What are we listening to

Many times when we have this particular focus, we discuss what we will let in our ears. Good music, uplifting music, perhaps an audio file of the Word.

Have you ever turned it around, and thought about what we should NOT let in our ears?

 ....to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone....But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. (Titus 3:2,9)

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (II Timothy 2:23-24)

Don't listen to slander, or to foolish controversies and quarrels.

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices (Colossians 3:7-9)

Don't listen to filthy language or to lies.

A gossip betrays a confidence;    so avoid anyone who talks too much. (Proverbs 20:19)

Don't listen to gossip.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)

Ahh, there's what we SHOULD allow into our ears! Truthful speech, and loving words!

What ARE we listening to, today?

The Widow of Zarephath, Part II

We are visiting again in the town of Zarephath this week. Our hostess is the widow that provided meals and a room in her house to the prophet of God. We'll read further in I Kings today, and get the background for our studies.

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” (I Kings 17:17-24)

You may recall from last week, that God used Elijah in a mighty way, Things were at an all-time low in Israel . . . Elijah was an ordinary man, but he knew how to ask his mighty God to answer prayers in his behalf. Look what James says about him:

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17-18)

So, this is the character of the man that is visiting in the widow's home.
During this time, this drought that James mentioned is in full swing. It's a punishment sent by God, because of the unlawful marriage of Ahab and Jezebel. Like we mentioned last week, Jezebel was a huge mistake -- not just because she was a Gentile, and it wasn't "kosher" for a child of Israel to marry her, but also because she was horribly wicked, and an ardent worshipper of idols. So that is why Elijah prayed for the drought, and God answered his prayer; God also made sure His prophet survived, by sending food by Raven Express, and then guiding him to the widow. Last week we saw that Elijah told her to make bread, and that she would see a miracle.  And she did -- the vessel of oil and the small container of flour were never empty!

The widow who had been gathering sticks for a fire, so that she could make their "last meal" had seen this prophet's God supply her needs. Her hopes for the future must have been brighter now. Her fledgling faith had been rewarded each time that she opened the meal barrel and there was meal in the bottom. Every time she poured out a little oil, the vessel still had some in it. Perhaps in her daydreams she thought about the future and believed that the crisis of the drought would pass. Like most parents, she probably spent time thinking of her son, and how he would grow up, and what work he would do. She might have considered to whom she would apprentice him, so that he could learn a trade.

But then it happened.
Her son became sick.
He didn't get better; he became worse.
And then, he died. Can you imagine the pain that she felt? I've heard it said that the pain of a parent losing a child is a wrenching pain that is far worse than that felt by a child, when an aged parent passes on. Sickness, suffering, even death -- these things do come to those who are doing right for God. Unbelievers will pounce on this and demand to know why our God allows this. But our answers are foolishness to them . . .

The widow says to Elijah:

“And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?” (verse 18)

Her son's death had touched that hidden spring that exists in all of us . . . the spring that opens the door of our conscience. She was suddenly reminded of some sin; we don't know what the sin was, nor do we need to spend time guessing. We'll just note that like us, she had a twinge of conscience when something desperate happened.

Isn't that the way it goes? Even believers can have this happen, just as unbelievers can. We can seem to have no conscience at all, until some great tragedy happens. Then we want to call upon God for answers.
We see this in Genesis, when Joseph's brothers are suddenly guilty. After they sell their brother into captivity and lie to their dad concerning his "death," they are faced with a dilemma. They know that their father would die if Benjamin were to be left in Egypt, and perhaps die there.

They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. (Genesis 42:21a)

Their consciences were finally awakened.
Sometimes it takes even more than that to make an impression on people. The rich man in Luke's gospel had to go all the way through death, to hell, before his conscience was awakened and he wanted to warn others. (Grin) You can check out Luke 16 for his story, and how he didn't want his brothers to go to that place . . .

We can see that her conscience is bothering her, and we can also see that she is questioning Elijah. Not just nice, calm, reasoned questions -- she's lashing out at Elijah. I kind of think she is reacting normally. Look at her situation . . . she had dreams for her son. She had probably daydreamed about his growing up into manhood, marrying a nice girl, and having sweet little grandkids for her to love and care for. Now none of that will happen, so she is questioning the God that she'd begun to allow herself to believe in. She can't reach Him, so she hurls her accusations at His prophet.

All of us who are believers and have tried to help someone, have experienced when she or he turns on us.  Our Lord had some turn on Him, and some heaped bitter words upon Him.

But Elijah doesn't blast right back at her. He doesn't even answer her charges at all. He makes a caring request. He wanted to have the privilege of helping the one in need. Probably the boy and the prophet had become quite attached to each other, and spent many hours together; maybe he helped the boy with his studies, and maybe they worked on projects together. He quietly, calmly asks her to let him hold her son. Perhaps she was holding him and sobbing and praying . . .

We'll see how this plays out next time.

