was the widow of zarephath an israelite

[15] The oil and flour represent our life energy: we work for money, with the money we buy things (in this instance food) and in this case Elijah is asking the widow to give of her life energy, her substance, to the Lord. By helping Elijah, the widow is helping herself and her son. The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom2014, The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom (Simplified)2014. Designated Area I, it was excavated in 1969-70. For a start, its not much to go on. Amadasi Guzzo, Maria Giulia. PDF The Widow of Zarephath: Learning to Trust in the Provision of God 17:11-14. 17Now Elijah(A) the Tishbite, from Tishbe[a] in Gilead,(B) said to Ahab, As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain(C) in the next few years except at my word., 2Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3Leave here, turn eastward and hide(D) in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. Although the poor widow of Zarephath lived among idolaters, she exercised faith. 17:22-24. Had the woman recalled a sin that troubled her conscience? After 47 years since being made a new creature in Christ Jesusafter spending roughly 44 of those years (post-conversion) among protestants, Romanists, Eastern orthodox, House church groups et al, The Lord has brought me full circle, and I totally agree with most (if not all) of what you have represented Mr. Middleton as writing. Instead of food being the source of life, the widows desperation is evident in her assertion that she and her son will eat their last meal and then they will die. When she was gathering sticks around the town gate, someone asked her. What is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath? He called to her and asked, Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?(I) 11As she was going to get it, he called, And bring me, please, a piece of bread., 12As surely as the Lord your God lives, she replied, I dont have any breadonly a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil(J) in a jug. Elijah promises her that if she will feed him first, that her meal and oil will not run out (1 Kings 17:13-14). Elijahs words, although seemingly absurd, actually invite the widow to participate in the new reality Gods promises were creating, but which for the moment remain hidden from view. At Zarephath the prophet was shown hospitality by a poor widow, whose flour and oil were miraculously sustained during a great famine and whose son Elijah, in Gods power, subsequently raised from death. Beyond the walls of our reality, with the eyes of faith, let us look at the blessings God has prepared for us. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Could you please help me understand the practical consequences? Change). But she did have one thing going for her in 1 Kings 17:12she acknowledges the Lord, God of Israel lives. What a momentous test of faith that wasand what a wise decision she made! The manifesto applies, in the first place, to Israel, and Middleton recognises this. He Is Sent to a Widow of Zarephath. So the widow was aware that the man of God was coming, and that she was to provide for him. 14For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain(K) on the land.. This is a very different controversy. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. You must be joking, some might have said. In other words, the word of truth WRONGLY divided (2 Tim. Gods counsel is the best; anybody that take heed to it will never go astray. What is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath? I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die., 13Elijah said to her, Dont be afraid. The rest of 1 Kings 17 teaches us this. Moreover, a powerful theme that emerges from this story is the belief that our hospitality to the stranger may not only help the other, but actually be responsible for our own survival. The narrative-historical reading of the New Testament: whats in it for me? I am not sure what you mean when you say: The good centurion is not saved, but his confidence in Jesus is contrasted with Israels lack of faith. Are you saying the centurion was not a beleiver in Jesus? as Auxiliary Bishop of, Johann Anton Wallreuther (1731.03.05 1734.01.16) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Jean de Cairol de Madaillan (1760.01.28 1770.01.29) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Jean-Denis de Vienne (1775.12.18 death 1800) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Alois Jozef Krakowski von Kolowrat (1800.12.22 1815.03.15) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Johann Heinrich Milz (1825.12.19 death 1833.04.29) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Johann Stanislaus Kutowski (1836.02.01 death 1848.12.29) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Franz Xaver Zenner (1851.02.17 death 1861.10.29) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Nicholas Power (1865.04.30 death 1871.04.05) as, Jean-Franois Jamot (1874.02.03 1882.07.11) as only, Antonio Scotti (1882.09.25 1886.01.15) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Paulus Palsthy (1886.05.04 death 1899.09.24) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Filippo Genovese (Italian) (1900.12.17 death 1902.12.16), no actual prelature, Joseph Mller (1903.04.30 death 1921.03.21) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Edward Doorly (1923.04.05 1926.07.17) as Coadjutor Bishop of, Petar Dujam Munzani (1926.08.13 1933.03.16) as, Franois-Louis Auvity (1933.06.02 1937.08.14) as Auxiliary Bishop of, Francesco Canessa (1937.09.04 1948.01.14), Athanasios Cheriyan Polachirakal (1953.12.31 1955.01.27), William P. Anderson, Sarepta I: The late bronze and Iron Age strata of area II.Y: the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania excavations at Sarafand, Lebanon (Publications de l'Universite libanaise), Dpartement des publications de l'Universite Libanaise, 1988. God chose a Gentile to take care of Elijah. 