CLEAN- podcast 20, Widow of Zarephath & Son

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.IntroductionReanimation = back from the dead.Why this is important will be explained more fully in the 10th reanimation podcast.How does this tie in with the theme of purity? Keep in mind that in Jewish thought, death is associated with uncleanness.Some positive feedback: "I'm enjoying CLEAN in '17. Very needed lessons. I've often wondered if impurity is like a story I once heard about a dirty river. The teller of the story said that once pollutants stopped being poured in the river, the river over time 'got pure' again, which is such a hope of mine, as I've struggled to live purely during my whole Christian life. Thank you again. Life giving-rebukes these are!"Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-24; 2 Kings 4:34-35; Luke 16:29-31; Luke 4:25-26 This miracle and the next are very similar: children of older parents being brought back to life. There are multiple parallels between the lives and miracles of Elijah and his protégé and successor, Elisha.Sidon (v.9) is in modern Lebanon, well north of the land of Israel.Elijah asks for water, then bread. It seems she fears he may soon ask her for something she doesn’t have.Notice the defeatist attitude of the widow (v.12).Elijah requests food (v.13). Often the Lord asks us to take action – to do something specific – before he grants our wish.The supply of flour and oil  -- essentially, the basic stuff of mealtime – will not run out, as long as it is needed (v.14). God is not a stingy giver.Some time later there is another problem: The woman’s son is dying (v.17). The brain and heart may still be working, but every outward indication is that he has given up the ghost.Or not. He may already be dead.This is a triple tragedy:As an outsider to Israel, she would normally have little access to the blessings of being a member of God’s people, worshipping at this temple, sharing in the heritage and tradition of the Jews, and so on.She has lost her husband. It would have been hoped the son would grow up to be her protector and provider.And now she has lost her son, too. Quite possibly the widow is now childless. Maybe her relations died in a war, or through famine or disease. (I say that because it seems she has no support group—such as would have been provided by a network of children and grandchildren.)Yet God specializes in impossible situations!The seems to be a sort of resuscitation ritual (vs.19-22).See 2 Kings 4:34-35.This procedure is accompanied by prayer.The miracles confirms the prophet’s status (v.24).At various times in the Bible miracles confirm the spoken word of God – or perhaps we could say they confirm the speaker. (See Acts 14:4; Heb 2:4; Exod 4:5; and esp. Luke 16:29-31.) Note: Miracles never confirm the written word of God.Not only does the child have a new lease on life, but his mother also does. She transitions from hopelessness to hope.Jesus points to this account in his opening sermon in Nazareth (Luke 4:25-26).There were many widows in need in Elijah’s time, but he did not work wonders for them. Jesus, too, healed or exorcized or reanimated only a small percentage, or fraction of a percent, of those in desperate straits in his day. His purpose was far more to preach than to work miracles.God loves Gentiles, too.For usGod meets our needs.Or, if we have suffered for some time, he sends a friend to bring relief.Obviously there are exceptions, but the real point isn’t about miracles or even getting our prayers answered. It’s about learning what kind of a God we serve. It’s about coming to grips with his character.He reanimates dead hopes and restores shattered dreams!