Seek. Obey. Remember. And involve the kids in the process.

I read the story of Elisha and the widow’s oil last week. Since I read it a couple of times before and even wrote about it here, I didn’t think I’ll get more out of it. And yet I found so many things to stay in this story for a while and learn more from it in the coming days. Aaaah—what a living Word!

The Full Text

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
2 Kings 4:1–7

Insights

Observation: The deceased prophet had a loan.
My Thoughts: Be careful with loans—let not our children be enslaved by our decisions.

Observation: The wife went to the prophet.
My Thoughts: Go to God. (At the time—before Jesus came, died, and resurrected—people went to prophets because they didn’t have direct access to God.)

Observation: The widow said that she has “nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
My Thoughts: Even in nothing situations, there is still something.
I recall the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath—she had a handful of flour and a little oil left, and the stories of Jesus multiplying loaves and fish.

Observation: Elisha told her, “Go outside.”
My Thoughts: Don’t isolate yourself. Wag magmukmok.

Observation: Elisha also said, “…borrow vessels from all your neighbors…”
My Thoughts: When we’re in difficult situations, God can use our church community to help us. I’m not saying that when you’re in financial need you borrow money from your church community. What I’m saying is don’t isolate yourself, seek guidance—there is wisdom in the counsel of many. Don’t bear it alone.

Observation: Elisha told her to borrow empty vessels, “and not too few.”
My Thoughts: Be in faith that God is not stingy.

Observation: Elisha’s instructions included involving the widow’s sons, “Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels.”
My Thoughts: Could God’s solution also involve the sons bearing witness to His miraculous work? Whether they knew they were about to be slaves or not, they witness God’s salvation, miracle, and provision. Could it be, perhaps, so that when they have plenty—which they were about to experience—they will know it was all from God, and they can be wise and grateful stewards?

Observation: After Elisha gave the widow instructions, the bible tells us, “So she went…”
My Thoughts: Obey God—even when it doesn’t make sense.

Observation: The oil stopped flowing only when there was no more empty vessel.
My Thoughts: God’s provision will come. And it will keep flowing. Our needs can never be too much for His provision. Sometimes, it may be a matter of time—a season of learning and growing—and then it comes. Meanwhile, sustenance is also provision.

Observation: After doing everything Elisha told her, “She came” back to Elisha.
My Thoughts: When the provision comes, remember and thank God.

Observation: Elisha told her, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts…”
My Thoughts: God’s provision isn’t like winning the lotto. While He can provide miraculous instant funds, His provision cannot be boxed. It can come in other forms like discounts, debt cancellation, ideas and the ability to produce wealth, and so many other possibilities. In this widow’s case, God gave her an opportunity for obedience, to do work and be part of the solution.
Another Thought: Provision already came? Pay your debts and obligations first.

Observation: Elisha’s final instructions were, “…you and your sons can live on the rest.”
My Thoughts: God’s provision can also be passed on to our children. What a way to end the story in contrast to how the whole thing started. Will my kids inherit debt? Or an overflow of God’s provision out of my obedience?

Are you in a tight situation? Go to God. Obey God. Then remember and thank God. And involve even your kids in the process—in the seeking, obeying, remembering, and thanking God.