Post by Les on Jun 27, 2022 19:59:41 GMT
God’s Provision By: Xochitl Dixon
Click here for the Audio Message
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
2 Kings 4:2
Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Kings 4:1–7
Three-year-old Theo and his mum went to church each week to help unload groceries from the food-bank van. When Theo overheard his mum telling his grandmother that the van broke down, he said, “Oh, no. How will they deliver the food?” His mum explained that the church would have to raise money to buy a new van. Buddy smiled. “I have money,” he said, leaving the room. He returned with a plastic jar decorated with colourful stickers and filled with coins, which amounted to a little over £15. Though Buddy didn’t have much, God combined his sacrificial offering with gifts from others to provide a new refrigerated van, so that the church could continue serving their community.
A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in God’s hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial assistance. He told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to her neighbours for help, then follow his instructions (vv. 1–4). In a miraculous display of provision, God used the widow’s small amount of oil to fill all the jars she collected from her neighbours (vv. 5–6). Elisha told her, “Sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left” (v. 7).
When we focus on what we don’t have, we risk missing out on watching God do great things with what we do have.
Reflect & Pray
When has God multiplied your resources in a miraculous way? When has God used you to combine your resources with the gifts of others to meet a bigger need in your community?
Faithful Provider, please help me to be mindful and grateful as I faithfully manage and share all You’ve given me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
When Elijah was taken into heaven, Elisha commenced his fifty some years of ministry (853–798 BC) as God’s prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel at a time when her kings were leading the Israelites into Baal idolatry (2 Kings 2:1–8:15). Elisha performed various miracles similar to the miracles performed by his mentor, showing that he was his successor and authenticating himself as God’s prophet. In 2 Kings 4, Elisha enabled a poor widow to redeem her two sons sold into slavery with a miraculous supply of olive oil (vv. 1–7 ). He also raised a boy from the dead (vv. 32–37). Both miracles, scholars suggest, anticipated Jesus’ miracles of supplying food to feed thousands (Matthew 14:15–21; 15:32–38) and raising the widow’s son and Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Luke 7:11–15; 8:49–55).
K. T. Sim
2 Kings 4:1-7
King James Version
4 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
Click here for the Audio Message
Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
2 Kings 4:2
Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Kings 4:1–7
Three-year-old Theo and his mum went to church each week to help unload groceries from the food-bank van. When Theo overheard his mum telling his grandmother that the van broke down, he said, “Oh, no. How will they deliver the food?” His mum explained that the church would have to raise money to buy a new van. Buddy smiled. “I have money,” he said, leaving the room. He returned with a plastic jar decorated with colourful stickers and filled with coins, which amounted to a little over £15. Though Buddy didn’t have much, God combined his sacrificial offering with gifts from others to provide a new refrigerated van, so that the church could continue serving their community.
A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in God’s hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial assistance. He told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to her neighbours for help, then follow his instructions (vv. 1–4). In a miraculous display of provision, God used the widow’s small amount of oil to fill all the jars she collected from her neighbours (vv. 5–6). Elisha told her, “Sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left” (v. 7).
When we focus on what we don’t have, we risk missing out on watching God do great things with what we do have.
Reflect & Pray
When has God multiplied your resources in a miraculous way? When has God used you to combine your resources with the gifts of others to meet a bigger need in your community?
Faithful Provider, please help me to be mindful and grateful as I faithfully manage and share all You’ve given me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
When Elijah was taken into heaven, Elisha commenced his fifty some years of ministry (853–798 BC) as God’s prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel at a time when her kings were leading the Israelites into Baal idolatry (2 Kings 2:1–8:15). Elisha performed various miracles similar to the miracles performed by his mentor, showing that he was his successor and authenticating himself as God’s prophet. In 2 Kings 4, Elisha enabled a poor widow to redeem her two sons sold into slavery with a miraculous supply of olive oil (vv. 1–7 ). He also raised a boy from the dead (vv. 32–37). Both miracles, scholars suggest, anticipated Jesus’ miracles of supplying food to feed thousands (Matthew 14:15–21; 15:32–38) and raising the widow’s son and Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Luke 7:11–15; 8:49–55).
K. T. Sim
2 Kings 4:1-7
King James Version
4 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.