Just like this remarkable widow, the Holy Bible contains numerous passages featuring women who played fundamental roles in God’s purposes. In this study of the widow of Zarephath, we will explore the incredible story of faith and generosity of a woman who, even amidst scarcity, fully trusted in divine care. Her act of sharing the little she had with the prophet Elijah not only demonstrated her confidence in God but also resulted in a miracle of provision that impacted not just her life, but her family’s as well.
This passage teaches us valuable lessons about trust, solidarity, and the importance of being open to serving others, even in the face of difficulties. Her story is a powerful reminder that faith and generosity can open doors to unimaginable blessings, revealing the greatness of God’s love and provision in our lives.
I don’t know how you came across this or what your need is, but God will reveal powerful lessons to us during this study. As it says in:
“She said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks so that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.’” (1 Kings 17:12)
1. God Will Bless Not Only Your Life but Also Others’ Lives, Even Through Small Actions
In 1 Kings 17:7-16, the example of the woman who shared her resources despite having so little teaches us a valuable lesson: it’s not the quantity we have that matters, but our willingness to share with others. The Holy Bible provides several examples of people who, with few resources, helped many.
During a severe drought, the widow shared her last meal with the prophet Elijah and was miraculously blessed with enough flour and oil to survive. As the Scripture says:
“For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” (1 Kings 17:14)
Other Biblical Examples of Generosity
- Jesus and the Poor Widow (Mark 12:41-44): Jesus observed a poor widow who gave all she had to live as an offering in the Temple and praised her for her generosity.
- The Boy with Loaves and Fish (John 6:1-14): A boy shared his five loaves and two fish with Jesus, who multiplied them to feed a crowd of over five thousand people.
What the Word of God reveals in our hearts is that something that may seem small to you can hold great significance in someone else’s life.
God has the power to work meaningfully in our lives, even through things we consider small, to bless us and enable us to bless those around us. It’s important to remember that generosity and kindness have the power to transform not only the life of the recipient but also the giver’s life. Let’s be inspired by this example and spread love and solidarity wherever we go.
Context: Understanding 1 Kings 17:1-7
Elijah prophesied to Ahab that there would be no rain on the earth for three and a half years. At that time, the people believed Baal controlled the rain, so when it rained, they thought Baal had sent it. If the harvest was good because of the rain, they credited Baal, attributing everything to him and never to God.
Elijah was troubled by this and then prophesied that no rain would fall for three and a half years. The Lord then directed Elijah to the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan, where he would have water from the brook and be sustained by ravens. Elijah obeyed God’s voice, but because there was no rain during this period, the brook Cherith eventually dried up.
The Lord then commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, which belonged to Sidon, because there was a widow there who would enter the history of God’s miracles. Interestingly, the Lord told Elijah that He had already spoken to the widow:
“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (1 Kings 17:9)
Confident in the guidance he received, Elijah set out immediately for Zarephath, trusting that the Lord had already prepared the way for him.
The Meaning of Zarephath
Zarephath is the name of an ancient coastal city outside the borders of Israel, belonging to Sidon, on the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. Today, the site of Zarephath is located in the Lebanese district of Sarafand. It was a Phoenician territory, 1,126.3 km south of Sidon.
The term Zarephath means smelting furnace, to melt, refine, or crucible, likely due to the metal-smelting activity present in that location at the time of the biblical account.
Why Did God Choose the Widow of Zarephath?
God chose this widow as an example of faith and trust amid difficulties. Her story teaches us the importance of maintaining hope, even in times of scarcity and challenges. By trusting in divine providence, the widow was blessed with a miracle, also blessing Elijah’s life, showing that true faith can overcome any adversity. Thus, we are inspired to trust God in all circumstances, knowing He cares for us and provides what we need at the right time.
2. The Little We Have Will Be Transformed into Much by God in Our Lives
In 1 Kings 17:12, the narrative states that the widow had only a handful of flour in a jar, a little oil, and the sticks she had gathered to prepare a cake.
To human eyes, she was on the brink of scarcity, with insufficient resources to feed herself and her son. Yet, even in the face of apparent lack, the widow demonstrated trust and generosity by fulfilling the prophet Elijah’s request.
That widow would eat with her son and then wait for death together. Little did she know that this “little” would become the “much” of God’s provision for her life. By sharing the little she had, she witnessed an extraordinary miracle where the flour and oil did not run out, sustaining her and her son for days. This story reminds us of the importance of faith, solidarity, and perseverance, showing that even in tough times, kindness and trust can pave the way for unimaginable blessings.
Faith Changed Her Ending (1 Kings 17:13-14)
Through faith, God sent Elijah to strengthen her faith and bring material and spiritual blessings into that woman’s life.
Notice the widow’s three objectives:
- Gather the sticks
- Use the flour and oil to make a cake
- Die
But the faith she placed in God and in the word spoken through the prophet Elijah led her to exchange human certainty for God’s certainty. She traded the visible of man for the invisible of God, which is faith.
When that woman exercised faith, she exchanged death for life; she traded the little that was visible for the much that was still invisible but prepared for her.
We can say she saw:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
In 1 Kings 17:15-16, we find the divine formula: Obedience + Faith = Miracles. The widow followed the instructions with faith, trusting that God would be by her side, sustained by God’s provision in a time of scarcity.
The Lord shows us through this woman that He desires to do great things in our lives, but we must believe in His word and put our faith into action. Starting today, may we, like this woman, take hold of our provision. I don’t know what your desert is, but I know God is sending provision to your home.
Conclusion: The Widow of Zarephath’s Legacy
The widow of Zarephath is an inspiring example of faith and trust in God. Even in the midst of scarcity, she showed generosity to the prophet Elijah, sharing what would have been her last meal. This attitude of sacrifice and trust resulted in abundant blessings, as God multiplied the flour and oil, sustaining both her and the prophet.
Like the widow, we are reminded that even in the most difficult circumstances, we can trust in divine providence. May we learn from this story the importance of faith, generosity, and complete surrender to God, knowing that He will always meet our needs and surprise us with His faithfulness. Let this study inspire us to trust God more and become instruments of blessing in the lives of those around us. May we place our faith in God and believe that His impossible will come to pass.
May we carry this word of faith to those who have not yet encountered God.
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- Leave your comment to strengthen our faith.
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