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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

1 Kings 17:8-16

 

17:8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

17:9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you."

17:10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink."

17:11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."

17:12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

17:13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son.

17:14 For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth."

17:15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days.

17:16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

 

Comments:

 

The books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings present a theological perspective derived from the book of Deuteronomy. One of the basic themes of this theological perspective is tha faithful obedience to God's Law brings blessing while disobedience brings curse. Today's reading dramatizes God's power over nature to reward obedience to the Law (survival) and to punish disobedience (drought).


It is also a proof of God's existence. Since Ba'al was the storm god for the people of the north, where Zarepheth is (south of Sidon on the coast). A drought announced by the prophet of God, showed Ba'al 's lack of affect. (It is also interesting that the Ba'al worshipers thought that Ba'al went to the land of the dead during the dry season !!)

Doug in Erie


This text was ruined for me by a TV evangelist named Robert Tilton. I do believe this was the only Scripture the man knew. This text was his authority for telling the poor and needy TV religion watchers to send their rent money, their car payments, their food money, their insurance money, etc. to his ministry so God could "fill their jars and jugs of oil" in return. He told them they had to trust God and give it all up in order to receive God's gifts, which he promised would be monetary wealth like they had never seen before. Of course it was Robert Tilton who started living in the lap of luxury.... I still shudder every time I read this Scripture, thinking how many people were duped by that man.

KyHoosierCat


Dear KyHoosierCat,

that would leave a bad taste in my mouth as well. Do you remember when Oral Roberts he had some word that people were to send him $500 each so he could build a 500 foot high Jesus, and that if he didn't get the money, he would die? It was back in the 70's or early 80's. I hate to admit it, but I quietly wished that he would have a sudden lightning bolt, and that maybe all TV evangelists would be stopped in their tracks! Susan in Wa.


Susan in WA, yes, I do recall Mr. Roberts' pleas for cash. And Jim Bakker's, and Jimmy Swaggert's, etc. Can you tell I have no use for TV evangelists?? Billy Graham hasn't made it onto my "scam" list, but pretty much the rest of them have. Money, and the acquisition of more and more of it, is their main purpose while their mission outside of themselves is negligible. Oh, I could go on and on.......

KHC


Is anyone going to approach this from this womans point of view.

Franklin


I'm considering the sermon title, "The Faith of a Pessimist."  PKFlyer in TX.


Was the woman of Zaraphath fearful of what was to come, or was she resigned to her fate and that of her son? The text doesn't give much insight into her frame of mind. So, following that, did she think of Elijah's request as a "last hope for salvation" or as "oh well, one meal won't make a bit of difference in the long run, might as well give my food to this guy"?

We approach so much with "last ditch effort" attitude. We grasp at any straw to set things right - even giving up all we have if it will cure us, protect us, whatever. It is only when we have completely given up hope, when we can see NO way out, that we just give up and give in, resigning ourselves to whatever comes.

I know many now-devout Christians who were at the end of their ropes at one point, and had tried all kinds of methods to "feel better". When the alcohol and sex and crime didn't fulfill them, they finally, as a last resort, turned to Jesus. And they are still - literally - singing his praises. Other people in the same boat never reached out to any thought of religion, and just got ready to die, giving away their possessions, etc.

I wish I knew which way this woman was thinking....

KyHoosierCat


I like the direction KyHoosierCat is going. Let me take it a step further. Is it possible that in the voice of Elijah she heard the voice of God?

I'm continuing to dwell on the Robert Tilton idea; what distinguishes an authentic response to the instruction of God from the complex motives of a viewer who obeys the directives of a ?Charlatan?

Does this text draw us to a thorough examination of God's continued claim upon that which we have and how it will be used in the realm of God's Kingdom?  PKFlyer again.


I've just read the text a little closer. The widow was not asked to make the meal and oil into one cake and give it all to Elijah; she was to give him a portion of the meal and oil, and then go make something for herself and her son. She was to keep some back for her own use.

How does this wash with the Gospel text where the widow is lauded for giving up everything to the Temple treasury, apparently keeping nothing for herself?

KyHoosierCat


When I look at this text (and thank you, Ky Hoosier Cat for your "catching" the fact that the woman didn't give it all), I think about how when we have little, we don't think we can share any of it. This woman had the faith to do what Elijah said; she gave a portion of all she had to a man of God (perhaps a tenth - a tithe?) Hmm, now there's a thought!

Thanks for all your insights, pbetty


We are doing Herb Miller's "Consecration Sunday" stewardship program this fall, w/ the actual filling out of "Estimate of Giving" cards on Nov. 16 (guest preacher that day). MY assignment in the whole process is to preach a stewardship sermon on Nov. 9. I'm grateful for these texts--OT and Gospel--but now, following the threads of conversation above, I'm also a bit trepidatious! I want people to be inspired, not resentful, regarding giving back to God for God's ministry. I don't believe God intends us to give up *everything* to the point where we, too, are in the depths of poverty, and I *also* appreciate KyHoosierCat catching that point in this lesson about giving a *portion*. But indeed, what about the widow in the Gospel? (I haven't read the posts there yet.....)

Heidi in MN


I believe that occasionally God does ask us to give up everything, so all can marvel at His provision. There may also be times when we are to contemplate what everything means, as Abraham must have when he made that trip to the altar with Isaac. Even on this site, we grasp at our treasures, and say, "Surely, Lord, not that, too!" I live in a time of need in my household, and yet believe we all must contemplate the giving of, and giving up of, everything, as we did when confronted with the rich young ruler a few weeks ago. Perhaps many of us must also confess times when we did see the "jar of meal" emptied, and the "jug of oil" fail. We've seen His seed begging for bread. In my closet of personal fears, I beg God to move, and say it is for the sake of His name, that it will be glorified, and continue to wait. And I still must be one who will not be moved, shaken in my faith, that the One who made it all, is the One who made and loves me. lkinhc