Elijah Prays for the Widow’s Son

‎The poor widow readily brought Elijah drink, even as Rebecca had once given water to Abraham’s steward. But when the prophet asked further that she should take him to her house and give him food, she burst into weeping and told him her sad plight. She had at home but one more handful of meal and a trifle of oil. With the sticks, she was gathering she meant to cook these into one last meal for herself and her little son, and then lie down and die.

‎At once Elijah saw why he had been sent thither, that it was not solely for his own good, and that God values every soul, that He knows and feels for every pang. “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not.… For thus saith the Lord God of Israel. The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.” So these two strangely met companions went together to the widow’s house, and dwelt there, sustained equally by the bounty of the Lord. So also her little son lived upon the meal and oil; but God’s hand was laid upon the lad so that he died. Then the mother cried out against Elijah in her agony.