A Widow's Story

2 Kings 4

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

¹Now 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." ²And 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." ³Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. ⁴Then 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." ⁵So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. ⁶When 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. ⁷She 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."

Events of the Bible, like the one above, reinforce that God not only provides what we need - he provides in abundance. Unfortunately, I can't say that I believe that. I want to, but if I'm taking an honest look at my heart and actions, I do not. Sounds silly doesn't it? "God, forgive me for my disbelief and please increase my faith?"

This story also makes me remember my friends in a far off land. I often forget that there are people around the world who's lives and circumstances can reflect the same scenario above - a widow, with children, left to provide in a culture where she has no status, respect, or significance (other than to bear children). I think of my friends, and I miss them. I wonder what their lives will bring, or how they have changed since I met them 2 years ago. I will probably never see them again... even if we went back, they would probably be difficult to track down. If they ever become widow's they will spend their day's on the dusty dirt roads begging for charity. They have no status in their society. I hope they find Jesus, and His provision! He still performs tangible miracles like he did back in the day of the Kings. "God, find them, and draw them to you. May they see you and allow You to provide for them!"