A Pot of Oil & a Heart of Faith

Written by: Arielle

((Story from II Kings 4:1-7))

Do you know what it feels like to be at the end of your rope? There doesn't seem to be any hope in sight, no more roads to go down. You've done everything in your power, yet your world is falling apart around you despite all your hard work to keep it all together.

In II Kings chapter 4 there is a short story about a widow woman. The Bible simply refers to her as "a certain woman" (vs 1) Her husband was dead and they no longer had any source of income. Her two sons were all she had left.

I'm sure she knew what it felt like to have all hope taken away, to hit rock bottom. Each day brought on new worries of how her family's needs would be met. When a creditor was about to come and take her sons to serve as bondmen, she went to Elijah asking for help and wisdom.

Elijah asked, "Tell me, what hast thou in the house?" (vs 2) her reply was "Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil." (vs 2) To her surprise and probably confusion, Elijah told her, "Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few." (vs 3)

She must have been rather confused at this point, borrow vessels? For what? Didn't he hear what I said, I only have one pot of oil! Yet she obeyed Elijah's commandment and her sons went about to all of the neighbors to collect all the vessels they could find.

When they came back they continued to follow what Elijah had said. "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." (vs 4) What a great women of faith she was, to not even question that which Elijah requested but continue on in faith.

Didn't she only have one pot of oil? How could it possibly fill all of those vessels? So she started to pour from that little pot of oil. It was so very precious to her and it was the last of what they had, yet "she poured out." (vs 5) To her amazement, it continued to fill vessel after vessel, till at last her sons said that there was not a vessel more!!

In verse 6 it says "And the oil stayed." I love that part of the story. As she was standing there looking at all of those vessels that had been filled from her little pot of oil, you know the thought was running through her head "Is this real? Am I imagining this? Will the oil stay?"

Surely she must have been in tears by this point. God had used her little pot of oil, and made it into so much more! She had just witnessed an amazing miracle, one which would save her and her family and would pay their debts! This women is such an inspiration to me. It's a story of such strong faith. What if she hadn't had faith in God that day? What if she had doubted His power to take what little she had and bless it into something more?

But no, she didn't doubt or waver in her faith. She might have been at the end of her rope, with no more options, or no where to go. Her sons were about to be taken away if she couldn't pay her debts. Yet she obeyed and trusted what Elijah told her to do, and look at the results! It was so much more than what she could have ever imagined.

This is such an important story for us to remember. Even though we might not have much to offer, if we are just willing to give God the little that we do have, our everything, our all---He can take that simple offering and use it to His glory and honor. I pray that you will be encouraged by this women and her great faith in God. May it inspire us to seek God and more fully give of ourselves to Him!!
Love & Hugs,
Arielle ♥

All scripture taken from the King James Version