Never thought you would live alone is the thought of many. Sadly, it happens to someone every day. In America, there are 3.25 million men who are widowers. However, the widows outnumber the men; their number is 11.8 million—making the combined total without mates over 15,000,000. These numbers are staggering.
Widowhood and single parenting are not new phenomena. In biblical times, many were alone, relying on ingenuity and the Lord. Their stories serve as a source of comfort and inspiration for the large group of widows today.
Naomi, a woman from Bethlehem, and her family moved to Moab due to a famine in Israel. There, her husband Elimelech and two sons died, leaving her with her daughters-in-law. In a twist of fate, Naomi decided to return to Israel with one daughter-in-law, Ruth, following. There, they found comfort and support.
Jedediah, the wife of King Amon, Josiah’s mom, was widowed when her husband was killed at age 24 (2 Kings 21:19). As a young widow, she raised her son to become one of the honorable kings of Judah.
Esther’s story, while not mentioning her parents’ names, is a testament to divine intervention. Her older cousin, Mordechai, took her in as his daughter. Through God’s intervention, she became queen of the Persian Empire, a position that allowed her to save her people from a mass massacre.
The widow of Nain, who had only one son, was on her way to his burial. Jesus stopped the funeral procession, touched the coffin, and the young man arose and spoke to his mom. Relieving this widow’s sorrow.
The Zarephath widow was down to her last meal during a famine. That’s when God ordered Elijah to go and see her (1 Kings 17:12). Through God’s intervention, she had food for the duration of the famine.
The Old and New Testaments make strong statements about assisting orphans and widows. James emphatically states, “You must help needy orphans and widows” (1:27 CEV). Exodus orders God’s children, “Do not mistreat widows or orphans” (22:22 CEV).
As the Bible repeatedly emphasizes, obeying scripture is always the best course of action. When we do, our God keeps a record of such deeds, bringing us a sense of fulfillment and joy. So, take the time to help widows and orphans, knowing you are following God’s guidance and positively impacting their lives.
