God Who Is Our Strength When We Are Weak

Life is one hardship after another, and we are weak beings who can lose what we rely on at any moment. Today's passage records four miracles through the prophet Elisha, and the first is the story of a widow who, after her husband's sudden death and because of debt, faced the danger of having her two sons sold as slaves.

With no way to get by, the woman did not look for a human solution in the face of the creditor's threats, but went to Elisha. Elisha told her to prepare the one jar of oil she had at home and empty vessels borrowed from her neighbours, and the woman poured out oil until every vessel was filled. As a result the oil kept flowing without stopping until all the vessels were full, and she was able to sell it, pay her debt, and save her family.

This miracle came not from the woman's little oil but from the good character she had shown her neighbours and her obedient faith in God. God does not work forcibly all on his own; he uses the small faith and fruit we have as his instruments. And when the Holy Spirit is at work, we must shut our hearts and focus, so as not to mingle with the world.

If we do not look down on the grace we now enjoy or on what we have, and rely on God alone in our place of weakness, what amazing solution will we experience?