Elijah: Fed By A Widow
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards
Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian
Cherith Brook was a lovely place. The trees provided shade from the hot sun during the day and a cozy spot to rest at night. With the ravens coming twice a day bringing bread and meat, Elijah had all the provisions he needed. God was caring for him and he was quite satisfied. Part of the reason he was so comfortable with his outdoor home was because there had been no rain.
Days turned into weeks…then months…then years. Elijah noticed small changes taking place. The grass began turning brown. The trees didn't have as many leaves. The animals were smaller than normal. The water level in the brook was getting lower and lower. In some places, he could see the muddy bottom, and, in other spots, he was able to walk across on dry ground.
Then one day, it happened….
Elijah awoke hungry and thirsty. He went to the brook for a drink of water, but there was none. The brook was completely dry. He waited for the raven to bring his daily food. Morning slipped away into the afternoon, but the raven didn't come. Elijah waited and waited. Surely the bird would bring his evening meal. Evening came, and then nighttime, but the raven still didn't come. WHAT was he to do? Had God FORGOTTEN about him?
Why, of course not! God was keeping the promise that He had told Elijah to tell King Ahab. Which was: There would not be any rain for a long time. Just when Elijah was beginning to wonder what he should do, he heard a voice.
“Get up! Go to Zarephath. A widow woman will take care of you there.”
He realized it was the voice of God, so he listened very, very carefully.
“Zarephath? My, what a strange name! But if that is where God wants me to go, then that is where I must go,” Elijah thought to himself.
Off he went, walking down the dirty road. This journey was so much different than his trip to the brook. It was so hot! There was no water anywhere! He had nothing to drink and he was getting so thirsty. Everywhere he looked there was nothing but dry, dusty ground. He did see a few plants trying to grow, but, without water, they were awfully thin and scraggly looking.
He was hot…
tired…
hungry…
and thirsty…
…but there was nothing he could do except to continue on. You can imagine how excited Elijah was when he finally saw the town of Zarephath just ahead! Anxiously he trudged along. How he was looking forward to having a cool drink of water from the well! As he got near the city gate, he looked around and saw a woman gathering sticks.
“Please bring me a little water in a jar so that I can have a drink,” he said to the woman.
Right away she put down her sticks and started toward the well to bring Elijah the water. She hadn't taken very many steps when she heard him call out to her again. “Also, please bring me some bread.”
The lady was somewhat startled and turned to face Elijah. “I don't have any bread,” she said with a frown. “All I have is a handful of flour in the bottom of the barrel and a tiny bit of oil. I came out here to gather two sticks to build a fire in order to bake a small pancake for my son and me. After that, I guess we will just starve to death because there is no more food.”
Oh, my! What is going to happen now? This was the same widow woman whom God promised would feed Elijah. She didn't even have enough food to make one good meal for herself and her son. How would she be able to take care of Elijah?
“Don't be afraid,” Elijah said to the worried woman. “Go! Do as you have said! Build the fire and make the pancake, but bring it to me first. Let ME eat first. Then make something for yourself and your son. The Lord God says that the barrel of flour will never be empty, and the bottle of oil will always be full until the day that the Lord sends rain.”
Hesitantly, the woman took the flour out of the barrel. Then she poured the last bit of oil out of the bottle. She mixed them together and put the mixture in a small pan on the fire she had built. When it was finished cooking, she put it on a plate. Then she stopped to think a moment.
If I give this last little pancake to Elijah, what will my son and I eat? Will the words Elijah spoke be true? Will God keep the barrel full of flour and the bottle full of oil like Elijah had said?
Then she remembered something. She had heard of this man named Elijah. He was the one who had gone before King Ahab and told them there would be no rain until he said so. At first, people made fun of him and didn't believe him. Hmmm…they ALL believe him now! It hadn't rained for such a very long time, and many people, including the king, blamed Elijah. The widow knew that she had to give him the pancake.
After Elijah ate the little pancake, the woman went to the barrel. She was almost afraid to look.
Slowly, she removed the lid….
She peaked inside….
What did she see?
There was PLENTY of flour.
She scooped up enough to make herself and her son a pancake. She picked up the bottle of oil and found it full. She poured out enough to mix with the flour. She poured the batter into her pan and placed it on the fire to cook. They all had a delicious pancake for dinner that day.
The widow and her son learned that Elijah was speaking the truth. Not only was there enough flour and oil for pancakes that day; there was enough flour and oil for pancakes
the next day…
and the next day…
and the next day….
