Anchor My Faith

Two Examples of Gentiles

Scripture: Luke 4:25-27

We ended the previous lesson with evil intent building towards Jesus. ^{“Lk 4:25} [Jesus continued,] “But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land,”.” What Jesus is now going to say will anger the people even more as he calls their attention to past prophets who had so little honor among their own people that they bestowed their favors on foreigners. In response to their lack of faith in him and their unwillingness to honor him, he will work no miracles among them, but shall give evidence of his diving mission to others.

Jesus gives an example from the days of Elijah when there were many widows in Israel who were in need, but the Jewish leaders were not concerned and as a result of their selfish interest, a great famine came over all the land for three years and six months. In Judea rain usually comes twice each year, in October and April, known as the early and latter rain. Six rainy seasons (three years) passed without any rain. At the end of six more months (now three years and six months) would come another rainy season. It appears that as a result of the prayers of Elijah, that rainy season occurred.

Jesus continues his comments about Elijah: ^{“Lk 4:26} and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.” Because of the lack of faith in Israel, Elijah was not sent to the widows there but to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, an area of Gentiles. There Elijah was able to perform a miracle to feed Zarephath and her household for many days.

Jesus continues with another example where people in need in Israel were not helped: ^{“Lk 4:27} And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” This lack of faith and honor during the time of Elijah carried over into the time of Elisha when there were many lepers in Israel and none of them were cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian. Again a miracle was performed on a Gentile.

As one can imagine when the people in the synagogue heard these things they were filled with wrath, but that will have to wait until the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, because of our lack of faith we also do not see you doing many great and mighty things among us. For that we have to look at what you are doing among people in foreign countries. As did the people of Israel, we here in the west are missing out on so much. In place of the riches of your glory, we are satisfied with the things of this world.