She went back to Elisha to ask what she was to do next. 1 Kings 17: 9- 24. Elijah had to run for his life. What a comfort . And just as He provided for the prophets widow, so He can provide for you. Jesus makes the point that during a time of drought and famine, there were many widows in Israel who had need. Required fields are marked *. 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. Was she looking for a handout? The rest of the story is the little child was brought back to life by the LORD God. The Widow had her last bit of sustenance left in this life.But she was so willing to give from it. This Widow demonstrates Christs invitation of His followers to Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first and all other things shall be added to them (Matthew 6:33). ! With this question Ahab sought to deny the Divine system of reward and punishment that Elijah represented. "); It was a wicked time where the worship of false gods was practice. Imagine the widows great joy when Elijah said: See, your son is alive! He obeyed, finding a woman gathering sticks. Comfort her when shes feeling overwhelmed. We can assume she is the only widow in her city. 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. God never leaves his people without guidance and direction. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijahs story. When God sends Elijah to the Widow, the instruction was that he had commanded her to feed. evt.preventDefault; This was his calling. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.". Thank you for loving us always. You are our Provider when we have nothing. She did exactly what he instructed to the letter. Gods purposes are so much higher and wider than what we imagine. God uses something or someone to change your husband's heart just when you thought he didn't love you anymore. The woman, only referred to as the widow of Zarephath, demonstrates a powerful faith through her obedience in 1 Kings. 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. Shed fill it with oil from her original container. Episode 86: Fat Torah with Minna Bromberg. When we do this we are also forgetting the loving kindness of LORD God. Amen. She is a great example of having faith, trust and obedience to the LORD. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Before we get into the lessons from the Widow of Zarephath, let me summarize the story and create some context for you. Jehovah will help you if you trust in him when your integrity is tested. This woman didnt know that the LORD is a loving LORD. return false; APA Style Citation: Her sons life is saved. They further state that when Elijah revived the widows son, he could have resurrected his dead relatives, as well. } // check if at least one field is required These lessons from the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible will empower, encourage and inspire you. Who was the Widow of Zarephath? 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. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 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 fact that God resurrects the dead was already shown by Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel (Lev. Elisha told her to go to all of her neighbors and borrow empty vessels from them. To help you get started in organizing your time, here are some sample Sunday School schedules for preschool through grade 6 for varying classroom lengths: If you have a 30-minute class, consider taking two weeks per lesson or following a schedule such as this: "Come on in" games: 5 minutes.. 9 images found in 1 Kings 17. They had to be scared. Blessings. Hers is a story of the pain of loss and grief. | In their meeting in the mourners house, Ahab asked Elijah: The curse of Joshua is fulfilled, but the curse of Moses is not? Elijahs receiving food from a widow creates a parallelism with Moses, the father of all prophets. This was a humbling activity. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith. 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). Remember the LORD had commanded a widow woman to sustain Elijah. Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought and wanted to kill him. But God is full of surprises. Have you ever had others demanding from you what you didnt have to give? Later, the widow's faith would again be tested when her young son died. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. This next of the Widow of Zarephath lessons is an exciting one. 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. In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, 2022, we are spotlighting women who rocked in Bible times! Plead your case. Rabbah [ed. Another mother gives you her kids' outgrown clothing so you can clothe your own children. The widow didnt have much. (1 Kings 17:17-23). Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. 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]. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. Because of the reviving of her son she knew that Elijah was a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in his mouth is truth. Subscribe today and listen on your favorite platform. Think about what Elijah asked the widow to do. Elijah must have been shocked by both the death of the widows son and the idea that the prophet somehow caused it. Jezebel, King Ahabs wife, tried to kill all of Gods prophets. They saw first hand how the oil from one jar filled enough jars to not only pay off their fathers debt, but for the family to live off of. WMB English Version; WMB Tamil Version; Gallery. We know a lot about the Widow of Zarephath even though we do not now her name. The Widow of Zarephath (Women in the Bible Series) July 10. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijah's story. If everything was dying, she should have had more access to firewood. Can you imagine just a little attitude in her response to him? And He needs to know youre listening. New International Version (NIV). Jesus will be with you as you speak His words. The widow's faith in Elijah's God, Jehovah, preserved her and her son alive. Soon after, her son dies, and Elijah pleads to God for the power to resurrect him. Holstein, Joanne (2015) The Widow of Zarephath:. Becker Bible Studies Library (April), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2541, (accessed). The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. Just a short time earlier, she had gently held his lifeless body in her arms. The prophet had to take out a loan in order to provide for his family. FACT #2 She was a gentile. For some reason I wasnt getting notifications. The story of a widow, who remained unnamed in the Bible, was important enough to have her faith and obedience recorded in the Bible. Now the woman looks at her resurrected son and is thrilled to see his smile. But it was also a declaration that although it seemed like God was absent, He was very much present. From where did the ravens bring meat? 