The oil stopped flowing because there weren’t any empty vessels in the widow woman’s home. She’d filled every empty vessel, and with that, the oil stopped flowing.
Oh, it would be easy to rejoice right there. To look around and see every single borrowed vessel filled to the brim with oil from a single jar – that was miraculous indeed. But she knew she needed further instruction.
Now what? There had to be something else.
So off she went back to Elisha, and he did not disappoint. The oil-filled vessels resting throughout her home, filled by her single pot of oil that God had clearly touched, would serve as her livelihood. Ah, now it made perfect sense.
I am sure she rushed back home with renewed excitement and understanding as to why she was directed to fill the empty vessels.
Funny how the vessels were filled, but she was empty of understanding—albeit just for a little while. But God used Elisha to explain why she did what she did. It was God’s plan of deliverance for her. What was the oil for? Her deliverance and turnaround.
What is God’s purpose behind what He’s instructed you to do? Your deliverance and turnaround! Will it make sense as you’re pouring? No. Does it have to make sense while you’re pouring? No. But continue to pour until it stops. And it will stop.
Pouring isn’t permanent. The results are.
4 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.4 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.5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. (2 Kings 4:1-7 KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)