The situation was hopeless. She didn't have a job, let alone money. Her husband was dead. And now the creditors were threatening to enslave her kids to pay off her debt. What happened next is nothing less than a miracle that changed this woman's life forever.
READ 2 KINGS 4:1-7
Prayer: Dear Lord, Jesus, we thank you. Help the woman who reads this today. Give her the wisdom, knowledge and revelation that you have purposed for this scripture that her life might be enriched. In Jesus’ name! Amen.
Starting over after a tremendous loss, overwhelming emotional pain or a major life-changing event is very difficult. Especially when you are left in a dire situation. Life can seem to position us in a boxed-in condition that has no doors, only a small window to look through and wonder if we will ever get out. Or if anyone can or even will help us.
The woman in our scripture verses was in such a condition. Her husband was dead and all he left her was debt. Creditors had even threatened to take her sons away. She did not know how to go forward in life. The only possible solution that she could think of was to ask for a hand-out. So, she went to the prophet and told him of her problem. The prophet could not help her in the way she expected. Instead of giving her a hand-out, he challenged her to help herself. He challenged her thinking. He challenged her view of her situation. He challenged her to look at her assets instead of her losses. He helped her to focus on what she already possessed instead of what she needed. He did this with one question. “And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house?” (2 Kings 4:2 KJV). Her reply is found in the same verse and it reveals to us her assessment of her situation. “And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.”
God does not want us to focus on the “nothing” that is staring at us. He cannot use “nothingness”. He doesn’t want to multiply “nothing”. No matter how you multiply zeros the sum will always be zero. Zeros never increase. God wants us to offer what we have, no matter how small. She saw only the “nothingness” of her life. The oil she had did not have any value to her because she had nothing to go with it.
We need leaders in our lives who can turn our focus from the “nothing” to the “something”. We need leadership like the Prophet Elisha who will not enable us to expect our deliverance to come from people. God is our help and our source. We need people in our lives who will mentor us in the direction of discovering what we have to offer. We must learn to give to God instead of always expecting God to do all the giving. If we give, He will multiply. If we come empty-handed only expecting to receive, we will never enjoy the abundant blessings of heaven. I am not speaking of money or worldly goods but, actually seeing the miracle working power of God. This woman obeyed the prophet. In doing so she went from begging to becoming a prosperous business woman. She was able to become debt free and live comfortably from the rest of the money. She saw a miracle and a quick one. God wants to do more for us than give us things, He wants us to experience his awesome power firsthand.
Desperation does not have to defeat us. Desperation can become a catalyst for change and enrichment. If we can dare to believe God and follow his instructions, He can reveal to us the things He has already given us for our victory. This woman had to activate her faith and follow what the man of God instructed her to do. She borrowed the pots, she shut the door and she poured out. God filled everyone of the vessels that she borrowed because she acted in faith. The Lord gave her not only money but a testimony that indeed nothing is too hard for God.
She was challenged to look inside her house for something that she could use to improve her situation. Her help did not come from outside. The thing she considered to be nothing (a pot of oil) turned out to be the very answer that she needed. So, my sisters, I challenge you to look inside your house. Look at yourself. Look at your gifts. Look to the Lord. Look inside the Word of God. Look inside your own spirit and see what God has already put in your house that he wants to multiply. Your deliverance will come only from the LORD and no other direction.
Thank you for reading this week. We will continue with part two of this subject next week. God bless you and I love you.
Closing prayer: Lord, Jesus, teach us what to look for. Teach us how to think. Teach us how to look to you for our deliverance and no one else. Thank you for all your many blessings and for the great love that you shed upon us day by day. In Jesus’ name! Amen.