Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath

[Comtessa]

Okay, so this is the best place I could think of to post this question. I'm feeling out an idea for my next writing project and wanted to throw this out there.

Has anyone ever heard of the story of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath, or is it simply too obscure? If you are familiar with it, what do you know about it? What does the story mean to you?

If someone were to write a novel with the Widow of Zarephath as the protagonist (think The Red Tent, something along those lines)... would it be interesting to you? Would you read it?

[Nazsmum]

I know the story from the Bible. The women and her son live a time when God is hold back the rain. Elijah comes to live with her and they have food. God keeps giving them oil and flour? I'm I right?? Maybe wrong about the rain?

I would like a story like that. BUT I think that the Red Tent could have stood alone. The Red Tent did take some really far "jumps" from the Bible. But I really did like the story.

[cappuccinosmom]

I know it. I think it's a neat story of faith, and I would read a novel about it.

[doubledutch]

without looking it up, and without looking at the responses (because that would be cheating!) here's what i think i know.

when elijah was in hiding, he drank from a stream and was fed by birds, until the stream dried up. then he went to this widow for food and water. she had only enough flour and oil for a last meal for herself and her son. he told her that it would never run out, as long as she was feeding him. she fed him, and each night there was still enough flour and oil for one more meal. this is how he, she and her child survived the drought/famine. is that the right story?

to me, the story is about obedience and reward, so it's not particularly moving or meaningful to me. i guess some would say it's about faith, generosity and providence - a miracle. i don't know why that aspect doesn't click for me.

i would be interested in reading a book from her perspective. for the record, i loved the first half of the red tent. once there was no more red tent in the story and dinah gets repeatedly crapped on, well, the rest of the book wasn't such an enjoyable read. not that you asked.

now i'm going to read the thread!

eta: after looking up the story, i see i didn't remember that the widow's son dies and then is brought back to life.

[cappuccinosmom]

i guess some would say it's about faith, generosity and providence - a miracle. i don't know why that aspect doesn't click for me.

It was faith on her part (he was apparently used to God telling him to do stuff that sounded out of the ordinary )--trusting a man she didn't know, and doing what he asked of her even though it sounded ridiculous in the moment and meant giving up her last meal.

[doubledutch]

of course, i identify those themes in the story. the op asked, "what does the story mean to you?" and while the faith, generosity and providence themes don't resonate with me, i guess i wanted to acknowledge them anyway? even though they're not what i personally take from the story. i mean, that can be true with any book, movie, song . . . you can intellectually know it's about these five things, but you personally only get two of those things out of it. and by "get" i mean "experience" as opposed to "understand". make sense?

[cappuccinosmom]

Yep. Sorry. Didn't mean to seem picky.

[Comtessa]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

by "get" i mean "experience" as opposed to "understand". make sense?

Doubledutch, that's exactly what I meant, thanks for identifying the difference. Yes, I'm more interested in the way the story resonates with people, because like many stories in the Bible, I think we have an unconscious "tape" playing in our heads about the main theme of the story. For example, I'm not convinced it's about obedience at all, but I think that if we learn the story at all, that's usually the context in which we learn it. Because don't many of us learn that story as young children? And isn't "obedience" a simple lesson to take away from this story, a lesson that most Sunday-school teachers can get behind?

So if there were a novel that questioned that assumption, would it be interesting to hear another side of the story? Just as The Red Tent paints Jacob in a fairly unflattering light (unlike the way we usually assume we should read stories of the patriarchs), a story that asks some hard questions might be interesting, no?

I think I'm fascinated by this story because it's such an archetypal one, in a way - just like all the folk tales about entertaining angels and horns of plenty - but also makes some interesting claims about the way God works. And, as a mother, I was caught by the question, "what is her perspective?" I mean, a stranger comes out of nowhere, demanding hospitality from a mother who is literally watching her son starving to death. Would I, as a mother, give my last food to a hungry stranger if my child was about to starve to death?? Would any of us, honestly?? So what on earth drives her to agree to do so? I just think it could be really interesting.

BTW, I also liked the first half of The Red Tent much better than the last... but then again, the story of Dinah in the Bible is really just about her being crapped on, so I suppose it had to work its way in there somewhere.

[Nazsmum]

Interesting verses that go with the story are found in Luke 4:23-27.

[bluebirdiemama]

I haven't read the story in a long time, this is just what has stuck, and I guess that's what you want
I see obedience on both Elijah and the woman's part. If I were Elijah I would feel pretty bad about making the widow make the decision of seemingly deciding to starve her kid and potentially disobeying God. But I think there is more of a case for faith being the focus of the lesson. Because, if I were that woman, I certainly would not house and feed this man without being sure he was who he said he was. So, she either knew God directly and was given peace about it, and the ability to trust Elijah, or Elijah was able to prove to her somehow that he was legit. (like I said I havent read this in a while, this is what I assume based on my experiences with God).
So I think the woman had to question whether she had faith enough in God to believe that He would provide the food. And if she had the faith than there is only the minor object of obedience (when you have a lot of faith it is easier to obey).
I think it took a lot of faith on Elijah's part. If he didn't have faith in his god, could he have demanded such a thing from her?

I would be interested to know from what angle this potential book would be written, but my interest would depend on what the focus is, for the point of the story.
I will consider any idea, but if it seems like it is not biblically sound (or, inconsistent with my understanding of a major point) I will most likely choose not to read it, since it is a story from the Bible. I don't use that method for choosing what I read in every situation, but for a fictional novel taken from a chapter in a factual book I use different considerations.

[lilyka]

i have always loved this story. What a horrible situation for all involved but what a beautiful outcome because everyone obeyed properly. walked in faith. just trusted God, listened to his voice. Its chaotic and ordered at the same time.

would i give my last meal to a stranger? maybe. what difference is one last meal to me? It would only sustain me for one more day of suffering.