She Found Courage in the Face of Despair

SHE was not invisible​—but she might well have felt that way. Did anyone see her plight? Did anyone care? She was a widow and a mother. In Israel, widows could take some comfort in God’s kindly laws that protected widows and fatherless children. But she was not an Israelite. She lived in Zarephath, a town belonging to Sidon. The Sidonian King Ethbaal had evidently been a priest of the goddess Ashtoreth. Worship of Ashtoreth promoted vile conduct of all sorts. In a land where cruelty was widespread and people were struggling to survive a drought and a famine, what hope did a poor widow have of being shown mercy?

She scraped together what meager food she could find and tried to keep herself and her young boy alive. Still, things kept getting worse, and now it seemed that the bitter end was in sight.

Yet, there was something unusual and precious about this widow. Nearly 1,000 years later, Jesus Christ said that Jehovah saw her as different from the faithless people in Israel. Somehow, it seems, she had learned about Jehovah, the God of Israel. Perhaps she was touched by the way he treated his people. She believed in him. But what would Jehovah do for this woman in a foreign, pagan land? He sent her a remarkable gift.

Jehovah directed his prophet Elijah to travel north to find this widow and stay with her during the drought. When the prophet reached Zarephath, he saw a woman gathering wood for a fire. He spoke to her kindly, asking a simple favor: “Please, bring me a little water in a cup so that I may drink.” Now, she had never seen Elijah before. Yet, we read: “She went to get it.” Perhaps it was his tone of voice, his kind words, or his simple garb as a prophet that told her that this man was a servant of Jehovah. Was this the woman that Jehovah sent him to see? Elijah asked another favor​—for a bit of bread.

Now the widow opened her heart. “As surely as Jehovah your God is living,” she began, revealing that she had faith in the true God, “the living God.” (Jer. 10:10) Then she told Elijah that she had no bread; she had only a handful of flour in a large jar and a little oil in a small jar. She was going to make a fire in order to prepare a final meal for herself and her son. “After we have eaten,” she said simply, “we will die.”

Elijah’s next words must have stunned her. “Do not be afraid.” How could she not be afraid at the prospect of seeing her son die of starvation? Still, she listened. Elijah then delivered a promise from Jehovah. If she made the prophet a small loaf of bread first, Jehovah would reward her. He would make sure that her two containers, the one for flour and the one for oil, kept supplying her needs until the end of the drought!

Here is where the widow’s faith was tested. Would she give up her last bit of food in order to feed Jehovah’s prophet? She likely knew that Jehovah had done far more amazing things for his people than to feed one widow and her child. Still, would she find the courage to obey? We read: “So she went and did as Elijah said.”

Jehovah richly rewarded that woman. Miraculously, her containers of flour and of oil kept supplying the needs of Elijah and her household until the drought ended. And Jehovah did something even more amazing for her. Tragedy struck when sickness and death suddenly took her son. Yet, Jehovah used Elijah to bring the boy back to life! That was the first resurrection in the Bible record. The widow surely drew great courage from that miracle. Millions have drawn courage from it​—and from her example—​ever since.

Read the Bible account:

• 1 Kings 17:8-24

• Luke 4:25, 26

For discussion:

In what ways did the widow of Zarephath show courage?

Dig Deeper

1. 1. Describe the religion of Sidon, the principal city of Phoenicia. How did that religion influence the Israelites? (it “Sidon” ¶6) A

   Your answer

   

   Penta Springs Limited/​Alamy Stock Photo

2. 2. What was Ethbaal’s relationship with King Ahab of Israel? (it “Ethbaal”)

   Your answer

3. 3. The Phoenicians worshipped the goddess Ashtoreth (Astarte). What customs associated with their religion still exist today? (g93 11/22 13 ¶1-4)

   Your answer

4. 4. When the widow’s son died, why might she have asked Elijah: “Have you come to remind me of my guilt and to put my son to death?” (1 Ki. 17:18; w14 2/15 15 ¶4-5) B

   Your answer

   

Reflect on the Lessons

• Jehovah took note of the widow, even though she lived in a Baal-worshipping town. What does that teach you about Jehovah and the way we should view people in our territory? (Acts 10:35)

  Your answer

• Christians who are struggling financially can learn what from the faith and courage of the widow of Zarephath? C

  Your answer

  

• In what other ways might you imitate the courage of the widow of Zarephath?

  Your answer

Meditate on the Bigger Picture

• What does this account teach me about Jehovah?

  Your answer

• How does the account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?

  Your answer

• What would I like to ask the widow of Zarephath in the resurrection?

  Your answer

Learn More

How can we, like the widow of Zarephath, show that we put Jehovah’s friendship ahead of material things?

“Gaining God’s Approval Leads to Everlasting Life” (w11 2/15 13-17)

Consider proof that Jehovah is interested in all acts of faith​—even small ones.

“Does Jehovah Notice What You Do?” (w03 5/1 28-31)