Elijah tells her not to be afraid, but instead to Go home and do as you have said. What do we know about the Widow of Zarephath whose story is found in I Kings 17:8-24? His need condemned her. Please take away the fear and anxiety that the enemy is trying to use to intimidate your child. Why did Elisha have them pouring the oil in the privacy of their home? If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. Ahab and Jezebel were ruling the Kingdom of Israel in wickedness. Ahab was the king in Israel at a crucial time. The article went on to say that it is the same for us. How special that Elisha involved the sons in the gathering and filling. Jesus wants to love you into heaven way more than He wants you to experience hell. The Word of the LORD is in reality truth and reliable. What do you have? You must be joking. But that was not this widows reaction. 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. For those who are being threatened by others and are feeling helpless, be their Defense. Every night she hoped for rain, but every morning she woke to a brilliant sky. 31:20): her hands are stretched out to the needy, since she fed Elijah (Midrash Eshet Hayil, Batei Midrashot, vol. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." Try it FREE right now! Lord God, these are difficult times for so many. The Bible is filled with God granting miracles for widows. Jehovah was listening. These two boys were facing a terrible future unless God intervened. She prepared food for Elijah with the last of her food, and trusted his words that her barrel would not be empty. A lesson that we can learn from this is that God blesses those who show faith in him. for(var i=0; i. Yes, God sustained her household through the drought, but there is more to her relationship with Gods prophet. There is, after all, a drought in progress. He sent Elijah to the widow to help both her and the prophet. Baals, the false gods, were erected all over the land of Israel and places of idol worship were on every corner. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. 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. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. } 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. This man of God is asking for the last of all she has. They had to be scared. In this case, the widow appears to have been supportive of her husband. Reach US; Reach our Team; Locations; Join on Telegram; Alternate . And I mean bad in a good way. He takes the boy from her arms, carries him upstairs to his room and lays him on his bed. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. Ahab and Jezebel worshipped Baal. } } And when she gave, something amazing happened. God bless. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. 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 Jesus makes the point that during a time of drought and famine, there were many widows in Israel who had need. Admit your helplessness. Let's begin in Luke.4.25-26. And in each case, God showed them that they . Elisha could have just given her the money she needed. The Rabbis applied to this woman the verse from the Eshet Hayil (Woman of Valor) passage (Prov. Now how long would those last? Forgive us when we lose faith and forget what an awesome God You are. In 1898, an article in Zions Watch Tower taught this lesson: If the widow had faith and obeyed Elijah, she would receive Jehovahs help. Much blessings to you my sister. Do you stare at the bills and wonder how on earth theyre ever going to get paid? She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. ", But the man had persisted. Who was the Widow of Zarephath? Elijah took the boy and laid him upon his own bed and cried unto the LORD. Just Elijahs presence in the land was an offense to the enemy. Elijah arose and went to Wadi Cherith, where the ravens brought him bread and meat (v. 2). We do know she was a Phoenician woman living in a pagan land and that she showed extraordinary hospitality by providing safe harbor for one of God's prophets during a period of famine. And just as He provided for the prophets widow, so He can provide for you. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath. 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. 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. While that is often a part of his plan, our eyes usually rest on ourselves, when in fact it has less to do with us and more to do with what He wants to do through our relationships with the people to whom He connects us. No matter how little, we have something we can use to bless someone. "Then the LORD said to Elijah, 'Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. In this post I will list just a few characters and stories of faith you can study to uplift your, Continue reading Faith in Bible stories: 30+ inspirational examples and stories from ScriptureContinue, The daughters of Zelophehad in the Bible were no ordinary women. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. The town of Zarephath was one hundred miles from the brook Cherith, where Elijah had been in hiding from King Ahab. Think about what Elijah asked the widow to do. Ive stopped saying we should challenge God for big things.Actually, nothing challenges God. I am so happy that you have found what you need for you sermon. I will not be exploring all of them in this post or we would have a whole book.