Believing for More
They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring—2 Kings 4:5b
DESPERATION…we’ve all been there.
It wasn’t a place that we planned to visit.
It wasn’t the goal to be attained.
It wasn’t a character trait to strive for.
It wasn’t a favorable emotional state to be in.
The widow in 2 Kings 4 understood desperation to the fullest extent. She had lost her husband, who had been a part of Elisha’s company of prophets. This woman was also about to experience a deeper loss as her husband’s creditor planned on taking her two sons as slaves to pay off the debt that had been left behind. She had come to see Elisha for help in this matter. Read the verses below for the full story:
The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
Desperation does not discriminate in its claim of victims. Desperation can cause you to stand still, or move to ACTION.
It seems like the widow completely understood how to respond in a time of desperation: She MOVED.
And as she moved to action, these beautiful truths were revealed:
● HUMILITY. She humbled herself and went to Elisha, who was a prophet and mouthpiece of God.
● MULTIPLICATION. Elisha gave her instructions for multiplication. What may seem little to us, is more than enough for God to use and multiply!
● OTHERS. The widow employed others, her sons, in taking the actions prescribed to her by Elisha. She understood the power of this teachable moment as a parent, and also the power of working together.
● FAITH. The widow had faith to pour out what little she had. What you do behind closed doors MATTERS!
● OBEDIENCE. The widow followed through until all the jars were filled. God cared for her and her sons in the most complete way because of obedience.
Desperate times call for God-sized solutions.
What are you desperate for today?
What are you believing for more of today?
In 2021, Cece Winans recorded the song “Believe for It.” The lyrics of the chorus are:
Move the immovable
Break the unbreakable
God we believe, God we believe for it
From the impossible
We’ll see a miracle
God we believe, God we believe for it
At Penndel Women, we are believing and praying for MORE as the Illuminate Conference is upon us this week!
More of God’s power. More of the Holy Spirit. More miracles.
More healings. More restored relationships. More salvations and rededications. We can’t wait to see you!
Ready to pour,
Lindsey Parks
