Gtcotr/ws010324
God demands we participate in our miracles.
2 Kings 4:1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of
the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying …
This story begins with the wife of a man who had been a student in
the school of the prophets under Elijah’s ministry. She was most likely
from Bethel. (2 Kings 2:3) These students were for the most part
non-Levitical, non-priestly men who felt called and compelled to learn the
ways of the Lord and therefore had dedicated their lives to His service.
Since the days of Samuel and continuing throughout the Old Testament period,
gifted men who entered the school of the prophets were prepared to stand beside
monarchs and priests, to guard the nation and to proclaim and protect the God
ordered rules of life and reward. Schools were established at Ramah, Bethel,
Gibeah, Gilgal and Jericho. Before Elijah’s final departure he found time to
visit these schools and gave parting instructions to the young prophets.
In answer to the call of God, this certain woman we find in 2 Kings 4, along
with her husband, had relegated their lives and futures to a meager existence.
In these times of spiritual drought for the masses of people, without a secure
job and secular occupation, those who dedicated their lives to serving God in
this respect could expect very little, income was almost non-existent and
always undependable.
Perhaps it is because she learned the value of a Godly man’s counsel
from having a husband so committed to God that in her desperate moment she was
motivated to seek out the advice of one she trusted, the Prophet Elisha in this
case, who was a true servant of the Lord. She cried …
2 Kings 4:1 … “Your servant my husband is dead
…”
This was evidently a sudden and unexpected death that had not been
prepared for. As often happens, sudden departures, even of servants of the
Lord, can cause great and continuing hardship on those left behind to manage
the affairs of life.
Since Elisha was Elijah’s recognized successor and chosen replacement, (2 Kings
2:15), it seems reasonable that this widow would go to Elisha for assistance in
solving her problem. Thus she continues:
2 Kings 4:1 “… and you know that your servant
feared the LORD …”
The widow establishes the fact that her late husband was not a
careless nor reckless man who just did not pay attention to his affairs but
rather this statement lends credibility to the idea that he died suddenly
and without fair notice or opportunity to make arrangements himself for the
payment of his debt and provision for his family after his death.
The widow tells the Prophet Elisha that she knows he too was
personally familiar with her husband’s service to God and spiritual
credibility.
Now this widow puts forth her dilemma.
2 King 4:1 “… And the creditor is coming to
take my two sons to be his slaves.”
The husband has died leaving his family in debt, so much debt that
the widow and surviving sons cannot pay.
Even though they have faithfully and fearfully served the Lord and
been employed by choice and at personal cost in the spiritual service of
God’s Kingdom, nonetheless, the current laws of the land apply to them.
One cannot claim to be exempt nor excused from the laws governing
others just because they have given their all in service to God. Even Jesus
paid taxes, rendering custom to whom custom was due. (Luke 20:25) The
Apostle Peter also encouraged saints to obey every ordinance of man while the
Apostle Paul encouraged us to submit to the magistrates in charge. (1
Peter 2:13 & Romans 13)
The two sons, regardless of age, must by law fulfill the contract of
payment either by monetarily satisfying their father’s debt or by serving
out the debt as slaves until fully paid or until the year of Jubilee at
which time they would be set free.
This widow’s cry was for the freedom of her sons. She no doubt is as
well crying for her own recent loss and fearing the added loss of her only
two sons, which seems unbearable.
2 Kings 4:2a And Elisha said unto her, “What shall I do
for you?”
It is unclear from which frame of mind Elisha asked this question …
whether he is truly wondering or from an attitude of despair as to what to
do. Even seasoned men of God can and do feel both when faced with solving
others’ problems in the visible place of God.
The Apostle Paul rehearsed the fact that daily there came upon him the
care of all of the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28) and he wondered at times if
he had actually run or sown or labored in vain. (Galatians 4:11) There is no
doubt that the prophet Elisha genuinely cared but may have still
been at a legitimate loss as to what to do.
It is perhaps certain that Elisha knew that there was nothing which
he, of himself, could do. This would require a miracle and thus he needed
to move this woman into a position to receive from God. Any minister of the
Gospel should realize that our only hope is to connect people to God.
From this one and several other examples in the Bible, in order to receive a miracle, you should:
1.
Encourage yourself to depend on God and seek His counsel.
2.
Offer what you have to God for His divine touch.
3. Obediently follow the prescribed course of action required for God’s intervention.
The prescription can be anything from dipping in the river Jordan seven
times, to walking the aisle at a church and humbly submitting to the laying
on of hands for help.
Elisha knows he needs to move this woman into faith-filled action. He wants to find a way for her to participate in the miracle she needs from God. She needs to give God something to work with.
2 Kings 4:2b “… tell me, what do you have in the house?”
It might seem to some that a true prophet of the stature of Elisha
could have already discerned what it was that the woman had in her house. This
indicates to us two possibilities of which both are at times true.
·
First: Even true and gifted men of God do not always know
everything, even about the works and miracles they themselves are involved in.
(such as the Prophet Nathan: 2 Samuel 7)
·
Next: Often men of God, though they know, they await others to
come to the knowledge as though arriving at it by themselves. People guided to
truth who uncover it often feel more joined to it since they feel they
discovered it.
·
Note: The prophet is going to identify something personal and costly
to the widow … something in her house. Even though she has recently lost much,
still the road to her salvation demands she offer yet more of what she has.
Much like the widow of 1 Kings 17, this woman must act in faith for her
miracle.
Trusting God is often easier when you have an
abundance.
However, seldom do we need a miracle when we have abundance. God may use our
abundance to provide miracles for others.
2 Kings 4:2c … And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house…”
She evidently did not immediately go running to Elisha as her first
option with her need, but rather had waited, most likely trying every other
natural means to supply. Now, only when she possesses nothing, do her
creditors come as vultures, in their right advance, to lay claim to her most
prized possessions. It can seem when all else has left you and there is no
ability in reserve, that the problems of life unfairly pile onto the shoulders
of God’s people. Through necessity many finally despair of any other way and
turn to the way, Jesus.
2 Kings 4:2c … And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of
oil.”
The things we so lightly esteem are often anointed to become our
salvation. God chooses the simple things of this world and the things which are
nothing to bring about great things. (1 Corinthians 1:28) Little David,
from the backside of the desert, tending a few sheep, was brought from
obscurity to greatness in the hand of the Lord. (1 Samuel 16:11 & 17:28)
God has decided to place more of His honor on the unseemly parts of mankind
than on those we often esteem. (1 Corinthians 12:23)
In our humility we are exalted and in His gentleness are we made great. (1 Peter 5:6 & Psalms 18:35) It is in the weak of this world that God chose to place His greatest treasure. (2 Corinthians 12:10) These ignorant and unlearned men, earthen vessels of clay, just because they had been with Jesus were elevated to eternal recognition as their names are written on foundation stones of our new Jerusalem, the holy city ascending down from God. (Acts 4:13; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Revelation 21:14) As then, so now, the stone that the builders rejected becomes the head of the corner.
How appropriate to have only a little oil turn out to be much more than
enough.
Oil is representative of the Holy Spirit in the house. At one time
there was probably a plentiful supply for the daily needs of the home and
family. Now, with the loss of the spiritual head of the house, the oil had
dwindled. However, the great truth is seen in that only a little of the Holy
Spirit of God is enough when given proper attention, miraculous opportunity and
first place in the home. It is enough to meet any need, solve any problem, and
last for the season to come.
