Here, we have the widow of the son of a prophet, which would have brought her various privileges because her late husband had a reverential fear of God. However, as we read what she was experiencing, we realize that even righteous souls and their families may suffer persecution, testing of one’s faith, or burdensome hardships. 2Kings 4:1. Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, thy servant my husband is dead, and that knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. Matthew 18:25. But forasmuch for he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. But preacher, we don’t have slavery today? Wrong, brethren, we have it in Western cultures, and it is still practiced in some third-world countries. Come on, man, we don’t have it in our democratic nations. Sorry, but advanced countries that are soft on crime allow sex trafficking, which, in fact, is a form of modern-day slavery. This widow was expecting the worst and may have been wondering why this terrible threat of a family breakup would happen to a God-fearing family. When God wants to test a believer’s, faith remember the Lord is no respecter of persons, and sometimes even the godliest people will step on a landmine of suffering to test their faith. ONE: God will Often Test or Try his Adopted Children’s Faith.
In 2 Kings 4:1, She indicated and wondered why the family of a God-fearing home would experience this type of hardship? The more we grow and mature in Christ the more likely he may, through various times in our pilgrimage, test our faith more than once or twice. Hebrews 12:6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 1 Corinthians 4:12. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted we suffer it. This widow learned quickly that a godly person can both know privilege and hardships. TWO: God’s People may Wrongly Think When Trouble Comes, they have been Abandoned by God.
But this widow was spiritually knowledgeable enough to know when trouble comes, seek God for the remedy. She turned to Elisha, the prophet who was more than willing to petition God, and said that God would fulfill her need, giving God glory. We believers have an unlimited powerful source of divine help 24/7 at the throne of grace and also our advocate, Jesus, who is there. The only thing needed to use heaven’s payphone is the coin of God’s will on one side and in Jesus’ name on the other. Sadly, when an unbeliever hits bottom, it’s the true bottom, unlike the believer, who can call on the ladder of prayer to carry them out from the rubble of this world. THREE: Believers Have a Wealth of Divine Help that Unbelievers Don’t Have.
2 Kings 4:2. And Elisha said under her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what does thou have in the house? And she said, Thine handmaiden hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil. All this widow’s resources were gone except one tiny pot of oil. As a God-fearing woman, she didn’t expect to be in a rock-bottom situation that would destroy her family. But God will test some believers’ faith only when they reach desperation, suffering, or both. God will do this so we do not depend on our own strength but turn to him who is able. FOUR: When a believer’s Worldly Resources are All Gone, God Manifests his Grace and Power.
2Kings 4:3-6. Then he said, Go, borrow of these vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and thy sons, and shalt pour into all those vessels, and thou shall set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. God provided a miracle in that she could sell her oil and pay off the debtor, and her sons would be prevented from going into bondage. Why did God honour Elisha’s request for the widow? She obeyed the words from God through Elisha and, by her faith, followed the prophet’s instructions. The Lord Jesus expects his adopted children to trust and obey his commands and precepts. God can perform a miracle on your behalf according to your degree of faith regarding your request. John 2:7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. The marriage at Canaan is where Jesus made a similar request, resulting in pots being filled with water that he turned into wine, his first recorded miracle. As saints if we trust the Lord fully and obey him he is always true to his words, acts, and deeds. If faith is involved, you must lay your petitions at the throne of grace, believing you will carry them out when they are in his will.FIVE: When God’s People Trust and Obey, he is More Than Willing to Help His Own.
What have we learned from a prophet’s widow and Elisha acting through God? Believers will be Tested; they Wrongly May Think God’s left them. Saints May Hit Rock Bottom Before God Acts on Their Behalf. Saints Must Trust God with a Strong Faith. God is Willing to Help those who Trust and Obey. If a believer hits rock bottom, they need to call on the Rock of Ages, trust, and obey, for the days are evil, and the Lord is coming back soon. God bless, Deacon-X.
