Widow of zareph
1. In 1 Kgs. 17 the prophet Elijah appears on the scene and he has a message.
2. He said, “As Jehovah, the God of Israel liveth, there shall be no dew or rain for three years.”
3. Today when people do not have much to talk about, they may discuss the weather.
4. There were surely several “weather conversations” in the 9th century B.C.
5. Day after day, month after month, and for multiple years there was no rain.
6. This information was communicated to the king and the king was not pleased.
IN THE SECOND VERSE OF FIRST KINGS 17 WE FIND GOD GIVING ELIJAH SOME DIVINE DIRECTIONS. GOD’S PROPHET WAS TOLD TO “GO AND HIDE” (VERSE 3).
a) When we think of hiding, it is most often associated with children.
b) Most adults grow out of the hiding stage; for a time God’s prophet was in hiding.
c) Elijah needed to eat so God provided him with a personalized food delivery service.
d) Heaven told the prophet there would be a brook nearby (verse 4); that would be the water supply.
e) Birds (ravens) would bring food for the prophet (4b) at this brook.
f) What God promised came true; birds brought food to Elijah twice per day (verse 6).
g) God’s prophet received two deliveries of bread and meat.
2) Things were going along pretty well until the effects of no rainfall started to set in.
3) Elijah prophesied that no rain would come and that prophesy finally had an effect on his book.
4) In the 7th verse we find that the brook “dried up.” There was no rain anywhere in the land.
5) God did not abandon His prophet; in verse 8 we find the prophet receiving some new instructions.
a) Let’s start with the 8th verse and read through verse 11 – READ.
b) According to the end of verse 9, this widow had received some instructions.
6) She was told to “sustain” God’s prophet.
a) Not long ago hurricane several victims were looking for places to stay.
b) Families were taking in victims to “sustain” them after the destruction.
c) In the case of 1 Kgs. 17, we see a water problem but it is a lack of water.
d) We are not told how the widow (verse 9) was informed about sustaining the prophet.
e) Apparently she was expecting him and Elijah found her gathering sticks.
f) Today if we see someone turning on a stove, it is pretty likely they are preparing to cook.
g) Gathering sticks suggested this woman was about to prepare some food.
h) God’s prophet asked for some provisions as well as some water.
7) After hearing the requests the lady replied with the information in verse 12 – READ.
a) If you have ever moved into an apartment or house, you have seen bare cupboards.
b) This is essentially what God’s prophet was being told.
c) She called upon God to witness the fact that she didn’t have a single slice of bread.
d) This account makes me think about modern bread and the “ends” that are in each bag.
e) Perhaps in your household someone doesn’t care for the “ends” on the bread.
f) The ends may be “last resort” bread in your household or maybe they are or typically thrown away.
g) This woman was not down to something she didn’t like; the supplies were essentially gone.
8) Her baking goods were limited to a small amount of flower and a little cooking oil.
9) The situation was so dire so was gathering “two sticks” (i.e. she didn’t need a big fire).
10) She was preparing the “last meal” for her and her son and then that would be it.
a) Imagine how inconvenient it would be to be put in the situation like this lady was in.
b) We are down to virtually nothing and a man (a prophet of God) shows up asking for help.
c) We are not given all the details of how this woman responded, but let’s put ourselves in her shoes.
11) We may have said the same thing she did.
12) “There is virtually nothing in the house – there is not enough for 2 of us let alone 3.”
13) “I only need a 2-stick fire.” I know you are hungry, and I have some suggestions.
a) “Go see one of my neighbors.”
b) “There is another village a few miles down the road.”
c) “I am a single mother – go to a house where that is not the case.”
d) “Check your pockets - do you have any money to buy food somewhere?”
e) Some might have simply said “no” to the prophet.
14) Verse 15 says the women did as the prophet said.
15) It is true that she received some reassurance – verse 13 – READ.
16) Elijah said he just wanted a “little cake.”
THIS WOMAN WAS PUT IN A VERY INTERESTING POSITION: SHE WAS ASKED TO WALK BY FAITH. IF SHE LOOKED AT HER FOOD SUPPLY, THE REQUEST FROM THE PROPHET DIDN’T MAKE SENSE. SHE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT OBEDIENCE BASED UPON A WORD FROM GOD; SHE HAD TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD’S MESSAGE EVEN IF IT RAN COUNTER TO WHAT SHE WAS INCLINED TO BELIEVE.
a) The woman did exactly what she was told and we find the result in 15b – READ.
b) Here was a lady and child who were down to their “last meal” and it was not a full meal.
c) She obeyed God, though it may not have seemed right, and there was food for “many days.”
d) Not only was there food for many days, notice verse 16 – READ.
