Elijah Visits a Widow at Zarephath
November 5, 2021
Commentary
Elijah’s prophetic ministry dominates this section of the book of l Kings. He had been prepared by the Lord to demonstrate to all of Israel that God and not Baal is still the only true God. Perhaps as Elijah heard reports of Jezebel’s increasing maneuverings to replace the worship of the Lord with Baal worship his godly heart was stirred up. God gave him a mission..
Appearing suddenly on the scene, Elijah stood before Ahab and announced a three and one-half year drought. Having made this dramatic announcement, Elijah was told by the Lord to leave Samaria and travel eastward. He was to ride from Ahab by the brook Cherish, east of the Jordan River. There the Lord provided him with water, bread and meat brought by the ravens. (l7:l-7).
In his next directive Elijah is sent into Jezebel’s home territory. From here he went to Zarephath where God had already commanded a “widow” to provide for him. Although the widow only had enough flour and oil to make bread that would last for one meal for her and her son, Elijah assured her that God would provide.
Soon after his arrival the widow’s son died. She had a guilty conscience and immediately concluded that God was punishing her for her sin by killing her son. She took him to Elijah and he took the child and prayed. His prayer was not a simple request but out of a heart of deep concern. The Lord miraculously restored the boy’s life. This is the first recorded instance in Scripture of restoration to life of one who had died. This miracle proved to the widow that Elijah was indeed a man of God.
Application
This passage says that God uses the wrath of men against each other to bring about His purposes. I need to praise Him for what he is doing and not fret about the things I think He should be doing.
Isaiah 13:1– 16 (NET)
1 This is an oracle about Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:
2 On a bare hill raise a signal flag; shout to them, wave your hand, so they might enter the gates of the princes!
3 I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger — my boasting, arrogant ones.
4 There is a loud noise on the mountains— it sounds like a large army! There is great commotion among the kingdoms — nations are being assembled! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is mustering forces for battle.
5 They come from a distant land, from the horizon. It is the Lord with his instruments of judgment, coming to destroy the whole earth.
6 Wail, for the Lord’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the Sovereign One.
7 For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage.
8 They panic— cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth. They look at one another in astonishment; their faces are flushed red.
9 Look, the Lord’s day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and annihilating its sinners.
10 Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine.
11 I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin. I will put an end to the pride of the insolent, I will bring down the arrogance of tyrants.
12 I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir.
13 So I will shake the heavens, and the earth will shake loose from its foundation, because of the fury of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, in the day he vents his raging anger.
14 Like a frightened gazelle or a sheep with no shepherd, each will turn toward home, each will run to his homeland.
15 Everyone who is caught will be stabbed; everyone who is seized will die by the sword.
16 Their children will be smashed to pieces before their very eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives raped.
Illustration: Young Girl Afraid at Night
A young girl had to pass through a bad neighborhood. As she went down a dark street she noticed a shadowy figure stalking her. She was gripped with fear, but to her relief the stalker did not attack. Later, she read of another young lady who was attacked that same night in that same place. The police asked anyone who might have seen anything that night to come forward as a witness. After giving her story she asked the accused attacker why he hadn¡|t attacked her. His answer was “Why, Miss, there were two men guarding you.” (Gary Merrilat – Sermon Central)