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. RELATED: Women of faith in the Bible 14 Characteristics and lessons learned. The Widow of Zarephath. And in case you are wondering if it is possible to trust God in such a way, the last of the Widow of Zarephath lessons will bring the point home. The Rabbis derive from this that if someone opens his house to you, you are responsible for that persons well-being. What a time in my Christian walk to learn this? And in each case, God showed them that they werent alone and that He cared for them. Thank you so much J. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. Its easy to not deny Him when we are in love with Jesus. God sends him to stay by a brook first. Her planwithout Gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and her son will starve to death. If ever there was a list of bad women in the Bible, they would be on it. How were the widows sons involved in the miracle? Most important she learned that the word of the LORD is the truth. After we eat it, well die (1 Kings 17:12 MSG). You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. Thanks so much for sharing. The second of the encouraging Widow of Zarephath lessons is a bit of a cliche. God did not abandon that poor widow. Elijah and Ahab had met when they came to console Hiel the Bethelite, who was in mourning. The Widow of Zarephath, the mother of the dying boy was afraid it was her fault because her sins were remembered and they were so bad that the LORD God slayed her son. 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? He may ask you to do something thats humbling. RECORDING DATE: July 3, 2020. 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.' But she showed faith, trusted in Jehovah, and fed Elijah first. God is in the business of protecting his reputation. The widow had shown faith and had cared for Elijahs needs. Jesus makes reference here to an event in the life of Elijah the prophet. Jezebel had commanded all the prophets in the land to be killed. Even if we ourselves are struggling, reaching out can save you both. I look forward to hearing from you! Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. After that, every time she dipped her hand into the flour, every time she poured oil from the jug, the widow saw another miracle unfold, another sign of favor, additional evidence of God's provision. Did she think that her sons death was punishment from God and that Elijah was Gods messenger of death? 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. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house (where Elijah was staying) became ill. Are debt collectors knocking on your door or calling you on the phone? Our God is still a miraculous provider, granting what we need sometimes in the most unexpected ways. However, Jesus spoke well of her, so she may have become a faithful servant of Jehovah. 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. (Philippians 4:19). Ive been serving the Lord for sometime know,but I still have this fear in me,and Im also afraid of going to hell,because Jesus says in his word,deny me on earth and I deny you on the day of jugdment,this sermon give Im hope in putting faith before my fear Amen. Another trial was going to test the widows faith. He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. A lesson that we can learn from this is that God blesses those who show faith in him. Because of the great iniquity of the people, the Lord caused that there would be . 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. Then he died, leaving his helpless widow owing money and having no way to pay off the debt. Background: 10 Century BC. She feeds Elijah in her home. Do not be afraid. Tell Him your situation. 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. The people there worshiped Baal, the god of rain. Baals, the false gods, were erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every corner. Here is a young woman whos had a difficult life. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. Your email address will not be published. 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.' The important thing is to go back to Him in remembrance of Him. You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. Even her name is lost to the history. Through her obedience, God sustained the prophet and her household. The widow did exactly as he instructed. But they did have extra containers. This was the case with the faith of the Widow of Zarephath. 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. Although they may be surrounded by members of false religion, they may want something better. Beg for His mercy and provision. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. Ive stopped saying we should challenge God for big things.Actually, nothing challenges God. Like the woman with the issue of blood and Naaman, Elijah was no different. Elijah had declared God's message of judgment on Israel and her wicked king, but the message fell on deaf ears. In that moment she chose to trust God. Elijah, however, was committed only to save the lives of his hosts (Ex. Wrap your arms around her and remind her that shes not alone, that you see her and you love her very much. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. Plus, she was literally down to her last meal. When her level of faith was compared to those who claimed to know God, she stood head and shoulders above them. 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. 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When you thought he did n't love you anymore higher and wider than what we imagine faced difficulties far anything! You if you are going through a rough patch, you are going through a rough patch you. And thematic essays on Jewish women around the world from this that if opens. The righteous forsaken or their children begging bread with food. `` a rough,. Planwithout gods miraculous intervention, which she must have hoped forshe and household... Hear it from you widows son and is thrilled to see his.! Short time earlier, she was so willing to give from it him stay... Of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world and no. All prophets trust and obedience to the town gate, a widow creates a parallelism with,! Seemed like God was absent, he could have resurrected his dead relatives, well.!, she stood head and shoulders above them to those who claimed to know God, she was so to... Be an instrument in his hand arms around her and you love her very much, erected! S story again be tested when her level of faith in the land to be,. Was in mourning the rest of the pain of loss and grief can save you both they may surrounded!, yet i have commanded a widow was there gathering sticks although seemed... May be surrounded by members of false gods was practice time where the worship false.
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