Taken from The Oil That Makes Glad by A. B. Saint
Reading taken from 2 Kings chapter 4 verses 1-7.
Throughout the years, I have been blessed to find myself many times in the company of other women at that one Church Meeting in the week, reserved only for the fairer sex. No males present excepting maybe for the Minister who on the odd occasion was studying his Sunday sermon in the vestry in another part of the Church building. To which Meeting do I refer? The Ladies Devotional Meeting. That happy hour spent together studying the Word of God and enjoying a cup of tea and a small slice of cake afterwards. During those times, I do not think a Church Year was ever complete without someone calling our attention to the Scripture before us today – 2 Kings chapter 4 reading from verse 1. I suppose this is because it has the ring of human interest in it. It does not matter that this is a scene from a by-gone era and the characters mentioned in the text have long since gone. Rather, it is a visible reminder that during earth’s long history, there have been those people, who on a personal level have proved the Power of an Almighty God, doing that which was thought impossible, in their lives.
FAITH IN GOD:
For the lady in this story, it was a time, a season, of great loss. The opening narrative reveals that she is now a widow. On the one hand, she has the joy of knowing her husband had been a God-fearing man whilst upon earth, but on the other hand, she is now alone, excepting for her two boys. Sadly, death has taken hold of him, and he has gone the way of all flesh. It is a time of incredible financial hardship for both her and her two sons. She fears for the future because she simply has no way to pay her creditors and it is more than likely that her two boys will be taken away from her.
Loss is never easy, whenever it comes, whether it be the loss of a family member, or the loss of a cherished friendship, whether our loss is that of failing health, or the unexpected loss of a much-needed job; the list is endless, and the feeling left behind is awful. Consequently, we meet her at a time when she is at a complete loss as to what to do. Josephus, the Jewish historian, mentions that her husband’s name was Obadiah, and the reason for his being in debt was that he had borrowed money so that the sons of the prophets, of which he was one, could be fed.
In her extremity she calls upon the assistance of the prophet Elisha and in desperation tells him of her need. Her worried countenance says it all and led by the Spirit of God; he speaks into the situation. His willingness to assist in whatever way he can is revealed in his early offer of help. “What shall I do for you?” he asks, “Tell me, what have you got in your house?”
If I had never been introduced to Elisha earlier in Scripture and knew nothing about him, I think I would immediately warm to him because of his opening words. To me they seem to convey an assurance with them and why not for is he not a man of God? After peeping inside her tiny dwelling place and seeing her penury, he could well have concluded that she should expect the worst. But no, his reliance was upon God in every situation. Aren’t you glad of those people whom the Lord sends to encourage you in difficult situations? People of prayer, people with a positive outlook, encouragers, people who hear from God, those that will help spur you on in the right direction and who immediately lift your spirit with their heaven-sent words.
Did this poor woman feel a lift in her spirit at that moment? Did she perceive at that time that the wind of change was beginning to blow her way? I don’t honestly know, but I would say this, his question made her turn her focus from what she did not have, to what she did have. How true, in time of loss or despair, sometimes the Lord sends someone along to shift, to alter, our way of thinking. It is I think, reasonable to assume she had no need to go back into the house and cast her eyes over the barren scene again, for no doubt she had done this endless times before. Wouldn’t you do the same if you thought your children would be taken from you? The shelves are bare, the cupboard is bare, it seems there is nothing of any value excepting for a little pot of oil, but that little pot of oil has more value than she realises, but it will need faith to realise this.
Who was it that said, “Little is much when God is in it?” Whoever it was I agree with them. This woman of antiquity, although she did not show it, may upon first hearing have been a little surprised by Elisha’s request, which was to leave her home and go and borrow umpteen empty earthen jars, as many as she could, from those in her neighbourhood. She was already ‘running on empty’ and the question which might have entered her mind was, why the need to amass or stockpile empty clay pots? I am sure she would rather have been hoping that he would perhaps just speak an instant word of prophesy over her life, something that would immediately change her situation, after all was he not a prophet? Does he not understand that she is already running on empty or nearly empty; fancy replacing empty with empty? What is the benefit of this? She thought he understood the situation. Why has he not cottoned on? Surely this is the time for a generous helping, a super abundance, an overflow, something extra rather than something empty, but in faith she obeyed the command.
