Part I: My teaching on 2 kings 4:1-7

2 KINGS 4:1-7
ELISHA AND THE WIDOWS OIL

I. A cry of despair (verse 1)
This widow has lost her husband which back in that era meant loss of property, or home, or fields, or slavery, for this women, her children. The debt that was acquired whether from her husband or whomever it was, has placed her 2 children in the state of bondage, their freedom has been taken from them and she knows this. She knows that if she does not find a way to pay the debtors then her children will be taken from her till the debt is paid. Now, she has noticed that she is incapable of paying the debt in her own power, she realizes her hopeless state and goes to the Prophet of God, Elisha and mainly shows faith in God. How is faith shown? As a wife of the prophet she may have known God’s promise to her in the state she has found herself in; Deuteronomy 10:17 and 18 give her assurance in the condition she finds herself in, and it is also reiterated in psalm 146:9. Her faith is seen in her dependence and trust in that promise, and acted out by her going to Elisha and telling him her dilemma. One thing we see is that she doesn’t tell Elisha what to do, or how to act upon her troubled state. She merely trust that God would work through Elisha to meet her need. We see this in John 11:3: Mary and Martha tell Jesus that “the one you love” or in the language of 2 kings, “Your servant,” “is sick.” now they didn’t tell Jesus, “hey, lazarus is sick, go heal him,” No, they casted their problem to the feet of Christ and had faith that He would act in the way God led Him. Again we see this when we studied 2 Chronicles 20 in verse 12 all that Jehoshaphat said was “our eyes are on You.” that’s it, not we trust you now kill’em and lets get this over with. Just faith that God could rescue them because they could not rescue themselves. That’s faith.
Just as this widow, we are found in a state of despair and hopelessness when brought before the gospel. We see that on account of Adam and Eve we have been brought into slavery or bondage, and can not escape by the strength of our own hands. We also owe a debt that can not be paid by us, but only by Christ, The Man/ Prophet, of God. We hear the promise that He sets free those who are under the creditor, satan, sin or death, and as the women, we must run to the Man of God and confess the state we have found ourselves in, and in hope, faith, and trust, cast ourselves upon Him and that He has the answer for us in the time of darkness.

Application: In time of despair, turmoil, or pain, run to Christ. Don’t tell Him what to do in your life, as if He doesn’t know your desires, but cast your cares and worries upon Him with the faith and hope that He knows what to do. As the covenant people of God, we have promises like Matthew 6:25-33.


II. God’s response/ obedience to the Word of God (verses 2-5)

Now that she has pleaded her case to Elisha he speaks and we see the word of God go forth and the women’s faith acted upon the word that was declared. “what shall I do for you? Tell me, What do you have in your house?” Elisha wanted to help this women, in being a man of God, and one who brings forth His words, He wants to reflect the attitude of God in helping the widow. Also, He doesn’t give her money or calls forth a collection, no, he asks her, what do you have in your house? With this request, if I were the women, I would have been like “what? in my house? if I had anything good there I would have paid the debt and not come to you.” She says, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” Nothing… she has Nothing… she has a jar! To her that seemed of no benefit or profit, but Elisha, knowing the power of God, saw that jar of oil as a means to build faith in this women, provide for the woman’s need, free the children from bondage, and ultimately glorify God. So Elisha tells her to go borrow vessels-empty vessels- not a few, and when you have some “shut the door behind you and your sons,” now why is this a secret miracle? Lets go to Matthew 6:16-18, now although this hits on the point of hypocrisy it also hit’s the point of God being in the “secret place.” Although God does do miracles openly, he also does them and then tells the people not to tell anyone, we see this in Matthew 8:4 when Jesus heals the leper and says “tell no one..” God’s first goal in blessing us or providing for us is not necessarily to meet our needs, but to build our faith in Him; and not for us to say “hey everyone look how God has blessed me, but humble us before His throne and be thankful to serve a loving Father.” At times when God blesses us publicly we can take pride and say “see how God blessed ME!” and instead of glorying God we uplift ourselves. Also, another reason in may have been done in secret was because the widows need was a private need, and so the blessing was a private blessing. Third, I would say that it shows the absence of Elisha. That it was the power of God doing the miracle and not Elisha. Now we see the miracle. The miracle shows Gods power to make what seems little to be much, or that what seems to be inefficient to me sufficient. He supplied her need by using something she already had, oil, and with the generosity of the community with the giving of the jars, God used the common vessels that to fulfill His purpose.

Application: we all have something(s) that God can use for His glory. Though we may see them as nothing, with the power of God He can multiply that which seems little to much. Also, God is ultimately the God above all, and we must put our trust in Him and not man. Though Elisha did tell the widow what to do it was God who provided for her.

III. God’s overflowing kindness and the widows rest (verse 6-7)

The widow was obedient to the word declared by the “man of God.” He told her 3 things to do, sell, pay, and live. Sell the oil, pay your debt, live off the rest. God knew the needs of this widow, He had His eyes fixed on both her temporal/immediate need: that of paying off the debt so that her sons wouldn’t be put into slavery; and also Her future/ongoing need: that of living, and providing for her kids until they were capable of working and providing for the family. The state the women was in seemed dead. There was no way out, there was no way to find the light at the end of the tunnel, there was no way to find life. The Hebrew word at the end of verse 7 “and live on the rest…” is chayah (khaw-yaw’) it means, whether literally or figuratively, to revive, to make or keep alive, to give life, nourish up, preserve, recover, repair, restore, to save, or to be whole. Now, these are gospel words. Like I said the state that the women was in was dead, she was in bondage to the creditor, the legacy of her family was dead, the children would be slaves and so will the generations, BONDAGE! But, God provided life in this dead grave. He tells the widow what to do, He gives her a life giving command, to grab the oil that seemed worthless and unprofitable, and by His power that which seemed “not beautiful” or “not esteemed” was what brought her life. Not only did it bring her life, but it gave her rest. Their was no beauty in Jesus that we would esteem Him, but He poured His life out on the cross for common vessels. The sacrifice of Christ also gives us rest, in that we don’t have to earn or work for our salvation but that one moment on the cross brought us everlasting rest.

Application: we must live on the gospel of Christ. We have been freed from our debt, it has been fully paid, now we must “live on the rest” of His grace, and mercy, which is seen in the gospel; and as we know the gospel is eternal, so for us it is an eternal life and rest.