The Widow of Zarephath

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers and Friends of the Community!

Tomorrow’s reading in I Kings 17 (v.8-16) was, to me, more a story about the widow than it was Elijah. This woman had almost nothing but was asked to feed Elijah, a prophet of God. We read in verse 9 that God had already commanded her to get ready for the impending visit by Elijah, and be prepared to feed him. I can almost hear her thinking, “What? What am I supposed to feed him? My sandals?”

When Elijah arrived and asked for water, the widow didn’t respond, but went to get water. Again, her thinking may have been, “Well, OK. This I can handle, if it’s just water.” But as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Oh, by the way, bring me some bread to eat, too.” Well, this pushed her over the top. “What? You want bread? I’ll tell you what I have – a handful of nothing and a little oil to mix it with. We’re going to eat that and then starve to death. That’s what I got for you.”

But the power of God would overcome. When the time came to do His command, the resources were there. The widow had been reaching into the imagined future of scarcity and bringing it into the present moment, thwarting the possibilities. God was not expecting anything beyond the basics, beyond what is needed for life. He was not looking for the widow to produce a fancy car, or exceptional performance or notable achievements. He was asking her to share the basics that He would provide.

This was a story of helping the widow to grow. It was a time of refinement for her, of shaping by God. And what’s also interesting about this story is that it took place in a little village named Zarephath. The Hebrew root for this word is Zareph, which means to smelt, refine, or test. Zarephath was a smelting place, a place of refinement.

I am guilty of worrying too much about the future and losing focus on the present moment. Yes, we have to plan for the future, but let’s not forget the God-factor. If He’s asking us to do something, He’ll also provide the resources to do it at the time when it has to be done.

Please reflect on this in the coming week and let me know what comes to your heart.

Your time-traveling brother,

Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG