Living on Leftovers
Living in the supernatural goodness of God!
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”
— 2 Kings 4:1 (ESV)
Leftovers embody resilience. We can transform them into a satisfying meal or release them to make space for fresh beginnings. Either way, we all do something with them. In life, we are sometimes faced with challenging, agonizing, and severe situations. These circumstances can lead us to lose everything due to a specific situation, a problem, or an injustice. Frequently, we may find ourselves questioning God, expressing our disbelief by saying, “Lord, I am your devoted servant. I am your cherished son; this should not be happening to me.”
Apparently, this happened to the woman who went to Elisha with her fear, her burden, her sadness, and her imminent loss. Not only did she lose her husband, but she was about to lose her sons as well as a result of a considerable debt. A man from the company of the prophets has passed away, leaving his widow impoverished and on the brink of having to sell her sons into slavery to settle her debts. Her words are: “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”
Let's take a closer look at some key points from the text. First, it highlights that the woman's husband was actively involved in ministry. Second, it emphasizes that he was a prophet, signifying his strong commitment to full-time ministry. Despite the perception of a blessed life, it's important to remember that serving God is indeed a blessing, but it doesn't automatically ensure a life free of debt or problems. Third, the text underlines that this man was deeply devoted to fearing God.
This woman urgently needed a miracle, or she would have lost her sons. According to Hebrew law, the 'selling' of a wife and children as property for debt (Ex. 21:7; Am. 2:6, 8:6; Is. 50:1) was allowed, and this practice continued until after the Exile (Neh. 5). She was in a desperate state. I do not know you or the particularities of your situation. But you might be in a season where you need a miracle, or else the 'creditor' will take your joy, peace, and hope away from you. The situation could involve receiving a harrowing medical diagnosis, facing a severe financial crisis, being at risk of losing your home due to the inability to make mortgage payments, or finding yourself on the precipice of a marriage spanning over 50 years.
She thought she had nothing left, but she was wrong. She was not considering the 'God factor' in the equation. The text tells us the following:
And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 2 Kings 4:2 (ESV)
The Holy Spirit is reaching out to you with empathy and concern during this challenging season. The question is, "My precious son, my beloved daughter, confide in me. What do you truly hold in your hand?" You may be wondering what you and I have. It's God himself and faith. Jesus said: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mtt- 28:20, ESV) What is faith? It is a strong foundation, providing unwavering assurance for what we hope for and a firm conviction in things that are not visible to the naked eye. My life is firmly anchored in the unchanging truth that God is who he says he is and deeply cares for me. I have an unwavering assurance that he will intervene in my situation with divine and supernatural provision. I am firmly convinced that my current situation will ultimately bring glory to God, as the outcome will result from his miraculous intervention on my behalf.
Elisha instructed the prophet's widow to do something. She was to take her two sons and ask for empty vessels; she was ordered to act on a word that might sound off at the time. The text intentionally tells us that this widow was to "borrow vessels... and not too few" (2 Kings 4:3, ESV). She needed money to pay a debt that would take her sons away, not empty vessels. But she obeyed the word. Despite the challenging circumstances, she remained steadfast in her commitment, believing in the prophetic words of Elisha, the chief prophet among the company of prophets. So she borrowed not too few vessels.
Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 2 Kings 4:4 (ESV)
I find this text incredibly interesting. Understandably, some might think that God, being God, would work out this widow's miracle with such a marvelous display as the parting of the Red Sea. In contrast, she received guidance to have faith and take action within her home's intimate and hidden confines. The significance of privacy is underscored to demonstrate the remarkable ability of God to work through his servant over great distances, emphasizing the profoundly personal nature of God's intervention and magnifying the extraordinary power of God.
This widow must have faced a challenging season. Although the text doesn't explicitly state it, we can imagine her going out to borrow money or perhaps visiting a pawn shop, only to be unable to fully settle her debts. I firmly believe that she was guided to seek the man of God. We can directly appeal to the Father for his divine intervention. God knows how to lead you through a series of challenges until you reach a point where you fall on your face and humbly say, “Oh God, I surrender everything to you. I give you permission to do whatever you want in my life. I let go of my own plans and surrender to your will.”
God will eventually require us to reach a point of total surrender, either smoothly or with some bumps in the process. This prophet's widow surrendered and complied with Elisha's instructions. The NIV tells us, “She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring” (2 Kings 4:5). The Hebrew participle used here stresses the ongoing action of faith.
God's intervention on our behalf is personal. It has always been, as he is a personal God who desires a personal and intimate relationship with us. So, it should not surprise us that God's most impressive and touching miracles are done personally and privately. He wants to relate to us at a more profound and personal level. His word was left for us to seek his voice. The widow understood that her life rested in God's hands; she demonstrated humble submission and obedience.
Nevertheless, she persisted in calling for assistance. We have a personal God who not only understands our needs but also possesses the ability to completely transform any situation. It is essential for us to actively seek his intervention and request his divine intervention. He stands ready to intervene, bringing forth his power, grace, and unwavering will to showcase his boundless love for us and his mastery over everything.
“... and she kept pouring...” This phrase is powerful as it embodies the reality and conviction of this distressed woman. Amid adversity, her obedience demonstrated an ongoing act of faith. She got a word from God, and she obeyed and continued to obey until there were no more vessels to pour oil in. Through unyielding belief and trust in the prophetic word she received, she took decisive action. She did not question the prophet's instruction; she went on and acted as she was told. We may never know the precise number of vessels filled that day as an act of obedience. However, what is certain is that it exceeded all expectations. Just as it was more than enough, God always provides abundantly for us.
She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:7 (ESV)
The significance of Elisha's words is unmistakable, underscoring the transformative nature of the woman's first-hand miracle. Following her extraordinary divine intervention, she is tenderly advised: “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.” God's giving is abundantly generous (Mark 6:43; Eph. 3:20). Unlike individuals, bank accounts, or what we consider to be secure and stable employment, God never fails as the God of widows and orphans (Deuteronomy 10:18; James 1:27). He is there for the broken, the abandoned, the least and the lost, and those in need of a miracle.
What is it that you are seeking? What specific situation in your life do you believe requires divine intervention? Have you reached a point where you feel completely helpless and have surrendered everything to God? Have you earnestly laid out that specific problem, challenging situation, or ambitious goal before God in prayer? If you have already taken this step, are you genuinely prepared and willing to follow and adhere to God's guidance and instructions, even if they may be difficult to understand or seem unclear at the moment?