Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? (1 Kings 17:17-18 NIV). She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. Are you feeling pressure to provide for your family but you dont know how youre going to? The story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephtah can be found in the following Bible verses: 1 Kings 17: 8-24. Elijah prayed and from heaven he was given the key of rain, so that it would descend only at his command. she wondered. 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.. Media information about this sermon Title: Raising The Faith Of The Widow Of ZarephathTitle in Tamil: . No matter how small or insignificant, we have something to give to someone else to help them. Then you can make something afterward for you and your son. Your email address will not be published. Elijah arose and went to Wadi Cherith, where the ravens brought him bread and meat (v. 2). In her mind, the end is near. Then Jehovah told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. 11:1617]. Lieberman], Ekev, p. 74). She literally was going to eat her last meal and then she was going to starve to death. As they filled up the vessels they were to set aside the ones that were full. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath. 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. "Widow of Zarephath: Midrash and Aggadah." This is another lesson we as women of Christ always need to be reminded of. Elijah must have been shocked by both the death of the widows son and the idea that the prophet somehow caused it. He knew the current reality did not measure up with Gods promise. Episode 86: Fat Torah with Minna Bromberg. Did you know that All Gods Women can be heard around the world? Why did Elisha have them pouring the oil in the privacy of their home? 4). The Rabbis relate that this son was Jonah son of Amittai, who was completely righteous, and would eventually enter the Garden of Eden while still alive (Midrash Tehilim 26:7). "Then the LORD said to Elijah, 'Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. But she wasnt prepared for his death. There it was the promise of a miracle. THE WATCHTOWERSTUDY EDITION (SIMPLIFIED), Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Are you searching for and helping such people? return true; if( checkboxFields.length ) { Join the women of prayer simulstudy Coming January 9, All Gods Women Bible Study Facebook group, Shunammite Woman: Cool, Calm, Collected Sharon Wilharm Christian Storyteller. But God is full of surprises. RELATED: Women of faith in the Bible 14 Characteristics and lessons learned. But in times of spiritual crisis, he prayed in faith and God answered. The widow of Zarephath plays a small but important role in Elijah's story. Each widow faced difficulties far beyond anything they could handle on their own. "Don't be afraid. In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, 2022, we are spotlighting women who rocked in Bible times! He takes the boy from her arms, carries him upstairs to his room and lays him on his bed. Her sons life is saved. Am much encouraged at the same time I was looking for further understanding about the story of Elijah and the widow since for the first time I will be giving the word of God where I fellowship.i thank God for leading me and giving me what I was looking for through this page.for sure fear and anxiety has been killing me but this word has ministered to me.help me God. Blessings to you as well. Can you imagine just a little attitude in her response to him? Zarephath rest inside the region of Sidon, the native country of Queen Jezebel, the woman who married the wicked King Ahab . Even if he had any doubts, Elijah began a conversation with the woman. } And note that his prayers were no small prayers and his faith was equally huge. Lord God, please be with Edith. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.". Jehovah listened to Elijahs prayer and brought the child back to life. Elisha asked her what she had in her house. God bless. This man of God is asking for the last of all she has. Amen. If you are going through a rough patch, you will find encouragement. So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. I feel encouraged my name is Edith a single mother from Nairobi Kenya .av been going through tough times and its not easy at all kindly pray with me for job opportunities am a qualified interior designer , declutter and organising expert.it really crashes my I got bills and debts and am not able to pay. The widow went to Elisha and pleaded her case. And who was her son? The story of Peter in the Bible teaches that. He will be a Provider, a Protector, and a Friend in order to help you endure.Exodus 3:13-15. God richly bless you. And when she gave, something amazing happened. How hard it was to suffer her fears alone, to wake in the night with no one to warm her, no one to whisper sweet lies about tomorrow. (Acts 24:15) Surely these are excellent reasons for remembering the widow of Zarephath. After this, the womans son falls ill and dies (v. 17). Ahab was the king in Israel at a crucial time. RECORDING DATE: July 3, 2020. Praise the living God. She had no idea that the stranger was Elijah, a prophet who had the gall to inform King Ahab that God was withholding rain to punish Israel's idolatry. Watch over and protect those who are vulnerable. We do not know her name, but she is a widow living in the town of Zarephath. Instead, challenge yourself to get to that place where your faith triumphs over your fear. The Word of the LORD is in reality truth and reliable. They went door to door collecting. WMB English Version; WMB Tamil Version; Gallery. We meet the Prophets Widow in 2 Kings chapter 4. 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. Elijah took the boy and laid him upon his own bed and cried unto the LORD. 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. Elijah also had a moment of doubt. 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. It takes courage to go to your neighbors and ask them for something. 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. After declaring no more rain, Elijah hid himself in the Kerith Ravine, east of Jordan, where the Lord sustained him with water from a brook and food ravens brought to him (1 Kings 17:5). Ask God to make it obvious what youre supposed to do. 