Elisha In His Early Ministry – Part 4 – Judgement From God For The Widow Series

ELISHA IN HIS EARLY MINISTRY – PART 4 – JUDGEMENT FROM GOD FOR THE WIDOW

SERIES – MESSAGES ON ELISHA – HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY Number 6

[B]. THE JUDGEMENT OF THE CREATOR GOD

2Kings 4 v 1 [[Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves,” 2Kings 4:2 and Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” and she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 2Kings 4:3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbours, even empty vessels. Do not get a few, 2Kings 4:4 and you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels and you shall set aside what is full.” 2Kings 4:5 She went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They were bringing the vessels to her and she poured, 2Kings 4:6 and it came about when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel,” and he said to her, “There is not one vessel more,” and the oil stopped. 2Kings 4:7 Then she came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”]]

Verse 1 – A WOMAN’S LOSS. I think these sons of the prophets were such a mixed bunch but among them there were good men, and one of them had died. This man followed the Lord, and like so many of God’s full time workers, they had but little or no money. The creditor had come to exact his price. In Exodus it is said, [["You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any way, and they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless"]] (Exodus 22 v 22-24).

C H Irwin said, ”We learn here in all the relationships of life, to mingle mercy with justice. Too often in the keen competition of life, and in the race for wealth, the finer feelings become blunted, if you are a Christian, it is your duty to imitate the spirit and precepts of Jesus. Whether you are a Christian or not, you are responsible to God for the way you act towards your fellow men. Always consider the circumstances of the case. Where it is possible, be especially careful of the widow and the fatherless and the orphan. God has a special care for them, and he will avenge their cause on the persecutor and the oppressor.”

I don’t want to put debt collectors down but they can fall fairly harshly upon widows whom they see as defenceless, once the man of the house has passed on. It was like this in our account, and the only thing of value that could be taken were the children. These children who were removed became unpaid slaves or were sold. It was a terrible life for them as some of you know who have had experience with separated and foster children. The woman in the story was in great distress, and thanks to God, she had the godly prophet to turn to. Many widows and orphans have no one to take them up and care for them. This is one of the great black results of sin. God instituted the family union but Satan seeks to destroy. God established marriage but Satan seeks to destroy it. Where the State steps in to find solutions, our history has shown discontent, failure and abuse. This widow in desperation turned to Elisha to seek his intervention.

Verse 2 – LITTLE IS MUCH. This verse reveals the extent of poverty in her house. All this woman had in the house was a jar of oil. We learn that from Elisha's question about what she owned. The poor widow had nothing in her house save a jar of oil.v She was not as well off as the widow of Zarephath, to whom Elijah came; she had not even a handful of meal in the barrel. To the human mind, especially to the materialistic westerner, she was the most miserable of women, but I think the opposite. It is materialism that changes our focus and reliance on God. Materialism clouds our vision and dethrones the Lord. Materialism demands our energies be spent on satisfying it alone. This woman was single minded with a life centered on her God. She was a devoted woman, but now, a woman in need. God was going to minister to His faithful follower, and made the provision of the prophet who would mediate on her behalf. The Lord was going to show miraculously that little is much in the hand of God.