The Widow Of Zarephath

The Widow of Zarephath

Q: All the widow of Zarephath had was

• a. a goat for milk.
• b. kiwi and pomegranates.
• c. oil and flour.

The widow of Zarephath and her son were poor. Normally she would have probably grown enough barley or olives for herself and her son to live on, but since there hadn’t been any rain, nothing was growing. She had only a handful of flour and a little oil left, so she and her son were about to eat the last of the food.

God sent Elijah to the village of Zarephath and told him a widow there would feed him. The prophet journeyed to the village, where he saw a woman gathering sticks for a fire. The widow told Elijah that she and her son were about to eat their last meal before they would die of starvation. There was no extra food to feed Elijah.

Elijah asked the woman to make bread for him first and then for herself and her son. He told her not to fear because she would not run out of oil or flour until there was rain again and crops could grow.

The widow didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know Elijah or his God. The woman decided to believe Elijah, though. She made his food and then food for herself and her son. Everything happened just as Elijah said. She cooked for the three of them, and the food never ran out.

The widow gave Elijah what she had, believing that what he said was true. God supplied her daily needs, and he provided for Elijah at the same time.

For You

God supplied the widow’s needs, but only what she needed for each day. Sometimes when we ask God to meet our needs, we are really asking him to meet our wants. God may not give you everything you want, but he will supply what you truly need.

Answer: c

[The widow] said, “I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”   1 Kings 17:12

(The Whole Story: 1 Kings 17:8-24)