10:36-37). 1 Kings 17: Elijah and the widow of Zarephath Actually, she divulges something of her inner despair saying that she is finding firewood in order to prepare a meal for her and her son that she suspect will be their last (verse 12). She cannot believe her eyes. Elijah - Chabad.org The point that Jesus explicitly makes is that there were many widows and lepers in Israel but they were overlooked. It was ironic since generally, Israelites were not supposed to be mixing with the surrounding nations. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land,and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.Luke 4:25-26, Yesterday my blog post was on Luke 4:16-30Jesus is our Jubilee. God chose her she didnt choose Him (John 15:16). You can read about it in 1Kings chapter17. It is vital that the students learn this skill so that they continue to learn when they are not with us. Most of the objects by which Phoenician culture is characterised are those that have been recovered scattered among Phoenician colonies and trading posts; such carefully excavated colonial sites are in Spain, Sicily, Sardinia and Tunisia. This titular bishopric was established in 1983. Knochs assumptions in some areas). The prophet Elijah arrived with an ominous message from God. Raising of the son of the widow of Zarephath - Wikipedia Cherith means 'a cutting off or to cut off'. When he came to the town gate, a . He refers to Jesus as Lord and obviously has faith that Jesus can heal hisservant. But first make me a small round loaf of bread with what is there, and bring it out to me. Once more, God spoke to Elijah: "Go to Zarephath and dwell there. With respect to the salvation of ALL (universal reconciliation) which I have come to see as entirely Scriptural, I would recommend two works: 1. Notice that Jesus states Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing beforethe argument about Israel and prophets flaresup. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. What is the basis for this expansion of the scope of Jesus teaching? Instead of food being the source of life, the widow's desperation is evident in her assertion that she and her son will eat their last meal and then they will die. What they wanted was free bread (John 6:26), what they needed was to have their spiritual needs met, to be filled by the Saviors goodness (John 6:53-56). Its important when we read Scripture that we really read it with the heartbeat of our Father. a heart that beats with restoration and love. Sorry, there was an error loading the video. For less than $5/mo. If this radical re-application of Isaiahs prophecy was such an important part of Jesus programme, why is it confined to his home town of Nazareth? Its perhaps also worth noting that in Isaiahs vision of Zions restoration, a clear distinction is maintained between foreigners who will come to tend Israels flocks, plough the fields, dress the vines, and the Jews who will be called the priests of the Lord (Is. He clearly believes that Jesus can heal his (Jewish?) Then a worried look was cast on her face, because her food was running out as a result of the long drought. How many people who live in your territory are like the widow of Zarephath? Even though there were 7000 in Israel who were still faithful to the Lord and many wouldve considered it a great honor to help Elijah. The land was in a middle of a drought and the brook that Elijah was at was dry. The widow of Zarephath. Upon his arrival, Elijah discovers that the widow is an unlikely source of hospitality. I like that suggestion: have the students analyze the results of each successive decision made by the person in the text. Simeon speaks of the salvation that will be a light for revelation to the Gentiles (Lk. The widow of Zarephath lived in a coastal town in Phoenicia, 9 mi. 5. 16 likes, 1 comments - The Carpenter's Church, PH (@thecarpenterschurchph) on Instagram: "17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour . The account in 1Kings chapter17 says no more about this woman. of course the next part of that Scripture is if your enemy is hungry, feed him and if he is thirsty, give him a drink. 9:51), and the seventy-two are sent into every town and place where he himself was to go (Lk. What a holistically powerfulexample. With contributions by William P. Anderson; Ellen Herscher; Javier Teixidor, University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, 1975. In fact, during the reign of King Ahab, Baal worship even became prominent in Israel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And yet, he cares for the poor and the oppressed people of God and helps them. Jesus tells the two stories in Luke 4:25-27 not to expand the scope of the kingdom message but to confront the faithlessness of the Jews in Nazareth. It consisted of an assemblage of large flakes and bifaces in Eocene flint. Sarepta is mentioned for the first time in the voyage of an Egyptian in the 14th century BCE. She is a grace based Christian author who has a passion for the Hebrew and Greek languages. Luke 4:26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Moreover, since the stories involve a poor woman and a powerful man, Jesus has effectively abolished all distinctions of ethnicity, gender and status. James B. Pritchard, Sarepta in History and Tradition, in J. Reumann (ed.). +82-31-738-5999 Fax. We saw that there was not going to be any rain for 3 years so God told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith. Nevertheless, with few other options, Elijah complies, only to find out that the widow is not a viable option for survival after all. CS Lewis gets this point across in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Aslan is a lionthe Lion, the great Lion., Ooh! said Susan, Id thought he was a man. