The Widow's Portion

Attention getter:

in the early 1940’s there was a polish catholic nurse who lived in Poland name Irena Sendler

during WWII She was social worker who stood opposed to Nazi Germany.

Not only was she opposed, but she was convinced that she had to do something to try and save the jewish children that were being shipped to concentration camps and were doomed to die in the Holocaust

during the war she developed a plan and a strategy to rescue kids from the holocaust by loading them into trash cans, shipping boxes and tool boxes so they could be shipped out out of danger.

She found convents and catholic families throughout Poland that would take the children and protect them.

Her efforts saved the lives of over 2500 jewish children

Attention getter:

This sort of bravery came from a deep faith in God.

For Irena Sendler to obey God was to risk everything, and trust that God was in Charge.

God called her to save these kids, and she had to obey, and trust that God was in charge.

And this sort of obedience and faith is what God calls all of us too.

God calls us to obey and trust that He is in charge

I saw this put into action while I was in seminary.

Tell the story of TOM

For Zach and Carie, they knew what God was calling them to do, so they obeyed, and trusted that God was in charge.

So Zach and Carri invited his friend to come and and live with them while in seminary.

So much of living the Christian life wrapped up in this idea

Zach and Carrie only had Beniah at the time, but Carrie was pregnant with Judah.

God calls us to obey and trust that he is in charge.

They had a two bedroom appartment and they were turning beniah

And we see this playing out over and over in the story of Elijah

Last week we met the characters in the story of Elijah

King Ahab

Queen Jezebel

Baal

Elijah

Elijah prophesied a drought to King Ahab which was a blatant attack and threat against their god, Baal.

The drought came, and Elijah had to get out of Israel.

So God sent him into the wilderness where God miraculously provided for him by having ravens bring him bread and meat each morning and evening.

Eventually the drought got so bad that it dried up Elijah’s water source.

What is there for Elijah to do now?

he can’t go home or Ahab and Jezebel will kill him

So we find in verse eight that God does not leave him to die in the wilderness but speaks to him and gives him instructions on what to do next.

1 Kings 17:8–9 ESV

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”

Sidon: The Devil’s Den

God wants him to go where?

God is calling Elijah to go into the Devil’s Den, to Sidon which is the Baal’s home turf.

Did you pick that up?

Elijah’s prophecy against Baal has caused a drought that has spread beyond Israel and has affected the surrounding countries including Sidon.

Which we will get into in a little bit.

Sidon is also the home of Jezebel, this is where she is from and her father Ethbaal is king of Sidon.

God is sending Elijah into the heart of Baalism, and sending him into the presence of the enemy.

God doesn’t just tell Elijah to go there, but he tells Elijah to dwell there

God calling Elijah to dwell in Sidon is not a call to spend a few days there. God is calling Elijah to settle down in Sidon, make this your home until you are told otherwise.

This is not week long stay, this is the sort of settling down to where Elijah needs to change his shipping address. And update all his personal information.

This is not week long stay, this is the sort of settling down to where Elijah needs to change his shipping address. And update all his personal information.

But what makes this even more difficult is whats been happening back home in Israel.

Jezebel who moved to Israel from Sidon brought Baal worship with her. Israel now looks not much different than Sidon.

And when Elijah prophesied and caused the drought, Jezebel did not respond very well.

The evil queen and her evil husband did everything in their power to find and kill Elijah.

Not only that, but she also killed all the prophets of God in Israel (except for 100 who were hidden)

In fact, She proceeded to massacre all the prophets of God in Israel (except for 100 who were hidden)

Jezebel and Ahab sent messengers to all the kingdoms in all the nations looking for Elijah, making them swear oaths that they had not seen him.

Elijah is number one on Jezebel’s most wanted list.

And God, in his wonderful sense of humor sends Elijah to live in Jezebel’s home town while she is out turning the world upside down looking for him.

EXAMPLE

God telling Elijah to go and dwell in Sidon would have been like Irena Sendler sending kids to hideout in Berlin.

Irena Sendler lived in Poland during WWII.

She was social worker who stood opposed to Nazi Germany.

Not only was she opposed, but she was active in rescuing Jewish children from the Holocaust.

