1 Kings 17:18

Man of God. The words indicate the woman’s belief in God and in Elijah as His prophet. It is a remarkable expression of faith from the mouth of a woman of Phoenicia. Even before the arrival of Elijah she had been “a believer in the true God, and had walked in all the light that was shining on her pathway” (PK 129). At an hour when Israel was turning away from God to the worship of Baal, a woman of the country of Baal was demonstrating her faith in the God of Israel. Seed sown in the most unlikely places may spring forth to produce its harvest of grace.

To remembrance. The words express the unreasonableness of the sorrowing heart. The visit of Elijah had brought to the widow life, not death, and joy, not sorrow. In her affliction she associated her trouble with the prophet and God, and felt that judgment was being meted out of her because of some sin in her life. The presence of the prophet had brought to her a keener sense of sin, and she now looked upon her sorrow as a punishment from God.