Friday slowdown

I thought this song was an appropriate reminder to end this week of study.....God provides for us!

The Widow of Zarephath, conclusion

The widow of Zarephath has been asked for her last bits of food in her pantry. She's been promised that a miracle will happen, if she complies.

Let's dive in!
This widow was facing death. The death of her little boy, and her own, as well. But she went to her house and did exactly as Elijah had instructed her.  So there was food every day for Elijah, the widow, and her son! The jar of flour was not used up, and the jug of oil did not run dry.

Oil was considered to be a blessing given by God to an obedient people, and the olive tree was a characteristic of the land which God gave to Israel.

then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. (Deuteronomy 11:14)

a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; (Deuteronomy 8:8)

Perhaps this miracle is pointing us toward the fact that when we are faithful, and when we are obedient, God will send us blessings. He will supply our needs.

When we look a little deeper, it's not just that she did as Elijah told her, it's far more important to see that she did as the Lord wanted her to do. She willingly gave what she had - at great risk to herself and her son. She trusted in the promise of God's prophet; she trusted that she had heard God's promise to her. And He fulfilled that promise, and He used her as a resource, a comfort, to His prophet. Her own needs were met as a result. Instead of the tiny pile of flour and the dribbles of oil being one final meal for two, there were many meals for three!

The poor will eat and be satisfied;    those who seek the Lord will praise him—
    may your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:26)

for he satisfies the thirsty    and fills the hungry with good things. (Psalm 107:9)

Could God have reached down and placed a large quantity of bags of flour, and many earthenware vessels of oil in her home?
Sure!
But in a land of great famine, her neighbors would more than likely have discovered it. How could she then hold on to what she needed, when she would be asked to share with all? And she would have wanted to share, I'm sure, for we see that she is a compassionate woman, from her interactions with Elijah.

She received just what she needed, for herself, her son, and the prophet staying with her. Do we besiege God sometimes with prayers for massive resources? Do we think that there are things that we simply "must" have in order to be happy? Are we guilty of treating the Creator like a genie in a bottle?  Our Lord knows what is good for us. He knows what we actually need. He will not give us what will destroy or harm us.

But if we ask, He will give us of His storehouse:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;    the Lord bestows favor and honor;no good thing does he withhold    from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11)

Next week we will continue looking at the faith and the story of the widow of Zarephath . . . I hope that you will come back to study with us then!

The Widow of Zarephath continued

Last time, we reviewed the situation that Elijah found himself in . . . who among us can imagine camping out beside a stream, waiting for ravens to bring bread and meat to us each day? And then, when the stream dried up, obeying God's instructions to go to Zarephath?

Elijah may have thought that he should stay there at the stream. Even if it was dry, it could offer some hope that perhaps a trickle might resume. But Elijah was true to his God, and did as He told him.

In the New Testament, we read of Jesus' being rejected by His own people. And He uses this example of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, as an illustration:

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. (Luke 4:24-26)

He was obedient to His God. He went to Zarephath.

Picture this scene . . . Elijah is walking into the town of Zarephath, where the famine has struck hard. Remember the dust bowl days of the American plains? Nothing would grow. The soil was as dry and lifeless as the hopes of the people, and the grit would come into the houses as the wind blew.

This is what Zarephath (and the rest of the region) was dealing with. As Elijah comes into the town, he is looking for the widow that God has mentioned to him. The lady who was to provide for him. His sandals kick up the dust as he slowly looks around the town; it's a time of great famine and no one has much to eat -- so they sit and they walk slowly, to conserve their strength. He spots a woman with her head down, searching for twigs and sticks, a dried branch from the olive grove -- anything that she can use to make a fire. Her face is drawn and sad, for she knows that the only thing left in her house is a tiny amount of flour and a few dribbles of oil. What a heart-wrenching situation for her, as she sets her steps toward home, where her small son awaits her. She has been eating less and less, trying to make sure there is something to feed him, but he is still hungry every night, and her heart is breaking. This is her world.

And now the prophet of God steps into her world.
Into the world of a widow, a Gentile, a person of no standing in this era and culture. Into her world where she is intent on using up the last that she has, and then dying with her son.
But this is the widow that God has selected. He will use her to perform a miracle, one that will be read about for ages to come! She didn't know what was coming. But as we follow the story, we will see that she shows compassion on a stranger, and shows faith in his words. Let's look at her choice.

Elijah calls to her and asks, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may drink?" A simple enough request in most times, but it had not rained in years! But she turns on her heel and goes to bring him water. Perhaps her house was nearby, so she heads in that direction, to bring him a drink of water. She was going to do her best to be hospitable, and to be compassionate to this dusty, thirsty stranger.

But of all the nerve! (Grin)
As she was walking to her house, he calls after her, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
She must have wondered, "What is he thinking? I have nothing!"
So she responds to Elijah:

“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 olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” (I Kings 17:12)

Can we imagine approaching a starving mother, who has just enough to feed herself and her little boy one last meal, and asking to be fed? I really think that in spite of his faith and obedience to God, it must have been awkward for Elijah.

