"Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled." So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 2 Kings 4:4-5
I have a desk where I sit down and do almost all of my writing. I am really thankful for my space to write and study the Bible. When I come in in the mornings and sit in my desk chair, I don't ever pause and question if it will support me as I sit in it. I have faith in my chair. I simply know that it's going to hold me when I sit down. As much as I trust my chair, the sad truth is that I sometimes have more faith in my desk chair than I have in my God, who has proven Himself faithful time and time again. Because of this, I want to increase my faith. I want to have more faith in the God who is holding me than the chair I sit in every day. Maybe you can relate. Today we are going to talk about faith and be reminded by 2 Kings 4:4-5 that God is able. He is able to support us and hold us in every aspect of our lives.
2 Kings chapter 4 begins with a story of the prophet Elisha and a widow. In this story, a widow whose deceased husband had worked as a prophet with Elisha came to the prophet and told him that her husband had died. "What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. "Tell me, what do you have in the house?" (verse 2). The widow acknowledged that the only thing she had was a small jar (or flask) of olive oil. Elisha instructed her to borrow as many jars as she could from her friends and neighbors and then to pour her oil into the jars. She followed Elisha's instruction. She filled all of the jars she had accumulated until every last jar was filled to the brim, and only then did her olive oil run out. She was able to sell her jars of oil to pay off her debts and then use the rest of the money for her and her sons to live off of. It was truly a miracle.
What I find amazing about this woman's story is that she never doubted Elisha or questioned him, she just did what he said. She knew he was a man of God and that God performed miracles and did many things through him. Because of this, she trusted that God was able to perform a miracle in her own life. What about you? Are you waiting for God to perform a miracle in your own life? Are you in need of freedom from a sin you are struggling with? Are you waiting for physical or emotional healing? Are you in need of financial freedom? Do you believe that God is able to perform miracles in your life? My friend, He is able. Now, the healing or freedom may look different than you may hope that it does, but nonetheless, He is still working in your life, for your good, and for His glory. My friend, He is able.
Spend some time reflecting on God's power and ability. Reflect on this devotion today. Then, take a notecard and write the words "God is able" on it. Place this card in a place where you will see it often. Maybe you need to make more than one card to place in several different locations. As you glance at your card, remember God's power and that He is, indeed, able.
One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”
“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”
“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.
And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”
So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim!
“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons.
“There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.
When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”
