Jars of Oil

This morning, I was greatly encouraged when I read the account of the widow and her jar of oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7.

For weeks now, my mind has been greatly exercised over the recent financial hits. Some days I do pretty good, others I struggle, as I shared in my post “The Relief of Relying on God”.

For the past two weeks, anxiety has, again, been trying to be too close of a personal friend-to the point that I feel as if there’s something bad about to happen around every corner. The kind of thing that’ll wipe out my finances in one fell swoop.

I’m sure it is a normal human reaction; after all, I did have medical bills due to the stress fracture, reduced medical leave pay for seven weeks, a heat and air system to replace, and now a wrecked vehicle. It makes one realize just how uncertain life can be and I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty tough to plow through with a smile on one’s face and never feel anxious.

But back to the widow.

I was busy with getting ready for the day and preparing breakfast this morning. All the while, my anxious thoughts chased themselves in a dizzying circle. Through the chaos came the thought, “Make time to pray and read from the Bible”. I made a mental note to do so and continued with my chores. I thought about what to read and the idea came to mind to read about accounts of times when God provided. Well, there are lots of stories and verses that talk about His provisions- how was I to narrow it down?

It ocurred to me, a few minutes later, that Elisha was the means God used to provide for many who had a need. I finished up my tasks, grabbed my Bible and sat on the front porch. I turned to 2 Kings and almost immediately my eyes fell on 2 Kings 4:1-7.

I read about the widow whose husband had died and all she had in her house was a jar of oil. The creditors had come, threatening to take her sons and sell them as bondmen as a means to secure the debt left behind. She cries out to Elisha, who asks her what she has in her house. She tells him. He directs her to borrow all the jars she can find from her neighbors, shut the door behind her and begin pouring the oil in the one jar into all the borrowed jars. She and her sons obey and they find themselves surrounded by jars of oil. Elisha tells her to sell the oil, pay the creditor and her and her sons live on the rest.

I paused and reflected on what I had read. I had more than a jar of oil in my house and no one is at the door to take my children away. God took care of her needs when facing a dire situation; He will provide. I need to be like the widow-trusting, obeying, being wise, having discretion, putting forth the effort and working hard.

I thank God for leading this morning. As I have so often found, when I take a moment to still my thoughts and listen, He never fails in providing a word of assurance that brings my mind back to Him and back to peace.

If He can fulfill a widow’s needs through one jar of oil, then there is no need to worry.

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