Monday, February 13, 2012
This week’s devotion is from 2 Kings 4:1-2 (NKJV): A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
Here is woman in dire straits. She’s a widow and the single mom of two boys – and if that wasn’t bad enough, the creditor was coming to take her sons as slaves in payment for what she owed!
In this time of trouble, she looked for God’s help through the prophet Elisha. He told her:
“Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” (2 Kings 4:3-7).
Notice that the widow didn’t just have her hand out asking for help. She was willing to do whatever the prophet told her to do. She obediently gathered all the vessels she could find and then took her little jar of oil and kept pouring and pouring and pouring until every single one was full. Then and only then did the little jar of oil run out.
God provided for the widow’s immediate need and then some!
Think about it: who but God can create something out of nothing?
Know today that the God of all creation loves you and that He wants to be the One you run to, especially in your time of need.
What’s your part? Just be like the widow: act in faith, be quick to do what He leads you to do, then watch to see how He provides!