Scripture Text (NRSV)
17:8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
17:9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for
I have commanded a widow there to feed you."
17:10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of
the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and
said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink."
17:11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring
me a morsel of bread in your hand."
17:12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked,
only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now
gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for
myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
17:13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have
said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and
afterwards make something for yourself and your son.
17:14 For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will
not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the
LORD sends rain on the earth."
17:15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and
her household ate for many days.
17:16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil
fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
Comments:
The books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings present a theological
perspective derived from the book of Deuteronomy. One of the basic
themes of this theological perspective is tha faithful obedience to
God's Law brings blessing while disobedience brings curse. Today's
reading dramatizes God's power over nature to reward obedience to the
Law (survival) and to punish disobedience (drought).
It is also a proof of God's existence. Since Ba'al was the storm god
for the people of the north, where Zarepheth is (south of Sidon on the
coast). A drought announced by the prophet of God, showed Ba'al 's
lack of affect. (It is also interesting that the Ba'al worshipers
thought that Ba'al went to the land of the dead during the dry season
!!)
Doug in Erie
This text was ruined for me by a TV evangelist named Robert Tilton. I
do believe this was the only Scripture the man knew. This text was his
authority for telling the poor and needy TV religion watchers to send
their rent money, their car payments, their food money, their
insurance money, etc. to his ministry so God could "fill their jars
and jugs of oil" in return. He told them they had to trust God and
give it all up in order to receive God's gifts, which he promised
would be monetary wealth like they had never seen before. Of course it
was Robert Tilton who started living in the lap of luxury.... I still
shudder every time I read this Scripture, thinking how many people
were duped by that man.
KyHoosierCat
Dear KyHoosierCat,
that would leave a bad taste in my mouth as well. Do you remember when
Oral Roberts he had some word that people were to send him $500 each
so he could build a 500 foot high Jesus, and that if he didn't get the
money, he would die? It was back in the 70's or early 80's. I hate to
admit it, but I quietly wished that he would have a sudden lightning
bolt, and that maybe all TV evangelists would be stopped in their
tracks! Susan in Wa.
Susan in WA, yes, I do recall Mr. Roberts' pleas for cash. And Jim
Bakker's, and Jimmy Swaggert's, etc. Can you tell I have no use for TV
evangelists?? Billy Graham hasn't made it onto my "scam" list, but
pretty much the rest of them have. Money, and the acquisition of more
and more of it, is their main purpose while their mission outside of
themselves is negligible. Oh, I could go on and on.......
KHC
Is anyone going to approach this from this womans point of view.
Franklin
I'm considering the sermon title, "The Faith of a Pessimist."
PKFlyer in TX.
Was the woman of Zaraphath fearful of what was to come, or was she
resigned to her fate and that of her son? The text doesn't give much
insight into her frame of mind. So, following that, did she think of
Elijah's request as a "last hope for salvation" or as "oh well, one
meal won't make a bit of difference in the long run, might as well
give my food to this guy"?
We approach so much with "last ditch effort" attitude. We grasp at any
straw to set things right - even giving up all we have if it will cure
us, protect us, whatever. It is only when we have completely given up
hope, when we can see NO way out, that we just give up and give in,
resigning ourselves to whatever comes.
I know many now-devout Christians who were at the end of their ropes
at one point, and had tried all kinds of methods to "feel better".
When the alcohol and sex and crime didn't fulfill them, they finally,
as a last resort, turned to Jesus. And they are still - literally -
singing his praises. Other people in the same boat never reached out
to any thought of religion, and just got ready to die, giving away
their possessions, etc.
I wish I knew which way this woman was thinking....
KyHoosierCat
I like the direction KyHoosierCat is going. Let me take it a step
further. Is it possible that in the voice of Elijah she heard the
voice of God?
I'm continuing to dwell on the Robert Tilton idea; what distinguishes
an authentic response to the instruction of God from the complex
motives of a viewer who obeys the directives of a ?Charlatan?
Does this text draw us to a thorough examination of God's continued
claim upon that which we have and how it will be used in the realm of
God's Kingdom? PKFlyer again.
I've just read the text a little closer. The widow was not asked to
make the meal and oil into one cake and give it all to Elijah; she was
to give him a portion of the meal and oil, and then go make something
for herself and her son. She was to keep some back for her own use.
How does this wash with the Gospel text where the widow is lauded for
giving up everything to the Temple treasury, apparently keeping
nothing for herself?
KyHoosierCat
When I look at this text (and thank you, Ky Hoosier Cat for your
"catching" the fact that the woman didn't give it all), I think about
how when we have little, we don't think we can share any of it. This
woman had the faith to do what Elijah said; she gave a portion of all
she had to a man of God (perhaps a tenth - a tithe?) Hmm, now there's
a thought!
Thanks for all your insights, pbetty
We are doing Herb Miller's "Consecration Sunday" stewardship program
this fall, w/ the actual filling out of "Estimate of Giving" cards on
Nov. 16 (guest preacher that day). MY assignment in the whole process
is to preach a stewardship sermon on Nov. 9. I'm grateful for these
texts--OT and Gospel--but now, following the threads of conversation
above, I'm also a bit trepidatious! I want people to be inspired, not
resentful, regarding giving back to God for God's ministry. I don't
believe God intends us to give up *everything* to the point where we,
too, are in the depths of poverty, and I *also* appreciate
KyHoosierCat catching that point in this lesson about giving a
*portion*. But indeed, what about the widow in the Gospel? (I haven't
read the posts there yet.....)
Heidi in MN
I believe that occasionally God does ask us to give up everything, so
all can marvel at His provision. There may also be times when we are
to contemplate what everything means, as Abraham must have when he
made that trip to the altar with Isaac. Even on this site, we grasp at
our treasures, and say, "Surely, Lord, not that, too!" I live in a
time of need in my household, and yet believe we all must contemplate
the giving of, and giving up of, everything, as we did when confronted
with the rich young ruler a few weeks ago. Perhaps many of us must
also confess times when we did see the "jar of meal" emptied, and the
"jug of oil" fail. We've seen His seed begging for bread. In my closet
of personal fears, I beg God to move, and say it is for the sake of
His name, that it will be glorified, and continue to wait. And I still
must be one who will not be moved, shaken in my faith, that the One
who made it all, is the One who made and loves me. lkinhc