Her efforts saved the lives of over 2500 jewish children

She would send these children to safe places trying to hide them from the Nazis.

God sending Elijah to Sidon would have been like Irena Sendler sending jewish children to Berlin.

And yet, this is exactly what God does. He sends Elijah into the Devil’s Den to live for over three years.

God tells Elijah that he has commanded a widow there to feed him

Food is a really big deal right with the famine because of the drought.

We have seen that God has supernaturally provided for Elijah by having ravins feed him

And now he assures Elijah that he will provide food for him in Sidon as well

This time its not ravins that will feed him, rather its a gentile widow.

For Elijah which one would be harder to believe, being fed by ravins or being fed by a widow?

To be honest, you might have better luck getting a good meal from ravins

But, God called Elijah to obey, and trust that he was in charge.

Widows were always in need, they were poor and relied on others to sustain them.

A widow in Iron Age Israel didn’t attend night school, they didn’t have programs that would help widows find a sustaining career

1 Kings: The Wisdom and the Folly The Strangeness of Yahweh’s Habits (vv. 4–9)

A widow in Iron Age Israel didn’t attend night school, gain computer skills, and nail down a position on the office staff of the local medical clinic. She didn’t open up her own Kiddie Kare in her home to care for the children of mothers in the work force. Widowhood was usually a dead end street, an existence of dirt under the fingernails, of scratching out the barest of livings. If one could choose, ravens sounded more dependable than widows.

A widow in Iron Age Israel didn’t attend night school, gain computer skills, and nail down a position on the office staff of the local medical clinic. She didn’t open up her own Kiddie Kare in her home to care for the children of mothers in the work force. Widowhood was usually a dead end street, an existence of dirt under the fingernails, of scratching out the barest of livings. If one could choose, ravens sounded more dependable than widows.

She didn’t open up her own home business to help pay the bills

Widowhood was a dead end street, an existence of dirt under the fingernails, of scratching out the barest of livings.

If one could choose, ravens sounded more dependable than widows.

Yet God, as happens over and over in the story of Elijah, flexes on behalf of his people.

He uses the most unlikely sources to provide for his people. and he provides for his people in this most

He uses that which is unclean and weak to bring maximum glory to himself

And this is how God works, and this is good news for us!

Paul writes,

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

1 cor 1

God is not looking for the biggest and the strongest,

He’s not looking for the smartest and and richest

He’s not looking for the best looking and most talented

He’s looking for men and women who are faithful

He’s looking for men and women who are willing to pour themselves out for the sake of the gospel, to love God with all their heart, mind and strength.

To trust that God is the one who does that work, while we faithfully join him in what he is already doing. We trust that he will sustain and provide as we pour ourselves out for his glory.

There is no room to boast in the presence of God

Our call is to offer ourselves to God. And its God’s prerogative whether he uses us like he did Elijah, or he uses us like he did the Widow.

The Body of Christ is made up of many members

And a hand must never be jealous of a foot - for both are used by God

And a mouth must never judge an eye - for both have been purchased by the blood of Christ and are to be used for his glory

When we read this story these are questions that we must ask,

Am I faithful like Elijah to follow God’s call on my life no matter where it takes me? even if it causes me some discomfort, distress, or even great fear?

Will I obey and trust that God is in charge?

God told her to live by faith, and obey his words, and he would take care of the rest.

We also see that the Widow is a model of what it looks like to obey and trust od.

1 Kings 17:8–9 ESV

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”

1 Kings 17:10–12 ESV

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”

These two verses are loaded!

Elijah Meets the Widow

1 Kings 17:10–12 ESV

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”

Elijah obey’s God and goes to the Devil’s Den, he goes to Zarephath in Sidon.

When he gets to the gates he see the woman who is supposed to take him in and feed him.

I’m sure Elijah is thinking to himself, “this women?” “really God?” He might have even looked up hoping to see some Ravens flying around

This women was by the gate of the city gathering sticks.

She was malnourished, would have been very weak and not someone you would want to ask to help you.

And not to mention, again, she’s from Sidon!

Why didn’t God send him to a widow in Israel?

If God could keep him safe in Sidon, he could have kept him save in Israel.

