THE BIBLE is filled with women who demonstrated courage in adversity and changed the course of history.
They shed light in the darkness and brought hope to a dying world.
HANNAH brought hope to a dying nation when she vowed to give her unborn son to God (1 Sam. 1).
MOSES' mother trusted God when she put him in an ark and placed it on the Nile (Exod. 2:1-3).
RAHAB secured her future by protecting the Jewish spies (Josh. 2).
ESTHER knew her people depended on her. So, she put her life on the line to have an audience with the king (Esther 4:16).
These women were the unsung heroes of their time.
THE WIDOW of one of the sons of the prophets realized she was in a dire situation when she heard the creditors were coming for her (2 Kings 4).
Her late husband left her a debt she could not pay—and a default would lead to the seizure of her children.
We do not know if her husband sought help while he lived, but she planned to do so.
THE RIGHT APPROACH to solving a problem is recognizing there's one.
Without an acknowledgement, there's no problem to solve.
THERE's a cliche among believers. Our answer to most questions is it is well.
But is it okay when you need help and do not ask for it?
Sometimes, you must open up to others to solve your problem.
A GOOD PLACE to start is your resource.
The widow looked at her support system and went to the prophet.
She began her request by referencing that her late husband feared the Lord.
So, you can fear God and be in debt when you do not know what to do.
WHEN ELISHA asked how he could help, he wanted her to be specific.
What do you have in your house? He said.
Your servant has nothing there at all except a small jar of olive oil. 2 Kings 4:2)
God will bless what you have, not what you don't have. He will do things with you and not for you.
At Cana, Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water (John 2:7) and draw.
THE HEART of God is where you go when you have questions—and when you do, instructions come.
The widow went to Elisha to hear God.
Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few.
Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars and put it to one side as each is filled.
She filled the jars. And when she had no more, the oil stopped (2 Kings 4:1-6).
Are you filled? God is looking for jars (human vessels) to fill.
God will do things with you and not for you.
AFTER THE MIRACLE, she returned to Elisha for more instructions.
If you value the grace and goodness of God, you'll return to Him.
God does not tell you the whole story at once. He reserves bits for the next time.
Elisha told her to sell the oil, pay her debt and live on the rest (2 Kings 4:7).
God will do exceedingly, abundantly, much more than you can ask or imagine (Ephes. 3:20).
Final Thoughts
THE DIFFERENCE between her past and present was the impossibility made possible.
The earnest way to proceed is to walk by faith—anything that's impossible slips out of the realm of belief.
Happy Mother's Day.
Comments