The story of the prophet Elisha and the widow caught in debt in 2 Kings 4 is yet another instance where trust in God’s abundance is taught in scripture. The woman was hounded by creditors after her husband died. Unable to pay her debts, a creditor took her two children and forced them into slavery. The woman cried for help and yet again a prophet challenged the suppliant to take action and offer something of herself so that God can take the offering and increase it abundantly. Elisha asked the woman what she has in the house and she answered that the only thing of value was a jar of oil. The prophet instructed the widow to borrow from her neighbours as many empty vessels as she could. She was told to shut the door behind her and pour into those vessels all the oil she had. The vessels kept coming and she kept pouring until the neighbours lent her all their vessels. Elisha then told her to take the vessels full of oil and sell it to pay off her debts. The widow did what she could and God did the rest, another instance where the faith of a believer overcame her fears and permitted God to provide for her abundantly.
Elisha & the Widow’s Oil