In fact, the barrel of flour didn't run out, and the bottle of oil stayed full until the Lord sent rain just as Elijah had said. What a wonderful God we have!
THINK!
1. When the ravens stopped giving food to Elijah, did it mean that God didn't care about him?
2. What do you think would have happened if the widow had selfishly kept the last pancake for herself and her son?
REMEMBER
God has promised to supply all you need.
A VERSE TO LEARN
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
ALTERNATIVE VERSES TO LEARN
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you”
(Luke 6:38).
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward
you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work”
(2 Corinthians 9:8).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Why do you think God sent Elijah to a poor widow
who had almost no food left and not to a rich
person with plenty?
Do you have a need? Tell God all about it and
trust Him to help you. Maybe you know someone who
needs help. Ask God to show you ways you could
help them.
[After discussion:] Never think you have nothing
to give to God. With the little you have, He can
perform miracles if you trust his Word and obey
Him in faith.
LET'S PRAY
****************************************************
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving and
caring for each one of us. Let us always remember
that even when bad things happen, although we may not
understand, You are still watching over us and You
want to meet all of our needs. Help us to trust
You and learn to listen to your voice.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
1 Kings 17:7-16
Flour and Oil Never Ran Out (online)
God Looked After the Widow and Her Son (online)
Widow's Jar Of Oil (online)
Woman Getting Water For Elijah (online)
Bible Heroes Coloring Book
God Always Cares (Happy Day Books)
Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
God Loves You Coloring Book:
A Read-aloud Coloring Book About God's Plan for Salvation
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
The Awesome Coloring Book of Bible Comics
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books
Elijah (online)
Arch Books Bible Stories: Elijah Helps the Widow
Elijah and the Miraculous Jar of Oil (online)
Elijah Kingstone Comic Book
Elijah The Hungry Prophet (online)
Elijah God's Mighty Prophet
Elijah/John the Baptist Flip-Over Book
Elijah's Prayer (online)
Elijah: Obedience in a Threatening World Fisherman Bibles Studies
God's Miracle: The Story of Elijah, Bible Wise Series
Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
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100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
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365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year
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The Complete Illustrated Children's Bible
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Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Story Cards To Keep And To Share (online)
Who Am I? (online)
Object Lesson (online)
Elijah Fill-In-The-Blanks Test (online)
Elijah Helps A Poor Widow (online)
Elijah Multiple Choice Quiz (online)
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Bingo (online)
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He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
The wealth in every mine;
He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell -
He is my Father so they're mine as well;
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -
I know that He will care for me.
Words and music by John W. PetersonAngels Watching Over Me (watch online)
God Loves You Just the Way That You Are (listen online)
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (listen online)
I Am So Glad That Jesus Loves Me (watch online)
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty.
There's nothing my God cannot do (online)
Wide, Wide as the Ocean (watch online)
You Are My Heavenly Father (watch online)
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
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150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids
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25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
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MEMORY VERSE CUT AND SCRAMBLE
Activity #1 (online)
Activity #2 (online)Use activity #1 for younger children and
use both activities for older children.
Elijah Crafts and Activities (online)
Oil for the Widow at Zarephath craft (online)
The Widow's Oil craft (online)
Bible Crafts
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Crafting the Word of God (online)
Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]
Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts
More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes
(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)
Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)
The Big Picture Bible Crafts:
101 Simple and Amazing Crafts to Help Teach Children the Bible
1 Kings 17 - Eljah audio drama (Listen online)
Elijah and the Widow (Watch online)
Elijah and the Widow Bible story (Watch online)
Superbook: Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
Superbook: Elijah and the Widow (watch online)
All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (online)
Read and Share Toddler Bible with DVD
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
Elijah and the Secret of His Power
Elijah Crafts and Activities (online)
Elijah And The Widow Of Zarephath (online)
Instant Bible Lessons for Toddlers: God Takes Care of Me
On The Way for 3-9s, Book 10
What is the story of Elijah and the widow? (online)
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801 Questions Kids Ask About God
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Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
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God's Servants Teach Me
God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs
Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
How to Make Bible Characters from Milk Cartons (online)
KidMin ToolBox: Boxed Book Set
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles
Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings
Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
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Opening Prayer (online)
Parenting Resources
Puppet Scripts
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Seven Laws of the Learner
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Talking to God
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Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry
Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know
Children's resources (online)
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