Adapted from She, Volume 1/p67-68
1 Kings 17
What would you do if you were down to only enough food in your house for one more meal for you and your child … and a stranger came along and asked for you to feed him? Would you offer him to share in what you had left, or would you explain honestly that you had just enough for you and your child to have one last meal before you died? Would you turn him away? If you were the man hearing her plight, would you still let her feed you or go on your way?
Our journey today takes us to a time when Elijah finds himself in this very situation. Sent by God to a widow, living in a time of severe drought, was down to her last handful of meal and just enough oil to make one more meal for her and her son. It is a beautiful story of both faith and obedience and there is much we can learn from it today. Gotquestions.org describes the insights like this:
“First, God often uses unlikely people and sources to accomplish His purposes. Second, God’s mercy extends to all people, both Jews and Gentiles, and the Sidonian widow was blessed for her faith (see Acts 10:34–35). Third, God requires faith (Hebrews 11:6). The widow’s miracle only came after she prepared a meal for Elijah—an act of sincere faith on her part.?
Gotquestions.org/The widow of Zarephath
The widow of Zarephath serves as an example of the many promises God has made to us, if only we will simply trust & obey Him.
She, Volume 1/p68
The More We Know
For a wonderful synopsis of Elijah’s encounter with the widow and her son, you will want to visit the link below, from gotquestions.org, and read how Elijah was fed, the woman’s faith was tested, and the widow’s son, though dead, was made alive.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
Reflection and Application
Take a minute when you’re done reading to tell us what the testimony of the Widow of Zarephath means to you. You can share your answer/thoughts in the comment section below.
Me From the Inside Out 