Oil and Interest

2Kings4...A widow whose husband was a prophet had a terrible problem. When her husband died, she was left with debt, and her creditors were coming to take her two sons into slavery because she had no means by which to pay the debt owed.
She asked Elisha what she should do, and he asked, "What do you have?"

The woman had one jar of oil. He commanded her to send her sons out to borrow empty vessels from neighbors and to come into the house, shut the doors, and begin pouring the oil into the jars. She obeyed what she had been told to do, and a miracle occured. Every borrowed container was filled, Elisha told her to go and pay off the debt and live on the remaining oil.

I could just go on and on about the many revelations that God has brought to light in this story to me this week, but I will only share one that stood out in particular...

Okay, you cooks out there, we all know that if you empty oil from a container, some sticks to the sides and will eventually settle to the bottom of the container. I have imagined that as the oil was poured out of each of the vessels, that it was returned to the neighbors with a very pleasant surprise! Do you suppose that each found a little oil in the bottom of their borrowed containers? (It was like receiving a little interest for what had been borrowed!)

Looking at this from a physical standpoint, I believe that God not only gave this as a blueprint for economic models, but also to show us that if we are willing to invest what He has given us, obey what He tells us to do and put forth effort, then He can certainly bless.

From a spiritual standpoint, recognizing the oil as "anointing" and/the Holy Spirit, if we are willing to share Christ with those in the world who do not know Him (empty), through our testimony and the blessing of others, out of obedience we will receive a blessing that we are unable to contain! Our spirits will be filled to overflowing with the love of God and peace that surpasses our own understanding, knowing His promises of provision for every need.

Finally, the "oil left in the bottom of the empty containers" could also represent seeds planted. With the Water and the Word, seeds can grow into a harvest for His kingdom!

Be blessed in Jesus' Name!
Angie