“Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil” (2 Kings 4:1-2).
Many are familiar with the story of Elisha and the widow. I see a picture of one desperate woman of faith. No matter how much faith a person has, that faith is tested in the loss of a mate. Consider the circumstances and culture. Surely God had Elisha in mind for such a time as this. A widow and her two young sons were fighting poverty. The proverbial “hounds were at the door.” A creditor had come to take away her sons and sell them into slavery to pay her debt. Maybe Elisha simply went by to check on her since she was a “woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets.” Whatever the case, the man of God was there to see what he could do to help.
I like how Elisha approaches her, “What shall I do for thee and what do you have in your house?” When someone is grieving or feeling desperate, just having someone sit you down is needed.
That person can better assess the problem and lead you into finding a solution. A clear head will always calm another’s frazzled mind. The widow stated all she had in the house was a pot of oil. Like wheat, olives, and grapes, oil was a priceless commodity. This week, as we explore this story, we will see God’s mind and hand as He uses Elijah to provide for a desperate widow’s needs.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Carlisle Hanna, as he prepares to leave for India tomorrow.
