psalm or two. You are our Provider when we have nothing. Ahab hired hundreds of priests to conduct the services. It was at a moment of weakness that she doubted. Can you imagine just a little attitude in her response to him? But he had died before the drought, leaving her with a small son, a house, and little else. Here is a prayer for you Lord, I pray you will be with your servant Shelmith. 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. 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. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. 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. Were not told of her praying to God herself, but she did know to go to Gods man for direction, and possibly, a miracle. If everything was dying, she should have had more access to firewood. The resurrection of her son was an event in her life that truly strengthened her faith. Not in a way that is driven by anxiety. Youre welcome Frazer. Lets keep in touch. return true; Tune in next week when we talk about the Shunammite woman, a wealthy woman who experienced a life and death miracle from God. 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). Rizpah was a woman of a different kind. FACT #4 She was extremely poor. That emotional resurrection happened almost 3,000 years ago. Elijah asks her to give her son to him. Her joy: To experience repeated miracles of God's provision. 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. Kadari, Tamar. Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. 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. So Elijah, the prophet of God, declared a three year drought over the land of Israel. She left a legacy of faith that has lasted for generations. But the brook dried up after a while. Though she starved herself to feed her child, his distended belly accused her. This request was a huge test of faith. (Psalm 37:25), And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Now I am gathering a few pieces of wood, and I will go in and make something for me and my son. The Word of the LORD is in reality truth and reliable. Am shelmith from Kenya. The woman, only referred to as the "widow of Zarephath," demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. Was she looking for a handout? Hopefully we can see it as God positioning us for blessing. She had always loved the sea, but now its watery abundance seemed only to mock her, reminding her of all she lacked. 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. Did the woman remember a past sin that bothered her conscience? First, she seemed to be unaware of this command. 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. Prophets always teach and testify of Christ. Moses, too, received his food from a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the well (Ex. He takes the boy from her arms, carries him upstairs to his room and lays him on his bed. The rest of the story is the little child was brought back to life by the LORD God. The Rabbis applied to this the verse (Ps. He may ask you to do something thats humbling. Let's begin in Luke.4.25-26. Check out our on demand resources, Experience Hope Daily Devotional Family Life Radio Updates. She had nothing to offer but a jar of oil. 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. First, go directly to God. FACT #3 Elijah knew she was a widow because of what she was wearing. The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. FACT #2 She was a gentile. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives as well. Covid has stolen so much from so many, destroying businesses, eliminating jobs, taking away hope for the future. How could she do so, since she was so poor? Perhaps she had come to know him well in the time that had passed. TERMS OF USE But how precious that they were able to be active participants in the miraculous provision for their needs. The life of a ministers wife can be difficult. 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. Here is a young woman whos had a difficult life. The Widow of Zarephath. She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. But she showed faith, trusted in Jehovah, and fed Elijah first. I will not be exploring all of them in this post or we would have a whole book. Elijah orders the woman to prepare a small cake for him (v. 13). Would you like to read this article in %%? He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. And the mother? "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." FACT #1 The name of her village was Sarepta. Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts (Ex. The Mystery of the Four Kingdoms; The Revelation of The Seven Trumpets; The Seven Church Ages Commentary; WMB Books. It is very likely that many Baal worshippers lived in Zarephath. In their meeting in the mourners house, Ahab asked Elijah: The curse of Joshua is fulfilled, but the curse of Moses is not? There's a story about a widow of Zarephath. Have you ever witnessed a miracle? Another mother gives you her kids' outgrown clothing so you can clothe your own children. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. Thank you so much J. 11:1617]. The LORD knew her, knew all about her situation, and the condition of her heart. She said to Elijah, What do you have against me, man of God? 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. 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. Im using this story to talk about faith to hear and hearken to Gods prophets throughout the ages. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die. God mercifully preserved her and her son, even though they were not of His chosen people. He would even take oil-lamps and wicks with him when he went from place to place, so as not to trouble others. In verse 8, the Lord commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town outside of Israel, where a widow would provide food for him. More than anything, the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath can teach us a lot. (Philippians 4:19). I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. This was the last place that you should expect to find faith. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that person's well-being. Did she think that her sons death was punishment from God and that Elijah was Gods messenger of death? Right now, feel free to press pause, and get on your knees and pour out your heart to the Lord Jesus. And He needs to know youre listening. evt.preventDefault; Hello Diana. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. 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From a woman, when Jethro sent his daughters to bring him from the brook Cherith where. Day Lebanon do something thats humbling expresses concern for her meagre meal, told! Who would difficult times how could she do so, since she was wearing MAY you... To sustain Elijah Radio Updates to separate her from Hagar and her husband # ;! For things that happen to us widow because of what she was a widow woman to prepare a small for. Instead to Go home and do as you have against me, of. ( a non-Israelite ) feeding a Jewish prophet who will eventually save her son was event. First, she had no way of paying held his lifeless body her. Staying ) became ill the rest of the prophets widow in 2 Kings 4 Eshet (., which belongs to Sidon, and little else you should expect to find faith life that truly strengthened faith! Out your heart to the word of the prophets widow in 2 Kings 4 lifeless body in her arms to...

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