Elisha And The Widow’s Oil
June 6, 2020
Commentary
The place where this incident took place is not stated but probably the widow lived in one of the cities where the schools of the prophets were situated. It records about Elisha and the widow in need. The wife of one of the prophets appealed to him on the basis that her husband is dead and the creditor is about to take her two sons. It shares the miracle of Elisha concerning the provision of oil for the prophet’s widow (vv. 1-2). At the time this occurred, women were considered inferior so for God to send Elisha to help this widow was indicative of divine direction.
This widow turned to Elisha in her hour of need. She appealed to him on the basis that her husband had been faithful to the Lord. Elisha told her to collect empty jars and that God would fill them with oil (vv. 3-6). This was oil that was used for food and fuel. It doesn’t say how many jars she collected, but this would indicate the measure of the widow’s faith.
Once the jars were collected, the door was shut providing privacy for the pouring of the oil. Only the widow and her sons were to see the miracle take place (v. 7). God provided enough oil to fill all the jars. When she returned to Elisha with a report of the miracle, he told her to sell the oil and pay her debts. Selling the oil she was able to pay off all her debt, save her sons from starving, and have money left over to live on. This event demonstrates God’s care for his faithful followers who lived in apostate Israel at this time and His concern for widows and their special needs.
Application
God’s provision of oil in this passage was only limited by the number of jars they gathered which was an indication of their faith. I will limit God by my lack of faith and obedience. He wants to do more than I can ask or think (Eph. 3:20).
2 Kings 4:1– 17 (NET)
1 Now a wife of one of the prophets appealed to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.” 2 Elisha said to her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil.” 3 He said, “Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers. Get as many as you can. 4 Go and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour the olive oil into all the containers; set aside each one when you have filled it.” 5 So she left him and closed the door behind her and her sons. As they were bringing the containers to her, she was pouring the olive oil. 6 When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons, “Bring me another container.” But he answered her, “There are no more.” Then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the prophet. He said, “Go, sell the olive oil. Repay your creditor, and then you and your sons can live off the rest of the profit.”
8 One day Elisha traveled to Shunem, where a prominent woman lived. She insisted that he stop for a meal. So whenever he was passing through, he would stop in there for a meal. 9 She said to her husband, “Look, I’m sure that the man who regularly passes through here is a very special prophet. 10 Let’s make a small, private upper room and furnish it with a bed, table, chair, and lamp. When he visits us, he can stay there.”
11 One day Elisha came for a visit; he went into the upper room and rested. 12 He told his servant Gehazi, “Ask the Shunammite woman to come here.” So he did so and she came to him. 13 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘Look, you have treated us with such great respect. What can I do for you? Can I put in a good word for you with the king or the commander of the army?’” She replied, “I’m quite secure.” 14 So he asked Gehazi, “What can I do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 Elisha told him, “Ask her to come here.” So he did so and she came and stood in the doorway. 16 He said, “About this time next year you will be holding a son.” She said, “No, my master! O prophet, do not lie to your servant!” 17 The woman did conceive, and at the specified time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.