The Widow Commended

“I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, …Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a woman in Zarephath in the region of Sidon” (Luke 4:25-26, NIV).

Jesus taught in the synagogue at Nazareth were He had been raised. There he read an Old Testament passage and declared to the people there that He himself was the fulfillment of that prophecy. While the people were amazed at His gracious words, they also had another deeper issue.  Mark 6:1-6 reveals that while they were giving assent to his words and even admitting that He had performed miracles, their hearts were far from believing that He was the Chosen One of God.

They murmured “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.”Jesus could not do miracles there and he was amazed “because of their unbelief.”

Jesus strongly reprimanded them. “Surely you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum. I tell you the truth,…”no prophet is accepted in his hometown”(Luke 4:23).

Boldly, Jesus reproves those Jews that were rejecting Him. This was not the first time they had denied a messenger of God.  There were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s day but none were chosen because of their unbelief. One who lived outside the covenant and promises given to Israel housed the prophet because she had more faith than they did.

These were scandalous words to Jesus’ audience.  With great rage they drove Him out of town and would have thrown Him off a cliff had he not used His power to simply walk through them. It was not time to kill Jesus. The Jewish offence would increase until they ultimately crucified Him. Unfortunately, only a handful of Israel would find faith in Him.

This event looked forward to the great time when the Gentiles would convert to God in faith while a majority of the Jews turned away.

Today we may find ourselves in a similar condition.  Those who have long known Jesus may have grown cold only to find someone with less background more vibrant and faith-filled than they are. Our Western culture that has had Christianity and has largely rejected it may discover that people of other nations may be putting us to shame in their dedication to Christ, and also in receiving miracles because of their greater faith.

Will we find ourselves rejecting Christ, or being commended in faith like the widow of Elijah’s time?

The Living God

"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." (1 Kings 17:1: also vs. 12)

The Lord lives. An oath is taken in His name. There will be no rain.

A living God is one who has personality. A living God is one who has created all things from His own self-sustaining life. A living God is immortal.
A vast difference exists between the living God and the Baal whom Ahab and Jezebel served. The living God really existed. He was a potent force, indeed a threat to all other gods. Because He was truly the one who made all things He could easily halt the rain. The giver of life could take the country’s provision of water and stop it, in turn destroying the crops and the supply of food. Baal was helpless to usurp the plans of the living God so worshipping him was futile. 

Elsewhere the Bible says,"it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31). The dead idols that came from Phoenicia were falling. Israel was not right with God and now they were about to fall into His fearful hands.

The "living God" occurs often in Scripture. When it appears most often it is used with the comparison between God and idols. God is living and the idols are dead. They are worthless. Paul and Barnabas cried out to the people of Lystra that we "preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, and all things that are in them" (Acts 14:15). The Thessalonians "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (1:9). After a verse-long description of building an idol from silver and gold, Jeremiah called Him the "living God and the everlasting King". (10:10).

King Darius worshipped false gods, but when Daniel was saved from the lion’s den he made a proclamation that all his kingdom would tremble before the God of Daniel. His reason—"For He is the living God and He endures forever." (Daniel 6:26 NIV).

Most people don’t bow down to literal false idols today, but the principle is one that applies to all. If we live for something that is dead, we shall never know life. Psalm 1:3 describes the godly. "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season." A life without the blessing of the living God is "like the chaff which the wind drives away (vs. 4). This life is dry, fruitless, and meaningless.

The living God has made provisions that we might have life in Him through the gift of His Son. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you that he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24). Is this our desire? Let us tell Him for He is listening. Our requests will be answered. After all, He is a living God.