Biblical Characters - The Widow of Zarephath

June 9 * I Kings 17.8-16, Luke 7.11-17 “Biblical Characters – The Widow of Zarephath for whom God dramatically provided” [God directs us to sources of provision] Rev. Jacqueline Hines

The story is one you’ve heard many times before. Maybe it has happened to you. Have you had big plans and no idea how you will get the resources to fulfill the plans? Have you had an urgent need and no sense of how God would keep the promise to take care of you? If you have lived long enough, you may know a couple things about financial crisis or emotional turmoil. This was the case for a certain widow who lived in Zarephath.

Not too many cities begin with the letter “Z.” There’s Zachary Louisiana, Zieglersville, Pa. or Zephyrhills, Florida where an 84 year old woman won the Powerball. None of you good Methodists even know what a power ball is of course. The widow of Zarephath was from the same area that the wicked and rich Jezebel was from. Scriptures reminds us that all people are not the same even if they come from the same neighborhood. Some may be good as gold, others as wrong as two left shoes.

The widow was not from any of the tries of Israel. She was a foreigner. She was a widow woman who had few economic opportunities. At one time the widow of Zarephath may have been like the widow of Nain who was doing ok until her son died. She may have been like the wise and beautiful widow Abigail who caught the eye of King David after her cruel husband died. We can see that the widow of Zarephath had something in common with Naomi, who became depressed when a famine left her destitute.

She may have been like other widows in the bible who stood in line for food or Anna who spent who spent countless hours in prayer and fasting, or the widows of Mark 12 who made headlines because they were being scammed, or the widow who gave her last mite that showed extraordinary trust in the God who provides. The widow of Zarepheth was about to learn what God could do to take care of her.

There are three persons closer to God’s heart than all others: the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. God’s people made a strong effort to be welcoming, hospitable, kind and generous, especially for these three. It was deeply embedded in the culture. So, when Elijah understood God wanted him to go to a widow’s house, Elijah could not have been surprised.

The ONE real surprise in the story is one that we don’t want to miss. This is it - the widow did not have to ask for help. God sent Elijah to help her. Elijah was told to go to her house because God had put it in her heart to feed him.  God sent Elijah to help the widow. God also sent the widow to help Elijah.

When he came to the widow’s door, she was not expecting company. He was a stranger, interrupting her life. Little did she know that this interruption would turn out to be her greatest blessing. We have all experienced holy interruptions from time to time.

Sadly, the widow was planning her last meal and preparing to sit back and let starvation takes its course. God sent Elijah to offer her a better plan. This was the better plan: Make God’s business your top priority, and watch God work in your life to provide. You will never be without.

That plan is for us, too. Whether we are in a season of prosperity or a moment of crises, God has a purpose and a plan. We can always expect God to bless, because God is in the blessing business.

100 years ago a Church in Swan Quarter, North Carolina was a mission church with very few members. They put a few dollars together to build a little church with a steeple. They prayed to build the church on land that was owned by a wealthy man, but he refused to sell to Methodists so the church was built on Oyster Creek Road instead. Some time later, a bad storm brought flooding and the little church was uprooted from its foundation and seen floating down the street. They tried to bring it back but the little church kept floating until it reached the lot for which the people had originally prayed. The owner just handed over the deed. This week, I talked to Pastor Gerald Craddock in North Carolina who confirmed the story.

The widow did not have to ask for help. The spirit moved in her life and brought the blessing to her. All she had to do was to receive it. Elijah, the servant of God needed a blessing because the whole region was in a drought. It affected him also. God knows where to find water and food in a time of drought. All we have to do is receive it. Is your heart open to the love of God today? Are you ready to receive the good that God has for you? Are you ready to give up the ways that do not lead to life?

As we sing this next song, may our hearts turn to God for the blessings that only come from heaven, knowing that God is in the blessing business. Amen