Advent, day 4. The Sin and the Son

God does not select events or people at random. He is ultimate purpose. So when a humble widow from Zarephath is the chosen saviour of Elijah, we figure there must be more than meets the eye. She and Elijah connect: we expect him to walk comfortably with God's mystery since it's a daily thing with him. Then the woman's only son dies.

Suddenly we confront the invisible spiritual realities of Sidon's daily life. She immediately assumes her son's death is punishment for her sin.  Spirits and demons control the people's mindset: things are caused by the unseen. People die for reasons. She has seen the power of God and knows that He could well be the killer. It seems a leap to us, but it is a logical step to her: a powerful man arrives. Power kills. Her son dies. 

With nothing left to lose, she confronts the man of God and admits that she has sinned. What sin would bring this type of calamity, but a sin against the demons? And since child sacrifice was so common in those days, I have guessed that she avoided sacrificing her son and now believes the spirits are exacting revenge. She cannot yet distinguish between the Love of the Most High and the Envy of the demons. 

So through this painful valley, God will show her Who He is.

Advent, day 4. The Sin and the Son

1 Ki 17:18 What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?

I never asked for this—

For life or hope or help.

I’m just a simple woman

looking after son and self.

We opened up our home

Inviting you to stay.

‘Cause after all, man of God,

He listens when you pray.

He’s made this land a waste;

Our gods are shame-defaced.

Because the skies withhold,

Asherah’s hope is cold.

Vineyards, fields, and wombs

Are barren, fruitless tombs.

I was at peace with death,

But you showed up with breath—

I clutched in desperation,

Not sure it was salvation.

Came you to remind

Me that heaven is not blind?

My sin must now be righted

For gods which had been slighted?

Born a gifted boy,

Priests warned that he’d annoy—

Gods are ever jealous

Whenever we’re not zealous.

We honoured them much higher,

But the demons wanted fire.

To burn my son, my soul

Would never more be whole.

Coward, I ran away—

I left my man to pay.

The gods exact the price,

And his life sacrificed.

A widow now I pay

The cost to disobey.

The child, the prophet laid

Before the LORD and prayed,

“Let his life return

And his mother learn.”

The son from death arose,

The mother’s heart reposed.