A time of Crisis

2 Kings Chapter 4

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.



 This is a powerful story of crisis, obedience, and provision.It begins with her reminding the Prophet that he knows of their obedience and Faithfulness to The Most High.Can the same be said of you? She was at a point where her children were to be sold into slavery to work off the debt she and her now deceased husband had acquired in trying to raise a family and provide a life for their children.  There was no more options for her. She didn't have a plan.

So many times The Most High will allow a circumstance to come into our lives to see what we will do. Will we continue to do things in our own strength? Will we allow things to get down to the wire before seeking a word from The Most High?? She did. And at the last minute she sought out a prophet of The Most High. One thing can be said for her at least she knew where to find one. 

When she found him he asked her, " What shall I do for thee??"   obviously she didn't go to him for monetary help. She had to accept responsibility for her situation. She had to acknowledge that she would have to do something to get herself out of the situation she had gotten herself into. So they came up with a solution. She then had to do the work of finding containers and filling them. Then she had to get the oil sold so she could pay her debts. 

Everything that we go through is a test for us. It is a test of our obedience. She was given a word and had a choice in that moment to be obedient or to choose her own will. The Most High made the oil fill the containers which was miraculous but didn't completely let her off the hook.  She had work to do!  What has the Most High told you to do in your life? Have you been obedient? Are you struggling with rebellious flesh? If you are not succeeding ask yourself, were you given a word that you knew came from The Most High that you have not done your part in?  

Proverbs 3:6“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Fast and pray, the Spirit will speak and remind you of the scriptures or tasks that have been put before you,  that you have neglected. But this comes with a warning....If you receive instruction and you don't heed it, don't cry when the consequences of your own choices come into affect.