After the prophet Elisha listened to the plight of a widow whose late husband’s creditors were about to take her children to settle some debt, Elisha told her to ask around for a lot of jars. While the woman didn’t have much of anything to fill them with (only a small jar of olive oil), she still obeyed. Remember (from the previous article) that if something miraculous didn’t happen, she was going to be stuck with a bunch of empty jars (and she would probably have to return them).
She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
2 Kings 4:5-7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.4.5-7.NIV
To this woman’s credit, she obeyed Elisha’s somewhat counter-intuitive instructions. Why did she do so?
- Maybe she trusted Elisha.
- Maybe she trusted God, and believed that God was speaking through Elisha.
- Maybe she had heard about the widow of Sidon (the one who hosted Elijah), whose oil and flour never ran out during a famine (see 1 Kings 17:7-16).
- Maybe she was just out of other options, and was willing to try anything.
I don’t know her motivation for certain. However, regardless of the source of her trust, the woman showed faith by asking for the jars. (Can you imagine what she or her sons might have said when the neighbors asked “why”? Maybe neighbors were more trusting back then.) And, of course, God provided just as Elisha had said.
Notice too, how God provided for more than just the family’s short-term debt. The remaining profits from selling the oil were enough to support them afterwards. God doesn’t just provide the absolute minimum when He blesses people. David wrote in Psalm 23:5 that is cup was overflowing!
Also, as mentioned previously, note how the woman had to take some action in this case, by getting the jars, filling them, and then selling the oil. (She probably returned the borrowed containers, too.) God involved this family in His provisions for them. I believe that this not only gave them a chance to demonstrate faith, but also helped them to retain their dignity.
If you’ve ever had to ask for help when you couldn’t provide for yourself or your family, you can understand how this woman was already humbling herself by asking Elisha for support (see 1 Kings 17:1). Rather than forcing her to keep coming back for handouts, though, Elisha – and God – provided her and her sons with a chance to take action to help themselves. God was clearly still providing the “bottomless oil jar” (which lasted just long enough for the job, by the way), but He also allowed this family’s efforts to be a part of their own support.
Just as God was considerate of this family, by letting them be a part of His plan for them, may we keep our eyes open for similar roles that God might have for us, too. If you’ve been praying to God for something, that’s great. Just be sure to pause long enough to see (or hear) if He is asking you to do something as part of that process. It might be conventional (like taking practical steps to get back on track, like where God has provided wise instructions in His word). Or, it might be unusual (like this woman collecting jars before she had anything to fill them with), to exercise our faith. Whatever God is calling you to do, don’t miss out on being part of something amazing!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 15, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 