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.
Verse 3 – GREAT EXPECTATIONS! Elisha commanded, but a true prophet worked through the command of God. He was merely the channel of God’s will. It was God’s will that His dear suffering servant be blessed, and therefore (1), He led the woman to Elisha, and (2), He revealed His will to Elisha. What was required of the prophet was to be faithful in executing the will of God. She was to borrow as many vessels as she could lay her hands on. Many! Borrow many. This equates to a wide door that was opened to Paul for the gospel, opened by God so His word would be preached with great results. There are times when God’s people run ahead of themselves with expectations that have not come from God. I acknowledge, the leading of God is not always easy to discern, but we must not run ahead of the Lord with our own expectations, then try to own those as if they originated with God. The discernment of the will of God is essential to any Christian’s success. Waiting on God is a position we all need to learn, and keep learning.
Verse 4 – ALONE WITH GOD. Too much is done these days by those who want to be noticed and love the pride that position provides. You see it in some of the tele-evangelists. Christians must always be aware of the trap of success bringing elevated thoughts and feelings. I see too much in Christendom at large where men, and women too, stand before hundreds and thousands and love the notoriety it brings. Some prance around the stage like real actors in a rehearsal. Incidentally, the Greek word for an actor is the same word as hypocrite. They are no different from the Pharisees who stand in market places and want to be noticed for their prayers and the public attention. It was not they who were commended by the Lord, but rather the contrite sinner who smote his breast in his own private place, and was heard of God. Elisha told her to shut the door behind her and the two sons, and in God’s presence, she was to perform what the Lord commanded. God who sees in secret, rewards openly. The vessels were to be full. Fill them one after the other. God blesses in fullness, not in fragments. He wants the fullness of our lives, not just the leftovers. This woman filled all she had.
Verse 5 – THE CONFIRMATION OF OBEDIENCE. The woman did exactly as she was asked by God. This verse confirms the fact. They believed and reaped the reward. I am thinking her two sons were young, still at home and were dependent on the parents, now on their mother. It is gratifying to see the faith of the three of them in the task. Of course God rewards faith. We see that in the lives of Abraham and Joseph and Daniel and many others.
Verse 6 – GOD’S PROMISE HOLDS COMPLETELY SECURE UNTIL IT IS FINISHED. “Next one, boys.” But there was no next one. All the borrowed vessels were filled up. God’s bountiful supply ended when the next phase was to happen. Oil in the scriptures is a type of the Holy Spirit. God wants His Christians to be filled with the Spirit as Paul teaches in Ephesians 5 v 18 [[and do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,.]] It is not the “amount” of the Holy Spirit in us that counts. There is no such thing. It is how much of our surrendered life the Holy Spirit is granted to use. He can not use dirty vessels. He will fill willing, surrendered and clean vessels. The Holy Spirit is our personal Gift, our Guide and Counsellor and Comforter. He is in us until we stand in the presence of God, and His ministry is complete in us.
Verse 7 – GOD PROVIDES IN UNUSUAL WAYS. When her task was ended she informed Elisha who told her to go and sell all the oil, and with the money, pay off her debt to the creditors and then live on the rest. I suppose what it means is that there is enough until the boys have grown up and are able to provide for themselves and their mother. We have a caring God, a God who wants to bless, and bless even more. Things can be hard for many Christians, but God’s blessings are through the oil I think, through the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives, within us in the entire earthly journey. Jesus has not left us as orphans who are defenceless, but like the two sons of this woman, He cares for us. That little fatherless family never had luxuries or abundance but they had their needs met. We in Australia are in the top bracket of human provision. No one in this country will starve unless he is foolish. We have one of the most generous social welfare systems in the world. Sometimes I am reminded of Paul who said, 1Timothy 6 v 6 [[But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment, 1Tim 6:7 for we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 1Tim 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.]]
In closing, God will judge the mockers of His word, of His people, and of Himself. God will judge rightly for His people in need. Jehovah judged for good for this widow. Blessed be the Name of our God. Do not despise people of faith or those in genuine need.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
