"A Mother in Crisis" (2 Kings 4:1-7)

2 Kings 4:1–7 NIV

1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

A Mother’s Distressing Circumstances

A Mother’s Desperate Cry

A Mother’s Dependent Confidence

A Mother’s Divine Caregiver

Exodus 22:22–23 NIV

22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.

Deuteronomy 10:18 NIV

18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.

Main Idea: We can trust in God and respond with simple dependent obedience in times of need, because our almighty Father is our generous and gracious Caregiver.