Two different situations, one common need, and God’s good response

By Dean Collins

Some things were the same. Some things were different. God stepped into both situations and met the need.

The situations were different

In one case there were thousands of soldiers along with cattle in the desert dying of thirst. Their options seemed to be either die from lack of water or die at the hands of their enemy. In the other case, it was a widow with two children. When her husband died she had no ability to pay his creditors, and the man who held the debt was on his way to take her children as slaves. The stories appear back to back in 2 Kings 3 and 4.

In the first story, the three kings called on the prophet Elisha for help. In that situation, not many were faithful followers of the Lord of Heaven. The prophet had no close relationship with these kings or their thousands of soldiers. In the second situation, things were more personal. The widow’s husband worked with the prophet Elisha. The deceased was Elisha’s disciple who feared the Lord. Elisha knew of this man’s love for God and his word.

When the three kings asked Elisha for help, he asked, “What do I have to do with you?” Evidently, other than the king of Judah, the rest of the group had nothing to do with God. In the case of the widow, Elisha asked a different question: “What shall I do for you?” He was thinking and praying with his question. There may be a good lesson for us here. It is good to engage mind and spirit as we seek God’s will and his answers.

Elisha had a follow-up question for the widow: “What do you have in the house”? In her desperate situation, she had one jar of oil. Some oil to cook with was her only possession of any value.

The needs were the same

In both stories those involved were desperate. They were headed for trouble. Only a miracle from God could change their situation. The prophet told the first group to dig trenches in the desert. Elisha told the widow to go to all of her neighbors and gather every empty jar and bucket she could get her hands on. Rational minds might think either set of instructions to be ridiculous. But those who want to be led by God simply obey in times of desperation. They don’t know how or when, but believe God will answer and meet their urgent need.

Once the woman had all the empty jars and buckets she could find, the prophet told her to take her sons and lock the door and then fill the empty jars with the oil from her one jar. There is no logic here. There is only faith. There is only hope that God could do the impossible. There was only obedience as she watched the miracle unfold before her very eyes. And what about her sons? Do you think they would ever forget what they saw happening? I imagine they probably would follow the steps of their father one day and testify to God’s power and mercy to everyone they knew.

Elisha told the woman to go and sell all of the oil in all the jars. The resources she received would be sufficient to pay the creditor and for her family to live on from then on.

Just and unjust

Jesus once said his Father makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good. He also sends rain on the just and the unjust. Apparently that’s how God’s been doing things for centuries. He met the needs of many that were not following him and some who were when he sent streams of water in the desert. God also met the needs of a widow whose family had served God their whole lives.

God loves all of his creation. His heart is for everyone. He responds to those in need when we cry out. He often responds in ways and in timeframes that we will never understand. Yet when we see his response and understand his grace and mercy, we fall to the ground in humble gratitude and lift up our voices in praise.

I’m confident that those who choose to follow Jesus must demonstrate the same grace and mercy to others that we see in our own lives from the hands of our Heavenly Father. We cannot do miracles, but we are followers of the one who can. And our good Father may ask us to participate in providing for the needs of others who need a lift up, a way out, a meal. We must stay sensitive to what God calls us to do for the people around us. He loves them so much that he sent his Son to die for them.

Your time with God’s Word
2 Kings‬ ‭4:1-7; ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Susan Q Yin at unsplash.com

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