“So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks, and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch, he called to her, and said, Bring me I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrell, and a little oil in a cruse: and behold I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die” (1 Kings 17:10-12).
The familiar story of the widow of Zarephath reveals the mind of God who would miraculously provide for the widow and the man of God, Elijah. Elijah left a land experiencing famine to go to Zarephath; this sets the scene for our story. There he found a widow who was obviously feeling very desperate. Even though he wasn’t aware of her problems at the time, as he spoke to her, he would soon learn her plight. He was thirsty and hungry and asked her for water and a morsel of bread. Even if she knew she was being asked this by the man of God, in her desperation she was honest about her adversity. The widow explained what she had been doing. We can’t help but feel sorry for her. She was going to make a little cake for herself and her son and prepare to die. However, here is the prophet asking for her last meal. What’s a widow to do?
This week we will center our thoughts on the widow of Zarephath. We will find out what both she and Elijah learned together: “When there is nothing left but God, that’s when you find that God is all you need.”
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God would provide visas for creative access workers Mick and Rachel and their family.
