Evangelist (Mrs) Esther Ogunbayeje
“A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels and set aside the full ones.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So, the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:1-7
Introduction:
When in difficult times, it may seem as if life will continue to be difficult forever and nothing will ease, it may seem as if the situation can never change but this is all the deceit of the devil. Doing the right thing as being led by God’s spirit, there is the sure assurance of deliverance in God’s way.
There are some lessons that can be learned from this desperate woman whom God moved from zero to abundance, God is still the same, and His principles are still the same if we can trust Him. Below are some of the lessons from this widow.
Further lessons from the wife of the prophet:
Rescue your family- One fact that we know about this woman is that her husband was in debt before he died. The Bible did not inform us how he became indebted to his creditor, for how long and the reason for being in debt. The Bible also did not inform us if the wife was working and what her input on the family finance was, but we know from the passage that the husband was in debt and died and the creditor came for their children. We also know the step she took from there onward, running to Elisha for help and advice. From this passage, it can be deduced that the woman rescued the situation. This is a lesson that a family’s problems do not need to be solved by the one who created them because the person may lack the capacity to solve the problems. However, irrespective of who causes problems in the family, the problem can be solved with the understanding of the rest of the family members. Though this does not mean that a family member should consciously or consistently cause trouble for the rest members of the family to solve. Nobody should deliberately create a mess for others to clean but when there are unplanned difficult circumstances, a family member should not be left on their own. The wife of the prophet did not let go of her children to the creditors because she was not the one who owed the debt. The one who is able should support the one that is struggling in the family. Romans 15:1.
Desire positive change- Change is possible when it is desperately desired because when there is a strong will, there is always a way out. Change is possible when there is a desire for change. When there is a problem, there is always a godly way of solving it and hidden in every problem is the seed for the solution. The widow cried out to the man of God for a solution, and she found a way out - no condition of life is permanent when the right things are done. Some people like moaning but never really want a change even when they appear to desire it. Let nothing stop you from changing your circumstances. Nothing can hinder those who are ready to take steps towards their liberation- Gender, status and disabilities are not barriers to coming out of ugly situations when there are right attitudes and positive efforts- This wife of a prophet was a woman; she was also a widow, but she did not sell herself.
In this story, the man owed debt, the woman cleared it, set her home free, and moved to the point of financial abundance. There is no depth God cannot lift you from if you trust Him – this woman was lifted from indebtedness into sufficiency, she was taught how to trade and become independent. There is no limit to God’s help for a willing heart. You can do all things by God’s power and there is no limit to the height that God can lift you to attain, there is no limit to the length He can expand you if you do not limit yourself in your prayers and doing the right things Ephesians 3:20.
Be specific with your request- Be focussed on your prayer and refuse to beat about the bush. Be focussed on your request before God and man. Be specific on the change that you desire. It is not enough to cry out, but to know the change that one requires. Some people miss their opportunities for deliverance for a lack of clarity on the change they want. Some people want change but do not know the change they want. When they are asked the question about the change that they want, they begin to make excuses like the man at the pool in John 5. Some people moan more than being specific in their prayers. While praying to God, be specific. When you go to people to ask for help, know what you want ever before making a request to see or speak with them. Be sure of what you want even when tapped in a dream, and let it soak into your subconscious that you understand the change you desperately need. People tend to help those who know what they need and why they need what they need. When you go to God in prayer be specific; when you go to seek help from people, be specific.
Mind how you relate with your neighbours- The wife of the prophet was asked to borrow vessels from her neighbours. She was to go to her neighbours for the supply of vessels, God will place people around you to help you in times of trouble. The question then is who are your neighbours? Neighbours are those in your circle, those whom God has placed around you, they are your support network. Neighbours are beyond somebody living around you. Your neighbour can be those around you in your workplace as well. Your neighbour can also be your employer or your employee. What if Naaman and his wife had been wicked to the little girl working with them? 2 Kings 5.
Neighbours are not only or always those from the same tribe or those who speak the same language. Neighbours are not only the next-door neighbours. There can be neighbours around you in your difficult time e.g., for Joseph whilst in the prison, his neighbours were the butcher and the butler Genesis 40. He asked the butler not to forget him whenever he comes out of the prison. The butcher and the butler were Joseph’s neighbours whilst he was in the prison. Wat if Joseph had closed his mouth or despised the butler expecting that it is one great person that will come for him in the prison, perhaps Potiphar or his wife?