FAITH IN ACTION:
There was no stipulation as to size or colour, only that they were to be completely empty. There must be no last vestiges of anything in them. I suspect if there had been any food remains sticking to the sides of these pots, she would have had to have washed them thoroughly and make sure they were perfectly clean. Can you imagine the thoughts of some her neighbours as they watched this little family carry the stoneware away? Whatever is going on? This lady, they know is very poor, she has nothing to fill them with, why does she need them?
Sometimes on our ‘faith journey’ we are asked to believe for incredible things, or to do things which can be unusual to say the least before we see the answer to our prayers. Think of Naaman in the Old Testament, who before he received his healing, was told to dip seven times in the murky waters of the Jordan River. Think of the miracle which took place over in the pages of the New Testament, where the Lord Jesus fed a great multitude using only a young boy’s picnic lunch of five loaves and two fishes. Think of the time when the Israelites were told by God to march seven times around the city of Jericho before it fell. God always knows what He is doing, and the gathering of those empty vessels was only just the beginning, just the first leg of her miracle.
Have you noticed how that when the jars were safely inside their home, she was told to shut the door? This act of obedience was very important, for what was to be done that day was to be done in secret, for God was at Work! It was not to be done before prying eyes, it was no one else’s business. The Holy Spirit was intending to carry out a ‘tailor-made’ miracle for this widow and her family. She and the two lads were now shut in with God. Shut in is not the same as being shut out. Shut in with God brings about endless possibilities. This was a family thing for the sons were involved as well. Great things can be achieved when the family of God come together in agreement. It shall be done.
FAITH REWARDED:
We can imagine the scene. Taking the little pot of oil in her hands she carefully begins to pour out moving from one receptacle to another. A picture was emerging. She was beginning to get excited now. Expectation was high. The pressure was beginning to come off her and her spirit was beginning to lift. Vessel after vessel was being filled. Not half filled or two thirds filled, but filled up to the rim, the neck of the jar. Divine favour was upon her, and she now knew she could pay off all her debts and at long last the creditors would leave her alone. That day she had her own personal miracle! Almighty God, by the Power of His Holy Spirit, had stepped into her life. With God all things are possible!
Did you know that today could be the day to claim your own miracle? All that are saved and indwelt by the Spirit of Christ can come to Him and draw from Him. We all go through times when the pressures of life seem insurmountable and too great to be able to overcome. When we find ourselves running on empty it is time to pour out our complaint to God. Shut in with Him becomes for us a hallowed hour.
We are coming before the One who never tires of hearing from us. We are coming before the One who is able to give even more than we can receive. He knows it all. The sorrows of the past, the trials of the present and the fears for the future. At times, our faith may be small and if we are honest, all we have left is a little pot of oil, but as we begin to pour out in prayer, so He begins to pour in. There is always a way out, always a way through, but sometimes we can be so low that we cannot see it. The Scriptures ever encourage us at these times to look to the Lord in expectation and remember that our God is a generous God. The old, Tried and Tested Way is to shut the door on all the pressures of life and tell it all to Jesus.
Come to the end of yourself and recognise your need. As your pour out your sorrows He will fill you with more of His Presence. When we are shut in with God that is the time the oil begins to flow! Remember, God cannot fill what isn’t available to Him and neither can He fill anyone who is full of themselves. It is in the Presence of Jesus that the Oil will flow. Through God the Holy Spirit we will know that excess, that super abundance that is only found in Him.
This desperate lady in 2 Kings chapter 4 could take possession of the jars, but it was God who gave the Oil. The Oil was from God. We know the Oil is a type of the Holy Spirit. God, by His Grace and Mercy, stepped in and intervened in this woman’s life.
For me, three things stand out in this chain of events and this woman was obedient in all three.
Step One: She borrowed the earthen vessels.
Step Two: She shut the door.
Step Three: She began to pour.
PREPARATION – EXPECTATION – REALISATION.
Faith in God can move a mighty mountain,
Faith can calm a troubled sea,
Faith can make a desert like a fountain,
Faith can bring the victory!
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 