In the midst of the famine, when God was multiplying the meal and olive oil to preserve life, the sudden death of her young son, jolted her faith in the power and love of God. Like everyone who endures an unexpected loss of a loved one, this widow lashed out in grief, pain and dispair. In essence she asked what she had done that her son should die for her sin. When we have a great need to approach God for an answer to prayer, all men become accutely aware of their sin and the undeniable truth that one is unworthy of the love of God, and in need of His grace. The results of our life deserve judgement, but in our depraved human condition we call out for the grace (undeserved love and forgiveness) of our Heavenly Father. Every parent has reached out in empathy to their child in agony, to relieve or solve problems they brought on themselves. The sin of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden brought such a need for grace which resulted in the promise of Creator and Father God, promising a redeemer who would restore the order of God Most High and the rightful place of man in that heirarchy. However, death would reign until the coming of the promised Son, the seed of God and woman. Though Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam was translated and went directly into the presence of God without death, the Word of God records no previous resurrections from the dead. The widow did exactly what any of us would do. She took her problem, loss and need to God, via the servant of God. The prophet, took her son from her, carried him to his room, laid him in his bed and called out to God, “LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” The widow unwittingly accused God by complaining, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” (How can a just God take the life of my son for my sin?) Elijah questioned God (he didn’t understand either) but he did not rail out against the Lord of Life and but instead cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” God heard the prayer of both Elijah and the widow, for she was praying fervently as well. This is the first record of a restoration of life after death. This is proof positive that the giver of life can restore being, for He who gives life is certainly able to restore it. Thus the widow received grace (undeserved merit) a second time; first from the drought and second in the loss and raising back to life of her son. The resurrection of her son was the greatest measure of her faith which is confirmed by her praise and thanks to God, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”
My darling Kochana, our God has given us much love and blessing. May we always give thanks and praise (it is right to give Him thanks and praise) for his promise of eternal life and a resurrection in glory. That which we cannot comprehend in this life, we will one day know ‘for then we will know as we are known,’ (of God).
You are a gift from our Great God to me, Kochany
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