“Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).
Two of the more prominent Biblical examples of women who “received their loved ones back from death” (CEV) are found in the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Kings. In our first example, God directed the prophet Elijah to go to a town called Zarephath where He had arranged for someone to provide for his needs.
Upon his arrival in Zarephath, Elijah encountered a widow who had been gathering sticks to build a fire. She intended to use that fire to prepare a final meal with the last of the flour and oil she possessed. However, Elijah asked her to provide him with a small loaf of bread in advance, and assured her that her supplies would not run out. 1 Kings 17:15 then goes on to tell us, “…she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.”
Unfortunately, we’re also told that this widow’s son later died from an illness. Elijah sought the Lord on her behalf, and 1 Kings 17:22 records God’s response: “…the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.” That prompted the following acknowledgment from the widow of Zarephath: “…’Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth'” (1 Kings 17:22).
In our second example, a kindly woman from the town of Shunem took it upon herself to prepare a meal for the prophet Elisha whenever he traveled through her area. She even furnished a guest room for his personal use whenever he was passing through. One day, while Elisha was partaking of her hospitality, he told the woman that she would give birth to a son in the following year. That prophetic statement eventually came to pass, just as he promised.
Unfortunately, the child succumbed to an apparent cerebral injury some time later. His mother rushed to inform Elisha, and he returned to Shunem at her insistence. When the curative action taken by his servant failed to revive the child, Elisha intervened and God miraculously restored the life of her son (see 2 Kings 4:8-37 for the complete account).
Thus, the examples set by these women serve to remind us of our author’s message from earlier in Hebrews chapter eleven: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).