Topical Encyclopedia The account of the son of the widow of Zarephath is a significant narrative found in the Old Testament, specifically in 1 Kings 17:8-24. This story is a profound demonstration of God's power over life and death and serves as a testament to the faithfulness of His prophet, Elijah.Context and Background The story unfolds during a period of severe drought and famine in the land of Israel, a divine judgment pronounced by the prophet Elijah due to the nation's idolatry under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. God instructs Elijah to leave the brook Cherith, where he had been miraculously sustained, and go to Zarephath, a town in the region of Sidon. There, God promises that a widow will provide for him. The Widow's Plight Upon his arrival, Elijah encounters the widow gathering sticks. He requests water and a piece of bread. The widow, in her dire poverty, reveals that she has only a handful of flour and a little oil, enough for one last meal for herself and her son before they succumb to starvation. Elijah reassures her with a promise from the Lord: "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth’” (1 Kings 17:13-14). The Miracle of Provision In faith, the widow obeys Elijah's instruction. True to the word of the Lord, the flour and oil do not run out, sustaining Elijah, the widow, and her son throughout the famine. This miracle underscores God's provision and faithfulness to those who trust in Him. The Son's Death and Resurrection Tragedy strikes when the widow's son falls ill and dies. In her grief, the widow confronts Elijah, questioning if his presence has brought her sin to remembrance and caused her son's death. Elijah responds with compassion and urgency. He takes the boy to the upper room where he is staying, lays him on his own bed, and cries out to the Lord: “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me by causing her son to die?” (1 Kings 17:20). Elijah stretches himself over the child three times and prays, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” (1 Kings 17:21). The Lord hears Elijah's plea, and the boy's life returns to him. Elijah presents the revived child to his mother, affirming the power of God and the truth of His word through His prophet. Significance and Theological Insights The resurrection of the widow's son is the first recorded instance of a resurrection in the Bible, prefiguring the ultimate resurrection through Jesus Christ. It highlights several key theological themes: 1. God's Sovereignty and Compassion: The narrative illustrates God's control over life and death and His compassion for the marginalized, as seen in His care for a foreign widow and her son. 2. Faith and Obedience: The widow's obedience to Elijah's instructions, despite her desperate circumstances, exemplifies faith in God's promises. 3. Prophetic Authority: Elijah's role as a prophet is affirmed through the miraculous provision and the raising of the widow's son, demonstrating that he speaks and acts with divine authority. 4. Foreshadowing of Christ: The story anticipates the miracles of Jesus, who also raised the dead and provided for the needy, revealing God's redemptive plan through His Son. In conclusion, the account of the son of the widow of Zarephath serves as a powerful reminder of God's provision, the efficacy of prayer, and the hope of resurrection, themes that resonate throughout the biblical narrative. Nave's Topical Index 1 Kings 17:17-23And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. Nave's Topical Index Library A Cloud of Witnesses. Letter Liv. To Furia. How Ahab when He had Taken Jezebel to Wife Became More Wicked than ... Letter cxxv. To Rusticus. The New Covenant. Christ Teaching Liberality Letter cviii. To Eustochium. Letter xxii. To Eustochium. The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem: Resources What is the Egyptian Book of the Dead? | GotQuestions.orgIs raising the dead still possible today? | GotQuestions.org Is God dead? | GotQuestions.org Dead: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Dead (People): Burnings of Incense Made For Dead (People): Jairus' Daughter Dead (People): Prepared for Burial by Washing Dead (People): Raised to Life, (See Dead (People): The Shunammite Woman's Son Dead (People): The Son of the Widow of Zarephath Dead (People): The Widow's Son Dead (People): The Young Man Laid in Elisha's Grave Dead (People): Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Dead (People): Wrapping in Linen The Dead in a House Rendered It Unclean The Dead were Washed and Laid Out The Dead were Wrapped in Lined With Spices The Dead: A Priest not to Mourn For, Except when Near of Kin The Dead: A State of Deep Affliction The Dead: All offerings To, Forbidden The Dead: Characterised by Absence of all Human Passions The Dead: Characterised by Being Incapable of Motion The Dead: Characterised by Being Without the Spirit The Dead: Characterised by Ignorance of all Human Affairs The Dead: Characterised by Inability to Glorify God The Dead: Even Bones of, Caused Uncleanness The Dead: Eyes of, Closed by Nearest of Kin The Dead: Freedom from the Law The Dead: Freedom from the Power of Sin The Dead: Heathenish Expressions of Grief For, Forbidden The Dead: High Priest in No Case to Mourn For The Dead: Idolaters: Consecrated Part of Their Crops To The Dead: Idolaters: Invoked and Consulted The Dead: Idolaters: Offered Sacrifices For The Dead: Idolaters: Tore Themselves For The Dead: Instances of, Restored by Christ The Dead: Instances of, Restored to Life Before Christ The Dead: Man's State by Nature The Dead: Mourning For, often by Hired Mourners The Dead: Mourning For, often with Plaintive Music The Dead: Mourning For, often: Lasted Many Days The Dead: Mourning For, often: Loud and Clamorous The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Change of Apparel The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Covering the Head The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Taring the Hair The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Tearing the Garments The Dead: Mourning For, often: Very Great The Dead: Nazarites not to Touch or Mourn For The Dead: Regard often Shown to the Memory of The Dead: Return not to This Life The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Carcases The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Corpses The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Deceased The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Those Who are Not The Dead: The Jews Looked for a Resurrection From The Dead: They Who Have Departed This Life The Dead: Those Defiled By, Removed from the Camp The Dead: Touching of, Caused Uncleanness The Dead: Uncleanness Contracted From, Removed by the Water Separation Related Terms |