Vessels Not a Few

We find here in these verses another indication of the prophet of Elisha’s having received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. The miracle here reminds me of our Lord’s multiplying the loaves and the fishes, for here (as in that account) everyone did what they could, and God multiplied what they gave, to the sustaining of all concerned. Here Elisha is approached by a widow of one of the sons of the prophets, and she tells him that her husband has died and the creditors were coming to take their two sons to be his slaves, as they had not been able to pay their bills since the bread-winner had died. There was this great need, and no apparent way for her to provide for herself. So she comes to Elisha with her problem, and he will help her solve it by pointing her to the human means and to be used, and the miraculous means to be given. This evening I want to bring to your attention the fact that your being provided for, and your ability to pay all of your bills is from the Lord. That is what this passage is teaching. And so I want to set before you the reasons that God considered her plight, and the means that He used to help this woman, so that she and her family would be brought out of debt and provided for during the lean times which they were experiencing.