The Widow of Zarephath

Day 1

The Widow of Zarephath
Her Character: A foreigner facing starvation, she showed extraordinary hospitality to one of God’s prophets, providing a safe harbor for him.
Her Sorrow: To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of a husband and son.
Her Joy: To experience repeated miracles of God’s provision

Key Scriptures: 1Kings 17:8 - 24; Luke 4:25 - 26

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 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.

Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son
17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth.”
25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

Day 2

Widows

The widow of Zerephath lived in a cruel and insensitive Phoenician society, one that treated widows as second-class citizens, ignored them, and allowed them to go hungry. When Elijah came and asked for all she had left, ingredients for bread, it was if he were asking her to take her and her sons lives. It was all they had left to keep them alive. It was the opposite that God had planned. For he provided her with sustenance that lasted until the famine was over. A widow usually would rely on her sons to provide for her or the community if she did not have any sons. God has shown us his great love for widows in his word. Psalm 68:5; 146:9. He commanded the Israelites to treat widows with compassion and provide for them. When the prophets declared the Israelites to be disobedient, they proved it by exposing their lack for care of the widows around them. Isaiah 1:23; 10:1-2; Ezekiel 22:6-7; Malachi 3:5. When someone cared for the widowed, it was worthy of note, Job 29:13.

Paul instructed young widows to remarry, if they were over sixty and had no one else to take care of them, the church was to care for them. 1 Timothy 5:3-16. A simple act done for a widow who is truly in need is shown in Acts 9:36-42.

Today, our churches should also be responsible to care for the widows. Programs like insurance and Social Security can provide financially, but her needs go far beyond that. Emotional support, physical support and friendship are very helpful to those that have lost their life long partners. Offering to have her over for lunch, watching her children, cleaning her house, or just asking how they are doing will always help them to fill in the time they used to have with their partner. Do you know someone in need? Is there a widow in your congregation that you can stretch out your hand and heart to? Give her a call today.

Note: This Saturday night, a friend of ours died of a major heart attack. His wife not only had to loose her lifetime partner, but had to loose him alone, until the family and medics got there to try to revive him. There are hundreds of other ways that women become widows, sometimes we are in awe of how well they are doing and forget to ask if we can help in any way. Other times, we struggle with the right words to say or how we could ever help them get through something we have never experienced ourselves. Truly, God will give you the right words and timing. About 5 years ago our friend was widowed when her husband drown in the bay. I had no idea what to do. Their story was similar to ours, newly married, new baby, new house. I didn’t know how to act around her, what to share, hoping not to reveal my happiness. It takes several years to truly move on from loosing your partner in life. You will have time to do something for a widow, but first, take the time to pray for God to reveal to you what you can do, and then be open to whatever it is that he asks of you. To this day, I know that even the little things I did do, were at least something to fill that huge void, if I had done nothing, who would have?


Dear Lord, please use my words to speak your word to others. I praise you for giving us the opportunity to serve you while taking care of Widows. Father, if it were my will, I would ask that no woman would ever loose her life partner, that they could depart peacefully together from this world, but I know the reality is that we must all come to you when it is our own time. I know those who leave us before we are ready truly get the better end of the deal, but I ask that you comfort those who are grieving, help them to see you through the kindness of others. If today, you could send your angels to comfort each and every Widow, I ask in Jesus name that you do. If we must act on your behalf, help us to be open to your calling. I love you Lord and I ask for protection on all those who are married, Father would you give us all long-lasting relationships that last us into our old age, so that we may not have to experience the pain of being Widows, it is a selfish request, but I pray this from my heart, Amen.

Day 3

1 Kings 17:9 Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.

Why is it surprising that God would send Elijah to a widow for food?
How has god provided for you in surprising ways?

12And she said, As the Lord your God lives, I have not a loaf baked but only a handful of meal in the jar and a little oil in the bottle. See, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it--and die.

The first words the widow speaks to the prophet Elijah are words o searing honesty: Here is what I have left and here is what I’m planning to do. What is she telling Elijah with these words?
In today’s generally abundant society, it is perhaps more difficult than ever to admit that you do not have enough and that you need help. When have you or someone you know had to be as honest as the widow about your needs? What did you learn from being put in this position?


13Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son.
14For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.

Why do you think the widow went and did what Elijah asked her to do? What did she have to lose?

18And she said to Elijah, What have you against me, O man of God? Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son?
Where was the widow placing blame for her son’s death? Her sin? Elijah’s presence? God?
20And Elijah cried to the Lord and said, O Lord my God, have You brought further calamity upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

Now it is Elijah’s turn to be completely honest. Why do you think Elijah was so desperate for the woman’s son to return to life?
Have you ever been as desperate as Elijah? What circumstances in your life caused your desperation? What was God’s answer?

24And the woman said to Elijah, By this I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.

Now, for a second time, the widow’s son is saved by God through Elijah. What is the widow’s response when her son is returned to her?
Through this foreign woman God reveals his willingness to supply our needs if we will depend on him. Have you ever doubted God’s ability or willingness to give you what you need?

Day4

Her Legacy of Prayer
Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from you mouth is truth.” 1 Kings 17:24

Reflect on 1 Kings 17: 8-24
Praise God for his constant attentiveness
Offer thanks for all the ways God has already provided for you and for the ways he will provide in the future.
Confess any tendency to act as though God really doesn’t care about what’s happening to you.
Ask God to make you a woman who relies on him daily for her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Dear Lord, I praise you for always caring for me, always knowing what is going on in my life and giving me an ever so soft nudge towards the right direction to complete your will. Thank you for providing for our family and myself and for having a plan to continue to provide for us, even if what you provide is not what we asked for and even if we do not receive what we asked for. I am sorry for forgetting sometimes that you do care about everything in my life, just as those who are close to me and love me do. You are my Father and I ask that you forgive me for not coming to you at all times for things that are happening in my life. Make me and my woman friends rely on you daily for our spiritual, emotional, and physical needs, it is you who knows our life story, help us to seek your guidance. In Jesus name, Amen.

Day 5

Good Morning (early afternoon for some), I hope you are having a wonderful day already. Yesterday was the See Ya Later party for my dear friend Russell. I had never been to a funeral that packed an entire sanctuary to standing room only. But it was only fitting for the person that we were honoring. I know this is a devotional about the women of the Bible. I just can’t help to admit that there are many women in this world who are amazing because of a loving relationship with a male in their lives. It was apparent that he had reflected the love of our God in his lifetime. His wife, daughter and granddaughter were able to stand in praise for the life of this man who cared and loved for so many.

Anyway, the reason I am bringing this up is because as I read the portion of the book I am to share with you today, I was taken aback. I Remembered that there was a time I felt defeated, down, alone. I was struggling through a situation with my mother in July 2005. This amazing friend of mine had read an email prayer request from me. He responded and I saved his email because it was an encouragement in my life. Maybe in honor of him, I can pass his words on to you and you may be forever changed as well. He sent me this single email message:

Hi Heather
Just a short note
I have been holding you and your family in prayer.
The last email stated that you felt defeated
I know that battle wears one out, and to encourage you -- read the following;
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 The Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, is our Warrior
1 John 4:4 GREATER is HE that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world. KJV
He loves you and knows just what you are going through
The word defeated is not in the Bible OT or NT. We may all become discouraged from time to time but that draws us to the Savior.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
Love you guys
Russ (russel bony)

I could stop now, but I have to share with you the reading from the book.
Lift your Heart
Whenever we spin anxious scenarios about the future, we waste precious emotional energy. This kind of worrying causes negativity. It becomes a misguided attempt to control the future. Instead of controlling the future (only GOD can do that) we end up being controlled by anxiety. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34) Begin to form habits that will help you break the power of worry in your life. Start by thanking God each morning for some small sign of his goodness (like the fact you have another day to live). Think of ways God has taken care of you in the past (a simple email from a friend who knew you needed it). Gratitude will increase your sense of God's presence in your life. It doesn’t hurt to write down these blessings and save those emails that touch you so deeply that you are changed. You never know when you will need to go back to those words of encouragement and you never know when you may be able to share them with others. I didn’t know almost 2 years ago that saving this email would bring me such joy and comfort from the passing of my friend, Russell Bony. I will forever have remembrance of him that I can share with generations to come.

Lord, I know it is easy sometimes for anxiety to snuff out my gratitude. Help me to linger thankfully in your presence rather than simply rushing on to my next desperate request. Use my weakness and need as a showcase for your strength. Never allow myself or any of these women to feel defeated. Amen.