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. I look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead. 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.' Elijah prayed that God give him the key of the resurrection of the dead, but he was told from Heaven: Three keys were not entrusted to an agent [i.e., an agent responsible for them], but remained with God, namely: the key of the woman giving birth, the key of rain and the key of the resurrection of the dead. That emotional resurrection happened almost 3,000 years ago. But how precious that they were able to be active participants in the miraculous provision for their needs. Elijah is commanded to go to Sidon, where he will be fed by a widow (17:9). Elisha told her to go to all of her neighbors and borrow empty vessels from them. It is sometimes said we wear our sins on our sleeves. God did not abandon that poor widow. That concludes this weeks episode of All Gods Women. The widow of Zarephath had felt utterly alone, not knowing God had his eye on her. 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. They handed those empty vessels to their mom and watched as she filled them with oil. 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. He cried out to God and asked that the boys life return to Him. Beg for His mercy and provision. Read a psalm or two. The Mystery of the Four Kingdoms; The Revelation of The Seven Trumpets; The Seven Church Ages Commentary; WMB Books. When her level of faith was compared to those who claimed to know God, she stood head and shoulders above them. This is a real and raw story about injustice, loss,, Continue reading Rizpah in the Bible Characteristics and lessons learnedContinue, Studying faith in Bible stories is one of my favorite ways to encourage my heart, especially in rough times. God never leaves his people without guidance and direction. We might easily assume this widow is not of Hebrew lineage, but she clearly believed in the Hebrews God and trusted Him. 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. Although the poor widow of Zarephath lived in an area where many people worshipped idols, she showed faith in Jehovah. Who was the Widow of Zarephath? // check if at least one field is required The LORD had been preparing her to be an instrument in His hand. There are so many people of faith in the Bible. 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. She did not refer to Jehovah as my God. She lived in Zarephath, a town that belonged to the Phoenician city of Sidon. The curse of the teacher is not fulfilled, but that of his disciple is? 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. Ive stopped saying we should challenge God for big things.Actually, nothing challenges God. Every night she hoped for rain, but every morning she woke to a brilliant sky. Like Naaman, her faith was unlikely and Jesus makes reference to him as well. There is always spiritual warfare over your hearts loyalty. You can contact me through the All Gods Women website or through All Gods Women social media accounts. God multiplied the flour and oil so that she did not have to worry about food. (Read on to find out why he chose a drought over anything else). Comfort her when shes feeling overwhelmed. Elijah was feed by ravens for many days. As she decided to care for Gods spokesperson, God provided miraculously for her household. Have reminders sent directly to your email, Pause your devotional at any time to read at your own pace. She cannot believe what she is seeing. 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. Now how long would those last? And I mean bad in a good way. From Ahabs slaughterhouse. FACT #5 The son of the Widow at Zarephath remains nameless. In this case, the widow appears to have been supportive of her husband. Shes angry. Elijah had declared God's message of judgment on Israel and her wicked king, but the message fell on deaf ears. Life Story of Prophet W.M.B - Part 1; Mystery Of The Godhead Revealed? So they willingly gave. 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. Elisha could have just given her the money she needed. However, Jehovah noticed something special in the heart of this widow. (1 Kings 17:17-23). So many wonderful points. Even her name is lost to the history. But hard times is nothing new. 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. The Rabbis also learned that giving food to someone else is a virtue that results in the resurrection of the dead before its time: because the widow from Zarephath gave food to Elijah, she merited the reviving of her son. But he had died before the drought, leaving her with a small son, a house, and little else. You already have the key of rain, and you [also] want the key of the resurrection of the dead? Her character: A Phoenician woman, she showed extraordinary hospitality to one of God's prophets, providing a safe harbor for him during a period of famine. 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. And for those of us who struggle in our faith, He always meets us where we are in our imperfect faith and helps us grow. The account in 1Kings chapter17 says no more about this woman. Her sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. Then theyd set it aside and grab a new jar to fill. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. The midrash apparently understands that the food eaten by Elijah during his stay with the widow was of miraculous origin, since the entire land was suffering from a severe drought. From where did the ravens bring meat? God spoke to Elijah again and told him to go to Zarephath. 17) and Gods command to stop the drought (beginning of chap. During this time in history God rose up prophets like Elisha who held prophecy schools where they tutored or trained other prophets in the ancient Law. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman and her Faith. He will not allow the enemy to snatch you up without a fight. But he wants us to trust Him. Oh Desmond, I hear you and I definitely understand the fear. The widow didnt have much. In 1898, an article in Zions Watch Tower taught this lesson: If the widow had faith and obeyed Elijah, she would receive Jehovahs help. 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