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." 10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. Again this scenario seems to be an unlikely choice for mediating Gods provision. But his statement of Jesus mission at this point has a wider perspective: it is to proclaim in word and deed that God is at work restoring this fractured worldbreaking the grip of evil, healing diseased bodies, bringing life out of death(259). is also an extremely useful referencesite. In 17:8-16, God commands Elijah to go to Zarephath, where a widow (who replaces the ravens) is commanded to feed him. She had just told him that after she made one more meal for her and her son, they would eat it and die. In the absence of food, the only logical conclusion is that death will soon follow. The exegetical argument rests entirely on Jesus response to those who expressed surprise that such gracious words should come from the mouth of Josephs son. ZAREPHATH. Go home and do as you have said. But does the argument work? gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat itand die., Dont be afraid. He is not saved; he serves to highlight the unrighteousnessof the priest and the Levite (Lk. Overcoming evil with love not judgement. When You Need Hope: Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath And then she did what the prophet the man of God asked her to do. In fact, she is so short on food that she is preparing for her own death (1 Kings 17:12). Creation is summoned to provide for Gods faithful prophet. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. This event is told on the heels of Jesus sermon where he contrasts the fate of the faithful poor and oppressed with the faithless rich andpowerful. Why did Jesus instruct his disciples not to preach the kingdom of God to Gentiles and Samaritans? Some responses the students gave in class were insightful. Is it not typically widows who were in need of provision? ), Phoenician city situated between Tyre and Sidon and dependent on the latter. We just read the centurion story a couple of nights ago for family devotions, and something that struck me was that the Jews told Jesus that he should help the centurion because the centurion was a friend to the Jews and had even built their synagogue. (Matt. 8352 Views . south-southwest of Sidon. 2:27). And in doing so he angered God more than any of the Israelite kings before him. The other group of ruins, to the south, consists of columns, sarcophagi and marble slabs, indicating a city of considerable importance. Middletons discussion of Jesus proclamation of the kingdom, I think, illustrates theproblem. From this striking text, it is evident that the fate of Elijah and the widow is intrinsically connected. This shapes her words and her behaviors: I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die (1 Kings 17:12). she didnt have the priviledges that Paul talked about in Romans 9:4-5..the people of Israel, chosen to be adopted to sonship,God revealed his glory to them, He made covenants with them and gave them his law, He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises,Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. 83, no. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. 1 Kings 17:7-16 NIV - Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath - Bible Gateway Course he isnt safe. 40, pp. This reading from the Gospel of Mark is a two-act drama with some intriguing and troubling connections. As in the instance of the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16), Gods provision of food in 1 Kings 17 proves to be sufficient and something that can be counted on daily as verse 15 states, the widow, her household, and Elijah ate many days of the supplies that did not run out. She had no idea that God had commanded her to feed Elijah. (Ob20) The name is preserved in that of Sarafand, about 13km (8mi) SSW of Sidon, though the ancient site may have been a short distance away on the Mediterranean shore. A POOR widow hugs her boy, her only child. Powered by WordPress. New International Version (NIV). Covenantal Theology, replacement theology are and were bankrupt (spiritualizing; over-metaphorizing) meanderings that leaves/left sincere seekers wandering in a fog of speculations and confusion. Enter your email to subscribe and receive notifications of new content. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. The widow of Sidon "But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow." Luke 4:25-26 The raising of the son of the widow of Zarephath is a miracle of the prophet Elijah recorded in the Hebrew Bible, 1 Kings 17, taking place in the Phoenician city of Zarephath. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." 