REFINING IN ZAREPHATH

          After about a year at Cherith the brook dried up ((1Kgs.17:7).  Subsequently, God spoke to Elijah directing him to go to Zarephath (1Kgs.17:8).

Zarephath, which means “to melt or smelt”, was a city located one-hundred miles northwest of Cherith, on the sun-bleached northeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.  Just in case you’re thinking “vacation”, it’s worth noting that Zarephath was less than ten miles south of Sidon, which was the hometown of King Ethbaal, the father of King Ahab’s wicked, Baal-worshipping wife, Jezebel (1Kgs.16:31).  For Elijah, this appears to be a classic case of going from the frying pan into the fire.  With this most unexpected deployment, our sovereign God continues His work of “refining” Elijah.     

          One can’t help but wonder:  OF ALL THE PLACES THAT GOD COULD HAVE SENT ELIJAH, WHY DID HE SEND HIM TO ZAREPHATH?.  Although a bustling seaport where a new face would likely go unnoticed, Zarephath was not beyond the reach of King Ahab’s manhunt for Elijah (1Kgs.18:10).  And to whom did God send Elijah, but to a poverty-stricken widow.  Could this be a picture of God’s loving care for all of His creatures?  Might this  also have provided a sneak preview of God’s plan to extend grace to the Gentiles via His ultimate plan of redemption?  cf. Lk.4:22-26.  

          Having journeyed far, a weary Elijah sat down by a well where he asked a widow to bring him a drink of water (1Kgs.17:10).  As she went to do so, Elijah also requested a piece of bread (1Kgs.17:11).  The widow informed Elijah that she was “running on empty” - - I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die (1Kgs.17:12).  This episode concludes with God’s amazing promise to the widow:  the bowl of flour will not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth (1Kgs.17:14).  There is a great danger in being blindsided by first impressions.  Have you ever been guilty of jumping to faulting conclusion (why did God put me here?)?  Have you ever prejudged others

(how can this poor widow help me?)?   Some of us, if not all, need to realize that we are but lumps of clay, ill-shaped and need of serious molding.  Let us not dread the Zarephaths of life - - for it is often in such places that the Lord chooses to shape us so that our lives might bring Him glory. 

                                                                                                                                                                Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