Elisha and the Widow's Oil

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II Kings 4:1-7 Analysis Introduction to “Elisha and the Widow’s Oil”: The book of first and second Kings is a continuation of the cyclical cycle that Israel follows throughout the Old Testament. The Israelites are unfaithful in their relationship to God, they are consequently disciplined by God through oppression, consequently they petition God for divine assistance, and God then sends a deliverer. In II Kings 4, the current deliverer for God’s people is a man named Elisha. In this particular scene of the Old Testament, readers are able to see Elisha’s miraculous power given by God in a time of Israel’s disobedience and discipline. This exegesis will explore the social and historical surroundings of the story, the contextual meaning behind the text, and its purpose in the Bible. Survey of the Text: At first glance of the text, many conclusions and questions can be drawn. From the initial look of the text it can be observed that “A man from the company of prophets has died, leaving his widow, destitute and on the verge of having to sell her sons into slavery to pay her debts… [Elisha] then instructs her to gather as many vessels as possible, then increases her oil until all jars are full. She sells the oil, which negates her need to sell her sons” (House 265). But many conclusions and underlying messages can be gathered further from this seemingly simple text of a woman in need. This section will explore some of these assumptions, and more importantly, questions that arise when analyzing the passage. The passage can be divided into four separate parts that will be labeled the backstory, command, fulfilling of promise, and solution to the problem. The backstory is seen in verse one of the text. From the information given, some ass... ... middle of paper ... ... ways I cannot even imagine or conceive. This lesson can also be transferred to the larger Christian community. Oftentimes, we place our trust in our large church buildings, governments, or self-ambition. We should instead look to God for protection and substance, and He will provide in ways that we cannot begin to imagine. He is actively seeking a way to work in the lives of the Christians and use their churches for His greater plan; showing all of mankind His never ending love. Too often though, we allow traditions, opinions, and personal beliefs hinder God’s work in our lives and the ministries of The Church. This story is a reminder that if God was able to provide for a widow, and the end of her rope, He can most certainly use the millions of Christians on Earth to shape the hearts and lives of everyone on this planet; all he asks is that we trust and obey Him.

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