2 Kings 4 is about the various ways God provided in difficult times.
First we see a helpless woman, who just lost her husband and had two sons to support, facing a creditor ready to exact payment, and had “nothing at all … except a little oil” (v. 2). Elisha told the woman to take what she had – one jar of oil (all that she had) – and pour that out in faith into the borrowed vessels. As she did this, the oil miraculously kept pouring from the original vessel until all the borrowed vessels were filled. At the end of it, she had a lot of oil. This widow was able to pay off her debt through faithfully following Elisha’s word form the Lord (v.7)
Second, we hear of a prominent Shunammite woman, who was barren and her husband old, conceiving and bearing a child at the word of Elisha from the LORD (vv.16-17). To this barren woman this promise seemed too good to be true. The stigma associated with barrenness was harsh in the ancient world, and this promised son would answer the longing of her heart and remove the stigma of barrenness. The woman who so generously provided material things for the prophet of God was now blessed by the God of the prophet, blessed beyond the material.
Later, once the child had grown, he died on his mother’s lap from some sort of brain anurisum. However, he was brought back to life through the prayer of Elisha to the LORD (vv.33-37).
Finally, there was a great famine in the land of Gilgal and Elisha feed hundreds with 20 loaves of barley and some fresh ears of grain given to him by a man from Baal-shalishah (V.42). At the word of the LORD, all were fed and they had left over food (v.43).
The meaning behind today’s reading is simple, but profound: God cares for His people and can provide for them (us) abundantly.
The Truth: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