Why did God send him to a gentile, baal worshiping, widow in Sidon?

Why did God send him to a gentile, baal worshiping, widow?

Why didn’t God send him to a widow in Israel?

And not only that, But she didn’t even have enough food for him. She only had enough for her and her son.

look again at verse 12

1 Kings 17:12 ESV

12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”

1 Kings 17:11–12 ESV

11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”

She is about to take all that she had and make a last meal for her and her son and then die of starvation.

1 kings 17

In fact, she is about to make her last meal for her and her son and then die of starvation.

Now, we know that God does everything for a reason, and every detail in the bible is important. So why? Why does God do it this way?

Now, we know that God does everything for a reason, and every detail in the bible is important. So why? Why does God do it this way?

Why Sidon and Why a Widow?

Two reason

To show God’s power over Baal

Because this is how the gospel works

Because this is how the gospel works

Why Sidon? To show God’s power over Baal

Zarephath, which was a city in Sidon, was known for three things

1. Purple dye for dying clothes - This is royalty, this is kingship

2. They were known for producing great wine - This is the drink of Kings

3. They were known for producing Olive Oil.

Now the famine has been so bad that this widow was about to run out of oil. And Baal was powerless to provide for his people.

So God goes into baals kingdom and shows himself to be far greater, and far more powerful than Baal.

It shows that God’s kingship is a kingship that has no boarders, he will go into any nation or country, any kingdom or stronghold and show himself more powerful than anyone else.

This is the power that Jesus sends us out with at the great commission. He sends us out with his authority so that we can walk into any nation, any country, any government, any school and proclaim the truth of the gospel, That Jesus is King over all, and do so with full confidence of God’s power.

This also shows a judgement on Israel, while they are suffering from the famine, God is powerfully at work providing for his faithful servants in another country.

This demonstrates God’s faithfulness to his promises, He promised Abraham that his people would be a blessing to the nations, and now, Elijah is living in the power of that promise by obeying God in going to Sidon.

Why a Widow? Because this is how the gospel works

Because this models the gospel

God sent his son into a famine stricken world of false worshippers in order to save gentiles from death.

God entered into the Devil’s Den in order to save you and to save me.

In fact, Jesus makes this connection as well in Luke Chapter 4

:16-

Luke 4:16–26 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

Luke 4:

Jesus came for the poor, he came for the weak, he came for those who were unable to save themselves.

Jesus’ ministry to the gentiles is based off of Elijah’s ministry to the widow.

Elijah went to the weak, gentile widow who was an enemy of God and brought her and her son new life.

In the same way Jesus has come to weak gentiles who were enemies of God in order to bring us and our families new life.

To redeem us from slavery and to give us a place at his table.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in

Romans 5:6–10 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:6-10

Jesus died for us while

we were still weak.

like the widow, helpless and unable to save ourselves

we were still sinners

Living outside of God’s covenant people, Jesus came to sinner, to those far off and has brought us near

we were still enemies.

We were not just outside of God’s covenant, we were opposed to him and his ways. We were children of satan, and he purchased us while we were enemies to God

Jesus came into the Sidon of our hearts and saved us from death

Just as Elijah went into Sidon and saved the Widow from death

And here is an amazing thing, Elijah asked the widow for far more than she was able to provide (she could not feed him what he asked for), but what we are about to see is that Elijah gives far more than he asked for.

When we look at the bible and see how Christians are to live, and speak, and think, and act, it is far more than we could ever achieve or accomplish on our own. Like the widow, we are not able to give what God demands. But the beauty of the gospel is that Jesus, like Elijah, has come and has provided in himself everything that the law demands, and he has given us the power to live as God calls us to live.

This story is screaming the truths of the gospel!

Lets look at the last three verses...

The Widow’s Faith and God’s Faithfulness

1 kings 17

1 Kings 17:13–16 ESV

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’ ” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

The Widow’s Faith and God’s Faithfulness

Could you imagine widows emotions when she listened to Elijah’s words, went back to her house and her flour and oil didn’t run out?

When Elijah found her she was picking up sticks to make her last meal before she and her son starved to death.

And now, she has an endless supply of flour and oil to make food for her and her son.

