| “As the Lord your God lives, I have noting baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug. I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” (1 Kings 17:12) |
God’s anger at the people of Israel for their idol worship caused him to send a famine which lasted for three years. God sent Elijah to Zarephath where he speaks to a poor widow who is gathering sticks for a fire to make her son and herself what she thought would be their last meal before they died of starvation. The widow, who is nameless throughout the scripture, like many of the people of Israel worshiped a pagan god. Elijah asked her for water. She gave it to him. Then he asked her to give him some bread. She was poor and had only enough flour and oil to make bread for her son and herself. She showed Elijah how little flour and oil she had. He told her God would replenish what she had so it would last until the famine ended. She did as Elijah asked and made the bread. Just as Elijah promised, her provisions lasted many days.
Shortly after her encounter with Elijah, the widow’s son became ill and died. She brought her son’s lifeless body to Elijah and blamed him for his death. She told him that in coming to her house he brought her past sins to God’s attention causing her to be punished by her son’s death. Elijah took her son to an upper room and prayed to God to restore his life. God answered Elijah’s prayer. The boy’s mother acknowledges Elijah is a man of God.
Although the widow did not know God, she knew the spirt of the Lord was with her. She trusted Elijah. When her provisions were replenished as Elijah said they would be, she knew God was working though Elijah to help her and her son survive the famine.
Biblical Principles
- Elijah who suffered from the famine obeyed God’s command to go to Zarephath. (1 Kings 17:9)
- When Elijah instructed the widow to feed him first and then herself and her son, she obeyed him in faith (1 Kings 17:15)
- The woman blamed Elijah for her son’s death. (1 Kings 17:18).
- The son’s revival was God’s blessing for the woman and Elijah because of their faith and obedience. (1 Kings 17:23-24)
For Women Today
If the widow had come to the gate earlier or later, she would not have seen Elijah, nor received the blessing he bestowed upon her. Sometimes God puts us where we are supposed to be in order to be blessed. The widow’s story shows that God can reach even those who do not acknowledge or worship Him as a way of showing them and others His power, goodness, grace and mercy. We also learn that God will come to us when we are in need. Even in our most dire and distressful moments God is with us. The widow did not pray to God for relief from the famine. She did not believe in God. But because she knew Elijah was a man of God, and of Elijah’s petition to God to revive her son she experienced God’s grace and mercy.
For whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)