Arise and Go to Zarephath
I Kings 17: 8-16; 3 Kingdoms 17: 8-16
Elijah’s sojourn at the Brook Cherith ended in a very interesting manner. Whether suddenly or slowly, the waters which had sustained him ceased to flow.
“But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land” (I Kings 17:7).
As he gazed upon the dried channel, the prophet was surely reminded that the word he had declared to King Ahab had come to pass. Yes, God had withheld the rain as He had promised. Likewise, the empty channel would be a sign that it was now time to leave. His seclusion – the rest, the protection, the spiritual renewal – must now give way to the next chapter in Elijah’s life.
That confirmation came quickly as “Again the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath of Sidon and dwell there” (vs. 8,9). Once again, as well, he heard the Lord’s promise of provision (albeit a strange one). “Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you” (vs. 9).
It was a long and difficult journey from Cherith to Zarephath – about 110 miles. There was no water; he was marked for death by Ahab and Jezebel; and he might be wondering what God had in store in faraway Phoenicia (present day Lebanon). He must also have known that Zarephath lay in the shadow of Sidon (about 6-8 miles north) under the tyrannical rule of Jezebel’s father. However, shrinking in disobedience from fear was not an option for this man of God.
Regardless of his expectation, Elijah’s arrival in Zarephath must have been a shocking experience. There in the city gate, his eyes fell upon a poor widow gathering what fragments of wood she could find. The Lord’s words may well have come to mind, “Behold (look) I have commanded a widow to provide for you”. How could this be that one?
Pausing here …. the name, Zarephath, means “a workshop for refining metals; a place of melting, forming, reshaping”. We will soon discover here that God would further refine His faithful servant, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (II Corinthians 7:1). We may also note that “the genuineness of his faith, being more precious than gold” (I Peter 1:7) would bring hope, joy and new life to this distressed woman and her son.
Might we be reminded of how our wondrous God has used His holy servants to revive and restore life to His holy Church and her people in times of sorrow and struggle. In the Holy Scriptures, the figure of a woman or mention of a woman has been understood to symbolize the Church (e.g. – bride of Christ, marriage supper of the Lamb, New Jerusalem adorned as a bride, Parable of ten virgins meeting the bridegroom, etc.). When the woman is a widow, the analogy is even more meaningful. As a widow is left without her husband, so the Church in this world is without her bridegroom – Christ. She is bereft of His physical presence, though not without His love. Although He has left us without an inheritance of worldly riches, He has sent the Holy Spirit, angels, apostles, prophets and teachers to protect, guide and nurture us until we are reunited with Him in the eternal kingdom.
The widow of Zarephath was gathering sticks to make a fire for what she said would be her last meal. After that, she could only expect death by starvation for herself and her son. How sad! How very sad!
Even if he was not fully aware of her plight, Elijah was certainly aware of his thirst from the long journey, so he asked the widow for a drink of water. Without comment (maybe ashamed), she turned to find him a drink. Her embarrassment must have been multiplied when he also asked for a piece of bread. She was then compelled to tell her sad story of the final handful of flour and last bit of oil.
We might truly expect this man of God to be moved to tears upon hearing her situation. Indeed, he could empathize with her. Fresh in his memory were the days at Cherith – the brook and the ravens’ morsels could well have been his last meal any day. So, now he understood why he was here.
“But Elijah said to her, “Take courage and do as you say, but make me a small cake from it first and bring it to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the bin of flour shall not be used up, and the jar of oil shall not run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth” (vss. 13,14).
Any of his doubts and fears had been cut away at Cherith and now that strong trust in God’s provision was being refined and perfected here in the workshop at Zarephath. Yet again, Elijah had spoken the word of the living God – not the word of judgment but the word of mercy and hope. And as those words reached her heart, “the woman went and did it” (vs. 15). The flour and oil did not give out; they did not die; God had spoken through His servant and all was well. Amen!
In many ways, this is a simple story – one with which those reading this can connect. We have been through times of sadness and grief, times of fear and hopelessness, times of loneliness and despondency. And those times may yet come again.
In addition to our personal journey, these present days find Christianity under assault. The Christian’s values and core beliefs are being ridiculed, slandered and dishonored. Not unlike the widow, the Church, in many places, is being compelled to “gather sticks” from wherever she can to keep the flame of the faith burning and feeding her people.
But may we take courage! God has His people who have stood and spoken the word of the living God; who have been to their Cheriths and who are being refined and perfected at their Zarephaths. The saddened church at Zarephath will not die; the flour ( the Bread of Life) will not be used up; the jar of oil (the Holy Spirit) will not run dry! No, she has heard the word of the Lord and one Day, when her bridegroom returns, “He will present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
To God be the glory; great things He has done!
Fr. Andrew
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