Jars of Oil
Earlier this year, I read the story of the widow's oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7, NIV, and it has stuck with me, so I thought I'd share it with you. (NOTE: This is not the same story as the widow's oil in 1 Kings 17, in which Elijah asked the widow to use her last drops of oil to make him a cake, and the oil didn't run out. There are several miraculous Elijah stories that are similar but not the same as miraculous Elisha stories, and they are all fascinating to study and compare, so I recommend it!) WHEN WE HAVE "NOTHING" The dilemma of 2 Kings 4 is that a prophet of God dies and leaves his widow vulnerable because of debt and a lack of resources to provide for their family. Elisha asks how he can help and what she has on hand. The widow responds that she has "nothing at all" with the exception of "a small jar of oil," which surely is inconsequential in such a catastrophe. To me, this sounds suspiciously like the account of Jesus feeding the 5,00...