The Widow’s Oil Miracle
The ‘make room theme’ for our church in Zimbabwe was coined from the book of 2 Kings 4:1-7. Since the beginning of the year, I have marveled at the different themes that have come out of this story. It is so amazing what you can take from the story, and some of the themes that I have continued to reflect on from this story include: The role of Elisha in the woman’s life, vessels from the neighbours and the continuous pouring of the oil until every vessel was filled.
The Role of Elisha
We see a widow in a dire situation but in that dire situation she cried to prophet for help. In our moments of adversity, we need the prophet who plays a vital role towards our breakthrough. This could be that mentor, that coach, that personal trainer or that friend. We all need a voice that can speak into our situation. And we can be that voice that speaks into another person’s situation.
The woman was obliged to listen and obey everything that the prophet told her. Obeying everything that the prophet says is not easy, because we always have our own preconceived ideas about situations even when we make enquiries.
How much do you obey when the prophet speaks into your life?
Neighbours
The woman was instructed to go to her neighbours to get vessels. An instruction that sounded absurd, yet it was leading to her miracle. God always uses people around us. Some neighbours have bigger vessels, and some have smaller vessels, yet all these contribute to transformation in our lives. Without the vessels from the neighbours, the miracle could have had taken a different tone. Now scripture compels us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Not every neighbour likes us, but we must learn to have peace with all men. I think all these principles have been put in place by God so that our relationship with neighbours remains intact. This is so that the releasing of vessels becomes easier. The oil needed the vessels from the neighbours.
The Unending Oil Provision
I also see God’s abundance provision in this story. The oil kept flowing and flowing and flowing and the widow was having a great time taking vessel after vessel after vessel until she had no more vessels. When God blesses, he does it with great pleasure and blesses in abundance. I see the greatness of God in our lives as a family. I see His abundant provision in our lives and at times I’m filled with awe at what He does in our lives. It is His joy to bless His people abundantly.
In every situation there will always be a God moment, and God moments are linked to our obedience, our relationship with people around us and the capacities we build.
Prisca Makwenda
