Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Kings 4 and Psalm 121

If two of the miracles done through Elisha in 2 Kings 4 feel strangely familiar, that’s because his mentor Elijah was previously also used by the LORD to provide food for a desperate widow and to raise her son from the dead (1 Kings 17). Remember that Elisha had asked to inherit Elijah’s ministry, and this chapter is evidence of his having been anointed by the LORD in fulfilment of that desire.

For our discipleship lesson, let’s consider the provision of oil for the widow in verses 1-7. Her plight was severe. She was the widow of a faithful prophet who had died with a debt his estate was unable to cover. To recoup the debt, the creditor had the right to take her sons into slavery until the next Jubilee year. The tragedy was that they were also her only means of income. She cried out to Elisha for help!

Led by the LORD, Elisha empowered the woman to be part of God’s answer to her need. Her only asset was a small jar of olive oil. Talk about limited resources! But God is not limited by our lack! So Elisha instructed her to gather as many jars as she could borrow from her neighbours, and promised that God would fill them with oil. This is exactly what happened, and the widow was able to sell the full jars to pay off her debt. Notice that the extent of the miracle depended directly on the extent of her previous faith in borrowing the jars. Every jar she had borrowed was filled. Had she borrowed more, it appears that more would have been provided. Had she gathered less, less would have been provided. The widow’s faith and her obedience to God’s instructions (through Elisha) were the keys to this miracle of God’s grace.

LORD my Provider, thank You for Your gracious provision and for loving me enough to trust me to play my part in that provision. Help me to be faithful in applying myself to the work You have called me to do, so that Your goodness and generosity may have a place to flow. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.