The Widow Of Zarephath - Her Life And Times

The Widow of Zarephath - Her Life And Times

WIDOWS

The widow of Zarephath lived in a country that treated widows as second-class citizens, ignored them, and allowed them to go hungry. When Elijah came and asked the widow for bread, it appeared as though he was asking her to give up the last food she had for herself and her son. Actually, he was providing her with sustenance that would last until the famine was over.

Since a woman alone seldom had any way to provide financially for herself, she was dependent on her sons if she had any, and on the community around her if she didn’t. The Bible tells how God himself has a special love and care for women who have lost their husbands (Psalm 68:5; 146:9). He commanded the Israelites to treat widows with compassion and to provide for them. When the prophets declared the Israelites to be disobedient, they often proved it by exposing their lack of concern for the widows around them (Isaiah 1:23; 10:1 – 2; Ezekiel 22:6 – 7; Malachi 3:5). When someone cared for the widowed, it was worthy of note (Job 29:13).

In the New Testament, Paul gave instructions to widows, telling them that if they were young, they should remarry. The church had to take care of a widow only if she was over sixty and had no other family members to provide for her (1 Timothy 5:3 – 16). The touching story of Dorcas in Acts 9:36 – 42 shows how much a simple act, done for a widow who is truly in need, can mean.

Today’s church is also responsible for caring for the widows in their communities. Often, insurance payments, Social Security, and the like may take care of a widow’s financial requirements, but her needs go far beyond having enough money in a checking account. Fellow believers can show their love by freely giving emotional support to the woman, by helping out physically with child care or household chores, or by providing friendship.