Preparing to be Blessed

 Read 2 Kings 4. 

Elisha's double portion of Elijah's spirit continues to be on display in this chapter.  It contains three more miracles. 

The first opportunity came from a widow of one of the prophets.  With her husband gone and no means of support, she was being foreclosed upon by creditors.  Evidently, she had no property as collateral, so her two sons would be taken as debtor slaves.  Elisha used a tactic often employed by Jesus.  The need appeared obvious but there was more than one way to resolve the issue.  He asked her thoughtful questions. 

Some transferable insights for us:

1. Throughout the Old and New Testament, God ordered special attention and care for widows and orphans.

2. Giving money to the needy is not always the best way to resolve the problem.

3. When there is a desperate need, it is good and right to ask ourselves and others some clarifying questions.

4. The key question is-"What do you already have"?  Often, the answer is not money but what is readily available to use for a solution beyond the immediate crisis.  It may not seem like much, but with God's blessing it can be enough.

5. Get ready to receive.  This requires an act of faith.  God will not waste His resources.  Why would He bless those who have no capacity to receive it?  The widow prepared to receive the blessing by expanding her capacity.  It was only a bunch of empty pots.  Note: God only gave her what she had prepared to receive.  Once all the pots were full, the blessing stopped.

6. In two of the miracles in this chapter Elisha gave instructions to "shut the door".  These miracles were not done as a side-show to draw a crowd.  Many times God works in private in order to reward openly. 

We need to be thankful for what we have, seek to expand our capacity, and trust God to meet our need.  It will be enough.