But here is where the prophet gives her a reason to believe him:

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” (I Kings 17:13-14)

So here is what Elijah is telling her; first give me water and make me some food, and then you can feed your son, and yourself. Oy.

What would we have done, in her sandals? Elijah's God wasn't her God -- did you notice that she responded to Elijah saying "your God" earlier? She was not an Israelite, but perhaps her heart sensed something as she heard him speak. Perhaps the Spirit moved her, and used his words "the flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry" to stir hope in her. She must have had some faith in him, to believe that this miracle might happen. She could not know that God had chosen her, or that He prepared her. But she had an open mind, and she was faithful (as God knew she would be) as a mother to her small son, and she must have sensed that this was a way to get beyond that "last" meal.

She must have sensed that hope just walked into town, in the form of this dusty stranger. And so, she went to do what he asked.
This is such a lesson for us: God uses us where we are, for His purposes. We only need to keep an open and responsive heart, and have faith that He can work through us. This widow's faith and service brought a miracle, a multiplication of resources, just like the loaves and fishes in the hands of Jesus.

We'll learn more from our story tomorrow. Join us, won't you?

Verses that inspire

It may seem at times that we parents and grandparents spend most of our time in this type of situation, pictured above. Even if you are a single Christian lady, if you are involved with any younger people or children, you will probably find yourself doing this.

When we want to be doing this:

How can we get there?
How can we nurture that relationship and also nurture that young life in Christ?
Perhaps there is a child or teen in your life that you'd like to encourage.
What better way than to be an example in memorizing Scripture, and nudging them to memorize, as well. Those verses will guard them in ways we can't imagine, and at times we wouldn't think of. And the bond as we strive together in our memory work is wonderful . . . a time of laughter and camaraderie.

Here are some verses that will help the young people that you want to encourage and inspire:

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. (I Timothy 4:12)

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.14 Do everything in love. (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10)

Come to think of it . . . those are fantastic verses for any believer!
Excuse me, I'm on my way to my desk for some cards and a pen, so I can memorize these!

Have you a verse that's inspired you recently? Will you share it with us?

The Widow of Zarephath

Before we get started, I'd like to thank everyone who supported me in prayer last week as I traveled. I appreciate it so much, and God blessed with safe travels and good scheduling. God is good!

Our woman of the Bible for this week is a widow woman, a Gentile, who was perhaps not as old as some of the widows we have studied. She has a young son, and her life is about to change when she meets a man of God:

 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”12 “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 olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 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. (I Kings 17:7-16)

In the first few verses of this chapter, we see that Elijah has been dealing with some difficulties. What kind? Well, let's go down the list . . .  this was the time of Ahab and Jezebel, a horrible time for the children of Israel. Ahab had married Jezebel, and not only was she a Gentile, so it wasn't a great idea in the Lord's eyes (He had specifically warned against this type of union) but she was also an idolatrous, scheming, evil woman! She was turning the nation to idol worship, and the whole country was doing detestable things. It was beginning to look like the worship of God would die out altogether in the northern kingdom, because the land was swarming with priests of Baal. These men were absolutely reveling in their new power; they were insolent, greedy, and depraved, and the queen was "egging them on." The fires of persecution were burning!

Of all the thousands of people in Israel, only seven thousand remained who had not kissed the statue of Baal, who had not bowed their knees in worship of the idol. And they were so paralyzed with fear that Elijah didn't even know they existed! So Elijah, whose name meant "Yahweh is my God" felt very, very alone.

In this desperate situation, Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain in Israel -- his faith was rewarded when God withheld the rain for three years and six months (later it rained, but only when Elijah prayed for God's blessing to be restored). Perhaps everyone else thought the Lord was dead and gone, but Elijah knew He was the only real thing in his life! He went into hiding, trusting in God.

His place of hiding was beside a small stream, and ravens came daily to bring him bread and meat. He had water, in stark contrast to the rest of the land. Then the stream ran dry.

What would we have done in Elijah's place? Would we have expected God to do something amazing? Send down a band of angels to cleanse the land of idols and restore the stream to a torrent?

But instead, He told Elijah to go to Zarephath, and to ask a Gentile woman, a widow, to supply him with food. . . . Wow. What were the thoughts running through Elijah's mind now?

Have we had times in our lives when the streams ran dry? When God allows us to be drained? Gifts can ebb away; money can flow through our fingers like water in the creek; our health can flow away too; our jobs can end; things can dry up. Do we ask Him why? Why would He allow this? It's times like these that we have to trust and obey. We must lean on Jesus and let Him carry us on through.

We see that Elijah had this well in hand. He trusted God and headed for Zarephath. He was on his way to the widow lady's house.
We'll learn more about what happens when they meet, the next time we study together.