Elijah arrives at Zarephath and sees a widow gathering sticks near the town gate.

He asks her for water and then for bread.

The woman explains that she has only a handful of flour and a little oil. She is gathering sticks to prepare a final meal for herself and her son before they die.

Elijah tells her not to fear and asks her first to make a small loaf for him. He promises that the flour and oil will not run out until rain returns.

She does as Elijah says. The household has food day after day, and the flour and oil endure.

Later the woman’s son becomes ill and dies.

In grief she confronts Elijah, wondering whether his presence has brought her sin to remembrance.

Elijah carries the boy to the upper room where he is staying and cries out to God.

He stretches himself over the child and prays that the boy’s life will return.

The child revives. Elijah carries him downstairs and gives him back to his mother.

The woman responds that she now knows Elijah is a man of God and that the word of the LORD in his mouth is truth.