Jars of Faith

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 Kings 4:1

Imagine that your husband just died an unexpected death at a young age. Your husband was in Bible School, he was going to be a preacher. He had so much left to do- he wasn’t supposed to die. Not only are you grieving, but suddenly you are a single mother of two boys. You have no job skills, no income, but a lot of debt. You have no way of paying this debt. The bill collectors want to take your boys as payment for the debt and it is legal for them to do so. The only things of value you have are your faith in God and your two precious boys. Where do you turn? You have no rich relative who can bail you out. There are no government programs to help widows. You don’t understand why this is happening to you. What do you do?

This mother turned to the only One who could help her. She went to the man of God to get godly council. The Bible said she cried, her pain was real and overwhelming, but her faith was unwavering. She knew God. She had a relationship with God that not even her dire circumstances could shake.

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. 2 Kings 4:2

Elisha wanted to know what she had in the house. Didn’t he know that if she had anything of value that she would have sold it already? All she had was a pot of oil. A pot of oil seems so insignificant, but God used what she had.

For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37


Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 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. 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. 2 Kings 4:3-5

The man of God told her to do something that seemed absolutely crazy! Yet she doesn’t hesitate to obey his instructions to the letter. She borrowed every pot, pan, and bowl that she possibly could. She worked hard because she needed a big blessing. Her situation was desperate, but her faith was great. She put action to her faith because she knew God would bless her.

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. 2 Kings 4:6

Notice that when she obeyed all the vessels were filled and innumerable others could have been filled if she had borrowed them. She could have thought this is stupid and will never work. My sons will be taken from me I can’t waste my time trying to fill pots from my meager supply of oil. She did not look at the situation, but she looked to the God in control of the situation. God changed the very laws of nature to meet her need.

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. 2 Kings 4:7

The oil no longer seems insignificant, but it isn’t until she returns to the man of God for further instructions that she understands its purpose. She was told to sell the oil and pay her debtors. That is why she went to the Man of God in the first place. God not only met her immediate need He provided above and beyond her wildest expectations. Her debts are paid and she has enough money left over to care for her and her boys.

Will God not also provide for us? Are our circumstances too big for God? Where is our faith?

…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10