“Making a Big Deal out of a Widow Woman”
How God provided for Elijah...
God could no longer bless the nation of Israel. Elijah was instructed by God to go to wicked King Ahab and his notorious wife, Jezebel, that a famine was coming. This famine would effect all of the people of Israel including Elijah. How was God going to provide for his prophet? With brook called Cherith, some black ravens, and the widow of Zarephath.
Today we will study the wonderful "Motherly" example of the widow of Zarephath.
What was so big about this Widow Woman?
1. This Mother had a devotional life.
(1 Ki 17:9) Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
In order for God to "command" this widow, she must have had a connection to the Lord through her devotional life. Can you imagine what her prayer must have been, "God I need you to send someone to help me. My Son and I are about to starve."
Instead of relieving her of responsibility, God sends another mouth for her to feed, Elijah.
Does your "Mother" have a devotional life? What a beautiful thing to see Mama reading her Bible and spending her early morning hour in devotions and prayer.
2. This Mother put God first.
(1 Ki 17:13) And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
Elijah seems heartless and selfish at this point of the story. But we must remember that God had told him that he "commanded" this widow woman to feed him. This was a test of Elijah’s faith and the faith of the widow of Zarephath.
To tell you the truth, this last Sunday was not just "Mother’s Day Sunday." It was the Lord’s Day. A godly Mother wants to the put the Lord first in her life. Elijah asked the widow to "first" bring me come water and some bread, and then God will supply for you and your son.
The tithe is the Lord’s. A godly mother puts God first!
3. This Mother knew what it was to live at the bottom of the barrel.
(1 Ki 17:16) And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
The Bible does not say that the brim of the barrel "floweth over." It simply said, there was always a meal to be found at the bottom of the barrel. It lasted for two and a half years!
A godly mother knows how to make clothes from curtains. ("The Sound of Music.") A godly Mother knows how to stretch a dollar and make stone soup!
4. This Mother’s life was her family.
(1 Ki 17:17) And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
This widow had but one joy in life, her son. We need mothers who want to love their children, not abort them!
When the child died, we see the great sorrow of this mother. She loved her son.
5. This Mother knew how to praise the Lord.
(1 Ki 17:24) And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
After God uses Elijah to revive the widows son, the widow proclaimed her faith in Elijah, and in the God of Elijah. This preacher had but one church member in Chapter 17 who believed in him, but it was enough encouragement to give Elijah the boldness to call down fire from Heaven in Chapter 18!
Thank God for godly Mothers!
