Jars of Obedience, Faith, and Trust

October 1, 2018 / 72 Comments

The Widow’s Olive Oil

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
2 Kings 4:1-7 New International Version (NIV)

When I read this scripture I’m reminded of several things.
We are to take care of our widows and orphans. This widow had exhausted everything she had but one jar of oil. She reached out to the leader, a man her husband has been a faithful servant doing the Lords work with. Instead of turning her away or even giving her a hand out, he gave her advice, direction, steps to take so her sons wouldn’t be taken away.

This widow could’ve ignored him, moved on to someone else for help. She could’ve let her sons go into slavery and went to the streets for scraps. She didn’t even complain, she simply obeyed. Followed the directions. As far as I can read Elisha didn’t physically help, he gave the instructions and went on his way. The widow and her sons went to others and asked for empty jars. This got everybody involved but didn’t take anything substantial away from anyone. The whole family was involved and when they ran out of jars they ran out of oil. So then the widow went back to Elisha to ask what to do next. Again, faith and trust.

He said to sell them all and pay off the debtors and the rest will be enough to live off of. How incredible is this story. Yes it’s a miracle. What it’s telling me today is we need to be proactive by praying and obeying no matter how silly it sounds. Then we need to ask, what next? Listen and do. We are involved in the miracle, we show trust and faith and obedience in the miracle, and we receive just what we need with the miracle.

This has been an eye opener for me. And will change the way I pray and the outlook of the answers.

Isn’t it so exciting the way God’s word is alive and constantly talks to us! How many times have I heard, read, and even taught this story! And just now, as I’m writing this prayer blog, God opens my eyes to something new.

Share how God opened your eyes this week!

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