In the life and ministry of Elisha the prophet was a needy widow who came to trust in the Lord’s provision. Her life and testimony have proven to be an encouragement to many who are in need.

The account in II Kings 4 highlights the burden of being a single parent after the death of a spouse. Ideally, God’s design and plan for a home was that it have a married husband and wife. As parents, the two would provide balance along with mutual support. But the tragedies of death and divorce make single-parent homes all too common. In the account of this particular widow, we find comfort in knowing that God knows and cares about such difficult circumstances.

The Request

“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” (II Kings 4:1). 

The believing widow did the right thing. She took her problem to the Lord by appealing to the man of God to intercede for her and her children. In Biblical times, a family that was in debt could be taken as slaves or imprisoned until the debt was paid off. Such was happening in this account.

The Response

“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. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 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” (II Kings 4:2–4).

The man of God did not merely give the widow money. In the same way, God often does not simply drop blessings out of the sky. Instead, Elisha asked the widow what she had. Just as the Lord multiplied the lunch of the little boy in Galilee, so God delights to take what we do have and what we can do and then multiply the provision as we are willing and able to act in obedience. So, once the widow answered the prophet’s question, he told her what to do next. The destitute widow was to borrow as many empty vessels as she could from her neighbors. By faith, she was expected to act and believe that God was going to answer.

The Result

“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. 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. 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” (II Kings 4:5–7).

As the widow acted in faith, the Lord abundantly provided. The miracle was not a public one for others to behold as the “pouring room” door was shut. Also, God’s provision was in proportion to her faith. If she had trusted God a little bit, she would have been given a little bit. Yet, because she trusted much and was obedient, she was blessed with much provision. She had enough oil not only to cover the debt now but also to provide for the future of her family!

This account of the believing widow can encourage and motivate widows today to bring their needs to God in prayer, obey His Word, and trust Him to abundantly provide from His vast treasures. Indeed, He is able to fill empty vessels for His glory!