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The Miracles that Happened in Zarephath

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(I Kings 17:14)

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.'"

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This happened when there was a very big famine in Israel.

This famine happened because of the sin of Ahab.

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In the town of Zarephath, there was a very kind-hearted widow who only lived with her son. That woman and her son lived a very hard life everyday.

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Now, the only things that were left in their house was flour which was enough to make a few pieces of bread and a little oil. The woman had no hope to live. So she thought to die with her son after eating their last meal.

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To make the last loaf of bread, the woman had picked some wood to use as firewood.  At that moment, one person came to that woman and said, "Please give me some water."

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After hearing that, the woman stood up to get some water. At that moment, the man said again.  "When you bring the water, please bring some bread too."

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That woman noticed that the man was an Israelite. She said, "As surely as the LORD your God lives, I don't have any bread. I only have a little flour in a jar and a little of oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die."

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Upon hearing that, that man said to the woman. "Don't worry. Go home and prepare the meal as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread and bring it to me. Then, make something for yourself and your son."

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That man was Elijah, the great prophet of Israel. Elijah continued and said to the woman, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says. 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.'"

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Upon hearing that, the woman got faith to follow that man. Then, she hurriedly went back to her house and baked a loaf of bread with the last bit of flour and oil that she had. God touched the heart of this woman.

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She baked the bread and gave it to the Prophet Elijah first. The Prophet Elijah ate the bread brought by the woman. Did God keep the promise with this woman who followed the words of the Prophet Elijah?

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The next morning, an amazing thing happened. The empty jar of flour was filled up with flour as if someone had put it there. Even the empty jug of oil was filled with oil again.

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This amazing thing happened everyday. God showed this miracle to the woman who followed the words of God by faith. The woman, with her son, were very happy.

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Until the famine was over, that family did not run out of flour and oil.
And the man of God, Elijah, also lived safely with that family.
God also protected Elijah and that family.

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Faith let us experience big miracles which we did not even expect.
This woman believed the words of God spoken by the Prophet Elijah and she followed it so she got this amazing grace.

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Even today, we have listened to the words of God. Just like how the woman followed the words of God, you can also experience miracles if you follow the words of God that you listen from sermons and Bible Studies. I hope you can listen and follow the words of God and become great children of God who can experience miracles.