The Widow at Zarephath: A small act with a big impact

Introduction

In this short study we are going to look at a famous passage from the life of Elijah. Our focus will not be on Elijah. Rather we will look at the role of an unnamed widow and her son. The passage is in 1 Kings 17: 7 - 24. I encourage you to read the whole chapter now.

To provide some context to this Ahab is King of Israel, Asa is King of Judah, and they are following in a line of kings who have done evil in the eyes of the Lord. That is they have forgotten all that God has done, they are neglecting God and turning to the gods of the nations around them. Jezebel is finding and killing the prophets of the Lord, and Obadiah is trying to save some (1 Kings 18: 4). After this comes the famous showdown on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

At the start of chapter 17 Elijah has prophesied that there will be no rain or dew, and God has sent him into hiding where there is water and shelter and He has commanded the ravens to feed him (1 Kings 17: 1 - 7).

The Widow Obeys

Eventually the brook dries up and God tells Elijah to go to Zarephath. This is where we meet the widow and her son. They, like everyone else, are living in a time of drought and famine. 

This is where we see something truly incredible, something that should challenge us today. Elijah meets the woman and asks her for a drink.

““Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it…”

1 Kings 17: 10b - 11a

Elijah has asked for water, the very thing that is lacking. It is the drought that has led to the famine. Yet her response seems instant, she goes to get some water. This is clearly the widow that God told Elijah about (verse 9), and she is obeying God in this response. This obedience is a challenge to us; she is prepared to obey with what little she has, are we?.

It doesn’t stop there.

“As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

1 Kings 17: 11

Her response is incredible. She does acknowledge her lack of food, in fact she does so in very stark terms, but first she acknowledges God.

““As surely as the LORD your God lives”, she replied, “I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal fo myself and my son, that we may eat it – and die”

1 Kings 17: 12

Elijah presses the matter with her, and through him God promises that she will not run out of flour or oil, but her obedience comes first, verses 13 - 16.

“For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah”

1 Kings 17: 16

This tells us that when God calls us to something, when He asks us to do something, even if it may seem impossible or foolish He can be trusted.

What is the impact?

So, we’ve seen the act of obedience, and there is more to the story of the widow and her son (1 Kings 17: 17 - 24) which I encourage you to read and ponder, but let us consider the bigger picture impact of this obedience.

If we jump ahead to chapter 18 we read that after 3 years God tells Elijah to go to Ahab. What follows is the famous encounter on Mount Carmel. A showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Take a moment to read the chapter.

The context then is Ahab is ruling, and Jezebel is killing off the LORDs prophets, the nation is in the midst of a drought and famine, and the people are worshipping Baal. Then we get the great showdown. God answers Elijah and the reaction of the people is to fall before God.

Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

When all the people saw this they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!””

1 Kings 18: 38 - 39

A nation is starting to turn to God.

This turn begins with the obedience of the widow. In practical terms her obedience keeps Elijah alive. Elijah stays in Zarephath for three years, 1 Kings 17: 9, and then 1 Kings 18: 1 together suggest that Elijah remained in that area, and the provision of God given to the widow is what sustains him also.

In spiritual terms she seems to be a remnant in the land that is prepared to follow and trust God. An act of obedience to God while living among a people who have turned their backs on God is a significant act, one that shows that there is hope for change, and there are still those who will trust and obey.

The seemingly small act of obedience is a key moment in the story of Elijah and the story of Israel. I don’t think the widow knew ahead of time what a big impact her obedience would have. She certainly lived in the good of it, but so did the entire nation.

This should encourage us to obey, no matter how small an action may seem if we are doing what God has asked of us the impact may go far beyond what we can see or even imagine.