The question is how do we treat or relate with people around us? Do we relate with them in such a way that we can beckon on them while in need? Unfortunately, not all people can foster peace with their neighbours, co-workers, or people around them, if there is no problem, they will create it, and everyone is always offending them, they are difficult to please and they always find fault with others. Some of the ways of not doing bad things to people are not to despise our neighbours for who they are or what they have, and not to be violent towards them irrespective of whom they are. Taking into consideration that there might be some neighbours that are difficult, the Bible admonishes Christians to follow peace with all men Hebrews 12:14.
So, to enjoy your neighbour:
-Never be a troublemaker - Be a man or woman of peace.
-Never underrate/victimise your neighbour for you do not know when you will need their help- the wife of the prophet went to her neighbours to borrow vessels. What if she had cursed/quarrelled with them? It is easy only to go to the neighbours that you have a good relationship with before the time of crisis.
- Never despise your neighbours because they are of low status to you now- -Your neighbour can be of lower status than you yet be of good help. Sometimes, these people are ordinary people that we may not appreciate. Sometimes, we expect that for God to bless us, we must be surrounded by kings or by great people forgetting that God works in different ways. Did the rich man remember Lazarus though Lazarus was his neighbour? Was Naboth not killed by king Ahab who was his neighbour? Your neighbour can be of low status than you – The one you despise today can be of value tomorrow- don’t be like the rich man who despised Lazarus only for him to be asking for Lazarus favour later. The neighbour that is down today can be up tomorrow, the one that you think is useless today can be useful tomorrow. God might place around you those you will help now so that they can be there for you when you will need them e.g., Dorcas Acts 9:36-42.
- Never exhaust their kindness and good gesture- the woman was asked to trade with what she had remaining- she was not to meddle with others’ business or keep going to them. Some things that lead people to meddle in other people’s affairs are laziness, and poverty but when one is diligent and occupied there will not be time to go to others for gossip.
Never limit your mind to only one source/certain sources of help- Some people remain in their situation because of the ceiling they have set on whom God should use for them. They moan because those they fix their minds on to help them are not there or responding. God cannot be put in a box; He has different ways of working. He can use different people to do miracles. This woman was asked to borrow vessels from neighbours with no reference to a particular one. She was to borrow vessels everywhere- everywhere, not a specific place/or person.
In a time of need, it is possible to have a limited mindset by focussing only on some people. It is possible to focus only on those that one expects help from, that is, the people that one thinks should be of help. these are the people their names quickly jump into your hearts and these are people you think should be of help, to rescue you from drowning or being burnt by fire, these are people you think should provide you with succour, who should relieve your pain and offset your debts but oftentimes they disappoint and sometimes even want you to be disgraced so that they can mock you. These set of people are those who want you to sell your destinies to them so that you can be under their perpetual bondage. Funny enough, this set of people is not found wanting among families and friends.
Having a closed mindset can lead to failure. Having a closed mindset can lead to disappointment in people and fighting because they do not help. Rather than have a closed mind, in times of distress, keep an open mind and refuse to limit your thinking. Keeping an open mind helps to avoid disappointment and embarrassment. Broadening your mind will help you to see what God is showing you and whom to go to for help. Having an open mind will also help you to follow God’s directive.
Instead of limiting yourself, search everywhere. Searching involves thinking deep and wider, it involves going beyond a certain group of people, it requires going far in thought and actions. When you have an open mind, it will surprise you that people who will rise for your help can go beyond the circle of your friends and families Isaiah 60:10.
In conclusion, with God all things are possible. Nothing is too difficult for God to do, and no situation is too difficult to handle when they are handed over to Him. How we live our lives matters in having solutions to our challenges, having good relationships with God and people is essential to living a victorious life, and these must not be undermined.
Evangelist (Mrs) Esther Ogunbayeje
Christ Apostolic Church
United Kingdom
estherami18@gmail.com
gabbytoyin@gmail.com
+44-7478044454/ +44-7988672933.