Let's observe the handiwork of God in His messenger, Elijah, and in the faith of the humble widow. God provided this widow with a lesson on faith, and drew out her faith into a "catering service."
In 1 Kings 17:7-16 Elijah's luxury that God provided of being fed by the ravens and watered by the brook ran out. There was famine in the entire region and God directed Elijah to journey on to Zarephath where there would be a widow to supply food. It's amazing how God chose this particular widow of Zarephath, who was a single parent of a son and barely had any flour and oil to make bread. Let's examine Luke 4:24-27, where Jesus speaks about the existence of many widows in Israel during Elijah's time of famine, yet God chose the region in Zarephath, and a particular widow to provide food for Elijah. God reached out to the Gentiles who were more accepting of the gospel, whereas Israel rejected Jesus and the gospel.
Through Elijah God was drawing this widow to a walk of faith, by sacrificing and giving whatever she stored up in her kitchen. When Elijah ordered bread and water, and that he be fed first, before she and her son, one wonders how such a small food source could stretch to feed her and her starving son. The widow did as she was told, and the bin of flour and jar of oil did not run out! The widow took her first step of faith, and there was enough food for her family.
Ellen G. White writes, "No greater test of faith than this could have been required. The widow had hitherto treated all strangers with kindness and liberality. Now, giving no thought to the suffering that might result to herself and child, but trusting in the God of Israel to supply her needs, she met this supreme test of hospitality by doing 'according to the saying of Elijah'" (Review and Herald, Aug. 28, 1913).
Next, in 1 Kings 17:17-24, we learn that the widow vents her anger about how God can allow her son to become sick and die, thinking it's related to the sins of her past. She assumes that her son has died because God is punishing her for her sins, "Art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?" (vs. 18). Even today this is common thinking as a cause and effect of sin. If I do right, good will come, and if I do wrong, bad will come. Or we say, "Have I blown it somewhere?" or, "Is God punishing me?" As we read on we will see that God is merciful.
Elijah brings her son to the upper room, where he vents his feelings to God. When Elijah prays to God, pleading for the boy's life, he presumes that God has caused the death of the boy. "O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" (vs. 20), praying three times in perseverance "to let this child's soul come into him again."
Elijah's prayer for the son uses the Hebrew word nephesh, indicating the breath of life.
Life was restored to the child, demonstrating to this foreign mother of Phoenician practices of Baal and superstitious magic that Elijah was truly a man of God and that he ministered God's word. You can almost hear Elijah saying to the widow, "Your son is well and alive!," and see her reaction, rejoicing and praising God to every soul in her neighborhood for the miracle.
We cannot limit God in a confined space. God leads us in many ways. Elijah was led one step at a time when God said that a widow would help him, not that he is to help the widow. God commanded the widow to sustain Elijah, and it was God who sent Elijah to her (vs. 9), seeking her.
It is the same as the Lord seeking constantly for you. He will hold on to you in His hand and will not let go. Let us respond just as this widow who gave her mite in humble faith. No matter who you are at the bottom of the rank, you can be used as God's instrument.
--Mary Chun
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