2) Obedience to some of God’s commands may not always make a lot of sense to us.
3) I do not know how many times someone has asked me a question like:
a) “Why would God require this?”
b) “Explain the reason behind this particular thing or point.”
c) Or, someone may simply make a statement: “This doesn’t make sense to me.”
4) Ps. 92:5 says God’s thoughts are “very deep.”
5) Unthinking people cannot understand them (Ps. 92:6).
6) Sometimes even thinking people—thinking Christians will struggle with some things.
7) Isaiah said (55:8-9) that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts; neither are our way His ways.
8) We may look at an item of obedience and see no sense at all in it.
a) God says, “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
b) A lot of people like to run around and talk about having “faith in God.”
c) People say “they believe.”
d) While this is claimed on one hand, some of these same people say, “why, why, why?”
e) In cases like this something is wrong; walking by faith means trust in God.
f) Trust in God means being like the woman in 1 Kgs. 17.
g) Just as this lady was helped with a regular supply of food, so faith pays off for every person.
9) Listen to 1 Pet. 1:7-9: that the proof of your faith, (being) more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, (even) the salvation of (your) souls.
10) Our ultimate gift from faith in God and a dedicated Christian faith is eternal life.
11) When we have this kind of faith and life, we will reap a benefit from it.
a) In the case of the widow, her benefit was immediate (she received food).
b) A little later she found an additional benefit to her obedience.
c) Verse 17 deals with the same characters but shifts subjects – READ.
12) Food and clothing is not everything; this widow was no longer hungry but she was hurting.
13) She lost her son.
14) Elijah had helped before so she sought him out again (verse 18).
a) Elijah took her son and entered into an “upper room” (verse 19).
b) I want us to look at what he said – verse 20 – READ.
c) God’s prophet cried out unto the God of heaven.
d) Elijah specifically mentioned how the woman had “opened her home” to him.
15) The woman who had obeyed earlier now needed help.
a) God responded to the request (verse 22) and the boy was restored.
b) Obedience is not always fun, easy or maybe convenient, but it pays off very, very well.
16) For the last 30 or so day I have been wondering about my work at the **** plant.
17) Each week I must send in a report to three different companies about how the week went.
a) For the most part, my reports are empty. If there are no problems, there is nothing to report.
b) Again and again I say something like, “it was a good week in Mishawaka.”
18) What finally
started going through my mind is, “When will these companies says, ‘enough?’’
If there is never a problem, why do they need me or anyone else?
19) Why pay money for a service if you never need the service?
a)
One
company—the largest to keep my minimum number of hours intact, was really
making me wonder.
b) Then last Thursday came.
c) In the blink of an eye this plant created a major catastrophe.
d) According to the final numbers on Friday, their error involved at least $75,000.
e) I was called into a room with three other men and told there was 3 hours to fix the problem.
f) If I could accomplish a couple of tasks in the next 180 minutes, the matter would be okay.
g) If I failed, the company would really suffer. With that they told me the clock was ticking & said GO.
20) In the nick of time the problem was resolved and the company I am describing avoided a huge bill.
21) When I spoke to people from this business last night, they were overflowing with gratitude.
a) A week ago these same people may have been wondering, “do we really need this service?”
b) “We don’t like to pay out money each week and hear that everything is always okay.”
c) “Should we really continue to have a rep at this plant?”
d) This company stayed the course and they received their money’s worth and a whole lot more.
22) Obedience to God is quite similar.
23) We can be obedient and obedient and at some point and time ask, “Is it really worth it?”
24) “Will there ever be, for the lack of a better expression, “a pay off”?
25) “Are my sacrifices for the Kingdom of God” really a good investment?
a) The widow in 1 Kgs. 17 thought so. Others who have gone before us would also agree.
b) The greatest pay off, reward, return and prize is coming for the saved.
c) If we are a Christian, we need to stay the course so we will be among the winners.
d) If we have not become a Christian, there is still time. There is at least one more opportunity.
e) Tonight we hope you will take this opportunity by being obedient to the gospel.