The Widow at Zarephath
Health Lifestyle Bible Study Program
Terry K. Tremwel, Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR
(I Kings 17:7-18:1)
Elijah fled for his life from King Ahab. After the ravens fed Elijah for a time, God appointed a widow of Zarepheth to care for Elijah during three years of drought. The widow had a son and only enough grain and oil to make that night’s meal. When she met Elijah, she expected to: “Make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it-- and die.” This is the person the Lord God chose to feed Elijah for three years, while he hid from Ahab. God cared about Elijah, the widow, and her son. God brought them together to sustain each other during the toughest three years imaginable. The widow shared her last bread with Elijah and God blessed them by replenishing the grain in one jar and the oil in another jar every day for three years. The widow served God by serving both Elijah and her son. But God needed her to sustain herself, too.
When her son died, the widow appealed to Elijah, who appealed to the Lord God. God healed her son. She responded, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
- Can anyone deny that God cared about the three people who responded to the word of God in this story?
- God provided for the most basic needs of Elijah, the widow, and her son. Will God withhold what we need when we respond to God?
- God could have continued to use ravens to feed Elijah, but God chose instead to include the widow in serving Elijah. Why do you think God chose the widow?
- Why did the widow’s son die? Why did Elijah call on the Lord to revive the dead child?
- Many things happen that we do not understand. The one thing that God makes clear in scripture is that God will be with us, even in tragedy. Can we say the same about our sisters and brothers in the faith?
Further discussion: Can we form a body of Christ to be the consistent presence of God among us? Can we help each other to care for ourselves and hold each other accountable for living healthy lives? Isn’t that what God calls us to do in faith?
Action: Form a group to study scripture together and hold each other accountable for living healthy lives. Make a covenant to meet and work together in the interests of ourselves and our community. It is only through faith and the actions that faith calls us to that we will be able to sustain each other through tragedy and keep healthy in the good times. Singular actions do not sustain community; only community actions can benefit the community. Just as God did not call on Elijah to remain alone through the drought, God is not calling any of us to improve our health alone. God can use our group to sustain us.
