Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 4
To a person who does not believe in the true God, Elisha’s instructions would seem complete nonsense. It is clearly impossible to pour out more oil from a jar than the jar already contains. So, God was providing for this family in a very wonderful manner. Those things that people consider impossible, are not impossible for God (Luke 1:37). Nothing is too hard for God to do (Genesis 18:14).
This woman, however, believed God. She also believed that Elisha was a true prophet of God. A prophet is someone who declares the words of God. Therefore, this woman accepted that Elisha’s strange instructions were God’s message to her. So, she obeyed the instructions. She asked all her neighbours to lend her their empty jars. Then, she began to pour the oil. She continued until she had filled all the jars with oil from her one jar.
God did this wonderful thing in a private room. The only people present were the woman and her sons. Even Elisha was not there to see that his words were true. If God had not recorded this incident in the Bible, nobody else would know anything about it. On other occasions, God did great things in public, to show his power to a whole nation (1 Kings 18:38-39). However, that was not God’s intention here.
Instead, God provided for this woman like someone who gives a secret gift (Matthew 6:1-4). God often provides for his people in ways that other people do not see. His methods may seem ordinary or extraordinary, but they all express his goodness to his people (Matthew 6:25-34).
Next part: God provides enough oil to pay the debts (2 Kings 4:5-6)
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