You know what I really love about this story? I love verse 15

God told Elijah what to do, and Elijah obeyed the words of God. God told him to flee from Israel and to hide in the wilderness

1 Kings 17:15 ESV

15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Theological Significance

As a city of Sidon, Zarephath would have been considered Baal’s territory. Yahweh’s ability to send drought there, and exercise power over life and death, demonstrated His superiority to Baal

There was no reason for Elijah to be fed in the wilderness, yet God’s faithfulness to him was shown by having ravens bring him food.

The widow went and did what Elijah said. And the result was that she and he and her household ate for many days.

He then obeys the words of God to go to Sidon, a place where he would be put to death if anyone found him.

It was simple obedience that resulted in not only in the provision of her household, but for a Elijah as well.

And God was faithful was provide for him supernatually through a Widow.

The Widow heard the words of Elijah, and obeyed. and the result was salvation for her and her son.

Elijah was a man who poured himself out in following God, and God was faithful to him at every step

The widow was an example of ...

Faithful Obedience

God through Elijah told her to first make a cake for Elijah, then go back and you’ll have enough flour and oil to feed you and your household.

This is a massive step of faith for her.

And she was faithful, she poured out her last bit of flower and oil and made a cake for Elijah.

And God was faithful to his promise and did not let the flour and oil run out.

no matter how many times she reached in to the jar for flour, there was enough.

no matter how many ounces of oil she needed, there was enough.

She was called to pour it out, God was faithful to never let it run out.

“God, I don’t have enough flour to feed guests!” I know… pour it out

God’s Faithfulness Toward The Widow

“God, I don’t have enough oil to make a cake for my sons friends” I know… pour it out

She did not try and fill up other jugs of flour and oil so she would have a surplus.

In the same way, God called this widow to listen and obey Elijah.

“God, I don’t have space to let these people stay with me” I Know… Pour it out

She did not try and

God called her to pour out flour and oil, and trust him that he would be the one to not let it run out.

She was asked to share her last bit of flour and oil with Elijah rather than having a last meal for her and her son.

“Lord, I don’t have enough time to serve in the church” I know… Pour it out

God called her to pour out flour and oil, and trust him that he would be the one to not let it run out.

She obeys God’s words and ends up being

She was called to obey, God was the one who would provide

The Widow was not called to figure out how much flour and oil she had left, she was called to pour it out.

She was called to obey God, and trust that he is in charge

She was called to trust, God was the one who would remain faithful

Have you poured yourself out this week? have you obeyed what God has called you to as a disciple?

I pray you walk in here on a sunday morning poured out and

She was called to serve, and God was the one who would sustain.

The Widow is a model of faithful obedience no matter the cost.

We so often think about obedience to God as optional.

We will obey God as long as it fits our schedule

We will pour ourselves out, as long as we know how much we have in the tank.

We will use some of our flour and oil to feed others, as long as we know we have enough to make it through the week.

You see, we turn obedience to God into an existential debate over the greatest good.

God tells us to love our neighbors

and rather than faithfully obeying, We say, I’ll love my neighbor as long as he is a pleasant individual

God tells us to serve one another

And rather than faithfully obeying, we say, I’ll serve others as long as it doesn’t drain me or cut into my sleep.

This is not how we should live, this is not obedience.

We are to obey and trust that God is in charge

God has called us to give ;

we are to pour ourselves out for one another and trust God to provide the energy

We are to be in community with each other,

We are to gather together weekly for worship, and we trust God that he will provide the time we need to rest, or to fish, or to play sports, or to have “me” time. But Sundays are to be spent together in the presence of Jesus

We are told to give of our finances, and we trust God that he will sustain us financially and that he will give us wisdom concerning how much we give.

He didn’t like my response that much, I told him basical

God calls us to obey, and trust that he is in charge

Like Elijah and the Widow, Jesus has given us far more than he demands from us.

May we like the widow obey what our King tells us to do.

Lets not try and justify reasons to disobey

Lets not try and find excuses as to why we don’t need to obey

But let us, with faith in the God who is able to keep us and sustain us, let us pour ourselves out in obedience to our King and trust with joyful confidence that he is in charge.