Z: Zarepheth

(We have arrived at the end of November's ABC's. Today's Z: Zarephath is now posted. Since Advent begins tomorrow, I will be starting a daily Advent Series called "Don't Rush Me.")

Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: "Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you." 1 Kings 17:1

The “you” of the story is the prophet Elijah. Elijah has learned to listen to the voice of God and was quick to obey. But this instruction would really test his commitment. First, to go to Sidon was to truly head into enemy territory. That alone would make it a difficult assignment. The “where” he was to go paled in difficulty compared to the instruction that he was to entrust his needs to a widow. There were very strict guidelines on the care of widows and taking advantage of them was strictly forbidden. It would be hard to see God’s instruction as anything but taking advantage.

Interestingly, Zarephath means “place of refining.” Scripture seems to be full of instances where God asked what appeared to be impossible of those who were following him. Think of Abraham asked to leave home and everything familiar. He finally gets what seems to be the answer to God’s promise and the next thing he knows, God is requiring that he sacrifice his son, his only son, Isaac. Moses, a wanted killer, is required to go back to the scene of the crime. Gideon weeds out his army down to 300 and God expects him to take on an army that was more numerous than the sand on the shore. All were places and experiences of refining.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like God leaves me in Zarephath for way to long. Even in his instruction to Elijah, God gives a clue that this in not going to be an overnight experience. Elijah is told that he will live there. It reminds me of God’s instruction the Hebrews in captivity. In Jeremiah 29:3, God sends the message that they were to build homes and plan to stay. Later in that chapter he tells them that they will be in Babylon for seventy years. That’s some serious refining.

Refining, like pruning, can be a painful process. It is the end result that makes the process worthwhile. Will you trust God’s process in your life? What is he refining to make purely amazing in you?