God will provide!

February 8, 2021 (Monday)

 

Elijah and Elisha were two Old Testament prophets that served back to back in evil times. In case you have a hard time keeping them in order, they are in alphabetical order. Both prophets give us challenging stories. Let’s take one from Elisha’s life.

 

It begins, “Now there was a woman who had been married to a member of a group of prophets. She appealed to Elisha, saying, “My husband, your servant, is dead. You know how he feared the Lord. But now someone he owed money to has come to take my two children away as slaves.” [2 Kings 4:1 CEB] It seem tragic to live under a system that would allow someone to claim children in case of a debt.

 

The woman’s husband was one of Elisha’s cohort. Unfortunately, life must have gone sideways for him. His debt left his family in jeopardy. Elisha’s answer seems to suggest the use of resources already available. I’ve seen that suggested but without divine intervention, limited resources are simply limited resources.

 

“Elisha said to her, “What can I do for you? Tell me what you still have left in the house.” She said, “Your servant has nothing at all in the house except a small jar of oil.” [2 Kings 4:2 CEB] Using my imagination, I can hear the panic in the widow’s voice. How could Elisha be suggesting she had the resources to pay off the debt? But that is not what Elisha is suggesting.

 

“He said, “Go out and borrow containers from all your neighbors. Get as many empty containers as possible. Then go in and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all those containers. Set each one aside when it’s full.” [2 Kings 4:3 CEB] This miracle was going to require several things.

 

First, she needed to work… “go out and borrow.” Second, she needed to rely on others… “from all your neighbors.” Third, she needed to close the door. For some reason, this is a miracle that would not be public. The results were public, but the working of it was not. She did as instructed.

 

Checking back with Elisha, “She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” [2 Kings 4:7 ESV] The solution seems self-evident, but she seeks further guidance. This also acts as giving praise. How many times does God do something awesome for us and we are silent?

 

I can’t prove this, here’s my imagination again, but the oil was enough to settle debts and for her and her sons to live on. There are times when God provides daily, like the mana in the wilderness. Then there are times when God provides in big chunks, like here.

 

I think the difference happens in what the Lord is trying to teach. For the manna in the wilderness the point of trusting for daily provision. For this widow, it was for long term provision. I think (there’s the imagination again) she needed the financial security to protect her from this and other possible stressful events.

 

Either way, “God will provide.” (Special thanks to Allan and Naomi Prochina)