10 So he went to Zarephath. Many students made the connection between the woman and the commandment to pay tithing. And then Ahab built altars and groves for her god Baal. So what does this ancient survival story have to do with us today? The Widow of Zarephath - Then the word of the LORD came to him, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. The barrel of flour was not filled to the top after she gave to Elijah- she had flour, but just enough. Box 119, Seongnam Bundang Post Office, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Rep. of Korea, Tel. After these things, says the Bible account, the son of the woman who owned the house fell sick, and his sickness became so severe that he stopped breathing. Searching for a reason for this tragedy, the grieving mother said to Elijah: What do you have against me, Oman of the true God? Here was the ancient harbor which still affords shelter for small craft. The Widow of Zarephath. The Lord inflicted a drought on the land of Israel because of their apostasy and idolatry (1 Kings 17:1). But that was not this widows reaction. Zarephath Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY Just as Elijah promised, Jehovah multiplied her meager supplies so that they sustained Elijah, the widow, and her son until the drought ended. The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Pontifical Commission for the Revision of Code of Oriental Canon Law, Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Congregation of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries, "Inkvizitoi v eskch zemch v dob pedhusitsk", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarepta&oldid=1160186715, Populated places established in the 2nd millennium BC, Populated places disestablished in the 13th century, Mediterranean port cities and towns in Lebanon, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from April 2021, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Emile Eid (1982.12.20 death 2009.11.30), in the, Nicolas Bureau, O.F.M. It has been vacant for decades, having had the following incumbents: A Heavy Neolithic archaeological site of the Qaraoun culture that pre-dated Sarepta by several thousand years was discovered at Sarafand by Hajji Khalaf. The opportunity to receive Gods blessings is given to those who always obey Gods will with faith. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. The widows faith in Elijahs God, Jehovah, preserved her and her son alive. This miraculous provision constitutes an interim measure until the day the drought and the resulting famine breaks the day on which God will send rain once more. I dont recall what Middleton says about the centurion, but what I meant by the good centurion is not saved, but his confidence in Jesus is contrasted with Israels lack of faith is that the Gentile centurion is not the object of Jesus mission. We learned she did not have but a handful of meal in her barrel, and a little oil in the curse she did not have a cake for Elijah. Middleton draws the conclusion from this that Jesus clearly intends to have his listeners understand that the kingdom of God breaks down the opposition between Jew and gentile that had been hardening among many first-century Jews into an unbridgeable gulf (265). So many youth worry about their appearance. Rahab, Ruth and the people of Ninevah are examples of Gods saving grace in the Old Testament. The Widow at Zarephath and the Provision of God - Jesus Plus Nothing Jehovah then told Elijah: Rise up, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. It fell to Sennacherib in 701 BCE. 1 Kings 17:8-24 ESV - The Widow of Zarephath - Then the word - Bible Do not be afraid. 1888 Message Study : The Widow of Zarephath: The Leap of Faith The Widow of Zarepath Did she think that her sons death was divine retribution and that Elijah was Gods messenger of death? And Jesus rebuked His disciples telling them they didnt know what kind of spirit they belong to because He didnt come to destroy mens lives but to save them..sozo to heal, deliver, rescue, make whole nothing missing, nothing broken in their lives. Due to Ahab's wickedness ( 1 Kings 16:33 - 1 Kings 17:1) the Lord sent a famine throughout the land of Israel. Through this service, the Lord will provide us with what we need. God will provide the widow and her son the means to survive this terrible drought, for which God is responsible (cf. Monachus Borchardus, Descriptio Terrae sanctae, et regionum finitarum, vol. I liked that visualization. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. After covering that aspect of the narrative, we examined how like the widow, we give of ourselves to the Lord when we give our time and talents to Him. Choosing the path that leads to becoming like Him was never meant to be easy, or safe, or free from stress. Elijahs ministry in this story is to bring a word from the outside that silences and finally nullifies the death sentence resting over the head of the widow and her son. Rom. The Wadi Cherith provides Elijah with water, and God enlists ravens to bring the prophet bread and meat, morning and evening (1 Kings 17:6). The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.. healing, deliverance, rescue, making wholeto ALL who believe (Romans 1:16). After carrying the boys limp body to the roof chamber, Elijah cried out: OJehovah my God, are you also bringing harm to the widow with whom I am staying by putting her son to death? The prophet could not bear the thought that reproach would be cast on Gods name if He were to allow this kind and hospitable woman to suffer further.
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