There is a great story of provision found in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:1-7). A woman’s husband had died. He was in the group of prophets led by the Prophet Elisha. The woman had no time to grieve over the death of her husband because he had a debt that was due. She had no money. The creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves for the payment of the debt. The ancients lived in a very cruel and unforgiving world.
Her situation was very severe. Her husband had died. Her sons were going to be taken as slaves. She was left with no support and no family. A widow during that time with no son was destined for a life of abject poverty.
She went to Elisha for help. “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” (2 Kings 4:2 NKJV).
She first said she had nothing. Then as if she had an afterthought, she remembered she had a jar of oil. Human nature gravitates to the negative side of things. When we are faced with grave situations, we often overlook the little things that may be part of our solution.
Elisha tells her to borrow empty vessels from her friends and neighbors. He added, “Not a few!” She was to collect a lot of empty vessels. In my childhood, neighbors sometimes came to our home with an empty cup to borrow a cup of sugar. She went with empty hands and asked for empty vessels. It was a strange request.
Then she and her sons shut themselves up in their house as directed by the prophet Elisha. Then she and her sons began to fill the empty vessels from the jar of oil. It was a miraculous provision as they filled the many from the one.
Why did they need to shut themselves in to fill the vessels? Often, we receive from God after we get alone with God. There are no interruptions. No one is looking on and commenting that you are crazy to believe for a miracle. Just a simple act of obedience with a measure of faith.
God may call us for a certain purpose. He may lead us to undertake a task. The first thing we say, “God I have nothing.” Then we add, “I do have something, but it is not much.” God is never dissuaded by our lack. He only wants a small contribution on our part to do great things. He wants us to have a little skin in the game.
God does not ask for something we do not have. He asks, “What do you have?” It may look meager. It may be a jar of oil. It may be two fish and five loaves of bread as Jesus used to feed five thousand.
God may ask for fifteen more minutes to pray in the morning. He may ask you to give twenty more dollars or one hundred more dollars. He may ask you to give a car away. He may ask you to take off your worldly cloak and put on a prophetic mantle. He will ask you to believe, trust, and be a living sacrifice. If you are destined to be a martyr, He may ask you to give your life (that is rare).
God takes our small amount and makes it a lot. When the vessels were full, she asked her son for another vessel. He told her there was no more. The prophet told her to sell the oil, pay the debt, and live on the rest.
God gives us a jar of oil (an anointing) to fill empty vessels. We all have a ministry from God. It may be preaching or teaching. It may be to encourage others. It may be a prayer ministry of intercession.
So, the oil ceased (stopped). God gives His anointing for a purpose. When our work on earth is finished, the anointing will cease. When the last soul is encouraged. The last sinner led to Christ. The last lesson taught. The last sermon preached. The anointing will no longer be needed.
When our life on earth is finished. We will go heaven to be with God. In heaven, our vessels will be filled forever. We will continually worship God with full vessels for in Heaven there is no lack.
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
2 Kings 4:1-7 NKJV
(1) 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."
(2) 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."
(3) Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
(4) 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."
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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."
Pathway Journey 