What do you have?

Over the past couple days, I have been spending lots of time in 2 Kings. I confess that I am intimidated by the Old Testament many days, but this year I decided to spend more time there. I have been so enriched by that! Anyway, 2 Kings 4 begins with a story about the widow's oil....and when I began reading, I remembered reading it before, but it is so interesting to see God's sovereignty as He leads us to Scripture that is so intensely personal and applicable and relevant to His children at this present time!

If you aren't familiar with the story, the widow is left with her husband's debts, and creditors are threatening to come, bringing the possibility of her sons being sold as slaves. She calls on Elisha, the chief prophet, for a word from the Lord. Elisha then asks such a poignant question--"What do you have?" The woman begins by saying she has nothing and then remembers she does have something-- a little oil. Pause: If this were me, I am sure I would park on the "nothing" for quite a while, dramatize the severity of my situation, and do anything and everything to elicit self-pity. However, this widow doesn't stay there. She remembers something she does have, oil, and although her cupboards may be bare and her purse empty, she recognizes what she already has. Elisha works from there and tells her to go ask for jars...and adds a sweet side-note: "Don't ask for just a few." Second pause: I hate asking people for help. I mean, I HAAAATE it...and I hate to feel like I am in people's way. I don't know if I would let my timidity and stubbornness be put aside to ask for jars -- and MANY jars at that!

By faith, she and her sons will knock on people's doors and ask for EVERY jar they may have-- likely not knowing the purpose for this. By faith, the community lends their jars freely and unquestionably. By faith, Elisha speaks God's word that God can and does take what we have -- as insignificant as a little oil in a bare kitchen may seem -- and multiple it. Perhaps in His sovereignty, He has given or left us with something that He desires for us to offer before lavishing a bigger miracle on us. The widow and her sons fill every single jar with oil. That little bit of oil somehow does not stop flowing until the last jar is filled to the brim...and then they receive a word that they claim as truth and as sufficient: to pay the debts AND have enough left to live on--all from that little bit of oil, dozens of jars, and tremendous faith!

I can't help but stop to think of all the what-ifs here. What if she HAD stopped at "nothing"? What if they didn't feel right asking for jars? What if the community questioned and didn't give? What if Elisha didn't speak his convictions? What if the woman refused to begin filling the jars because she knew a couple tablespoons were inadequate? What if she refused to ask for help from Elisha in the first place? And then I think... Isn't that so much like our Father in Heaven?! Isn't it so much like Him that He initiates relationship but waits for us to make the decision and to pursue a life with Him, instead of our never doing anything? Isn't it so much like our God not to want us to stop after one, two, twelve jars...but to chase more than we know are even out there? Isn't it so much like the Lord to keep the oil flowing to the brim and THEN give us enough to live on?

His word is real. Fresh. Personal. Thank You, Father.