(2 Kings 4:1-7) mentions an incident where God works a miracle through Elisha, about God’s provision for a widow. Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours; empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” (Vs. 3,4).
It is evident when we consider a flashback to her past that the widow and her sons had been stuck in a vulnerable situation. Their life was on the rocks at that point of time because of a loan. And the prophet Elisha asks the woman who is already a debtor to borrow more vessels from neighbours- more debts. This was indeed a “flame test” for her. A platform and and invitation for awkward queries and dubiety, but she obeyed the word of God, she did it in faith. God promises deliverances to his children in ways that exercise their faith. Spurgeon once said, “God would not have us be little in faith, for faith is the wealth of the heavenly life.”
Prophet Elisha tells her, “Do not gather just a few.” And thus she borrows as many as she could. We can experience and explore God only to the extent we desire. When our desire is deeper and stronger; greater will be the encounters with God. Not a feeble, fleeting wish which changes according to seasons but a strong ‘will.’ It wasn’t a wish but it was the will of God, to give His only begotten son to save you and me.
When Elisha told the woman to take the one jar of oil (all that she had) and pour that out in faith into the borrowed vessels. Two things happened- (1) the oil miraculously kept pouring out of the small vessel (jar) until all the borrowed vessels were filled; (2) the small vessel was supernaturally filled again and again. And we don’t read that the small jar became empty ever. When we pour out faith in the uncertain, empty and meaningless situations of life, God does not just make our faith grow thousand fold but He causes a harvest of ampleness which isn’t limited to us but flows into everything that is empty and desires to be filled. “It is not our emptiness, but our fullness which can hinder the outgoings of free grace.” (Spurgeon)
We also read that the miracle was given according to the measure of her faith in borrowing vessels. She borrowed enough so the excess oil was sold and provided money to pay the debt to the creditor and also saved for the future: for her and her sons. “Had she borrowed more, more would have been provided; had she gathered less, less would have been provided.” This miracle tells us- It is the amount of our work towards the miracle, that determines the amount of blessing and provision which is actually received. 20% of wish or 20% efforts or 20% faith can only result in 20% miracle from God. His powerful provision invites our hard work and not laziness or excuses.
Let not the devil deceive you in 2020 that our duty is only the first half which would invite the other half (provisions) from God. Give your everything, like the widow and witness your fullness with God in everything.
Wishing you a year of ampleness of His Grace.
God bless!
