The Mother Who Struck Oil
Notes
Transcript
I. Introduction - The Beverly Hillbillys
A. Mothers and their Many Responsibilities
1. Who can number them all?
2. Yet mothers are equipped by God for this task
3. Motherhood was the first command of God to Eve
B. The Added Responsibilities of Widowhood
1. The increased load when the husband is gone
2. Such is the case in the text before us
1 One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”
2 Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
3 Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.
4 Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.”
5 So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.
6 When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”
She Knew Where To Go in the Time of Need (v. 1)
She Knew Where To Go in the Time of Need (v. 1)
1 One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”
1. The preacher’s widow
a. Wife of one of the sons of the prophets
b. About this departed preacher
(1) Must have been a man of faith. Served under Elisha
(2) Must have been fearless. He didn’t have any money
(3) Must have been hard working. He died young
2. The Problems: Death and debts
a. The two great burdens of life
b. The creditor comes to foreclose on the boys to be bondmen
3. The widow went quickly to seek the wisdom and help of God
This Mother Thought She Had Nothing (v. 2)
This Mother Thought She Had Nothing (v. 2)
2 Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
1. Elisha considering her problem: “What shall I tell thee?”
2. Elisha’s searching question: “What hast thou in the house?”
a. A good question for all mothers today
b. A husband who loves you? Food enough for today?
c. Money for this week’s groceries?
d. This mother had none of these things
3. The negative answer: “Thy handmaid hath not anything”
a. Mothers and others with this attitude are miserable
b. “Others get new things, I am deprived. Poor me!”
4. The Startling Discovery: “Save A Little Pot of Oil.” A Positive Move
a. Literally “an anointing of oil”
b. But this was the turning point
c. How long has it been since you counted your blessings?
d. Rediscovering the house, the family, the furniture, love
5. The answer for lifting your burden may be right at home
This Mother Found That The Possibilities Are Unlimited With God (vv. 3–7)
This Mother Found That The Possibilities Are Unlimited With God (vv. 3–7)
3 Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.
4 Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.”
5 So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.
6 When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”
1. Heeding the message of Elisha in faith
2. Involving her sons in the act of faith
a. Sent them borrowing
b. Thinking big! “Borrow not a few”
c. Expecting the answer
3. The closed doors. The thrilling moment
a. God took what she had and multiplied it
b. Filling all the borrowed vessels
4. What God will do with what you have
a. A boy’s lunch
b. Moses’ rod
c. David’s sling
III. Conclusion
A. Whatever you have is Enough for God to Use
B. What Hast Thou in the House?