2 Kings 4 -- God's Provision

Elisha, like his predecessor, Elijah, was empowered by God to perform miracles, and this chapter certainly proves it. 

 

One of the “sons of the prophets” had died, leaving a widow and two sons destitute with a large debt and no assets except a small container of olive oil.  My commentary noted, “Little is much when God is in it.”  Elisha directed her to borrow every container she could from her neighbors, then begin filling them from her small container.  Miraculously, the oil didn’t run out until the supply of containers did, giving her enough oil to sell to not only pay off the debt, but enough to live on as well!  “If we give everything to Him, He can make a little go a long way,” my commentary added.

 

Another woman benefited from knowing Elisha.  She’d offered hospitality by building a room onto her own home where Elisha and his servant could stay as they traveled back and forth from his hometown to Mount Carmel.  Elisha wanted to intercede for her because of this great ministry, but she stated that she was content.  She simply wanted to serve God.  He finally determined that she’d been unable to have children.  God informed him that she would have a son within a year, and it happened!  However, a few years later the boy became sick and died.  The woman rode to Elisha, who sent his servant ahead to lay his walking stick on the boy’s body, yet no healing occurred.  When Elisha arrived, he did what Elijah had done and laid over the boy, then stopped and prayed, and the laid on him again until God restored him to life!

 

Elijah also cleansed a pot of stew in which poisonous fruit had accidentally been added, and he fed 100 people with a small provision of bread and grain.

 

All of these miracles prove that God knows our needs and meets them as we trust Him, my commentary said, and it mentioned something David wrote in Psalm 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”  We serve a faithful God who loves us so much that He even gave His only Son to die for our sins!

 

Father, Your provision for me is great, and I’m so glad to have You as my Portion.  Remind me to treasure everything You provide me, and to take nothing for granted.  Thank You most of all for Your grace in forgiving me of my sins and for removing them with the death of Your Son.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford