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The Widow’s Oil and Empty Vessels
And 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.”
2 Kings 4:2 (ESV)
Elisha’s prophetic ministry was filled with miracles demonstrating God’s imminent involvement with His people and the details of their lives. There is no problem or need He cannot meet if they will simply trust and obey Him.
Though the widow’s appeal here was ultimately to the LORD, in her destitution she sought help through Elisha. The only thing she had was some oil. In verse 3 Elisha told the widow to go and borrow “empty vessels” and “do not get few”. In other words, bring as many as she has faith that God will fill.
We all have certain needs or are in “bankruptcy” – spiritual, emotional, physical. Like the poor widow, we are to take the oil we have and with empty vessels to come to God in faith, believing that He will bless our lives and multiply the resources He has given us according to His purposes. Let’s come not with just a few vessels to limit God’s abundant supply of oil.
Prayer:
Abba Father, give us the grace to cast out wrong mental attitudes, priorities, pursuits, or goals, and to present ourselves as empty vessels to be filled, overflowing with the oil of the Word and the Spirit of God, worthy for Your purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About this Plan
Together with 1st Kings, the author minces no words to connect the nation’s destiny to each king’s faithfulness to Yahweh. Elisha succeeded Elijah as the representative of God’s voice, but there was way too little to be done when people’s hearts remained hardened. Despite few reforms under the reign of King Jehu, Hezekiah and Josiah, the northern and southern kingdoms finally perished in 722 and 587 BCE respectively.
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