Slices
Prepare
How are you coming to the Lord today? Do you feel poor and empty-handed, or overflowing with his blessings (or somewhere in between)? Acknowledge what you are feeling and ask him to meet you in it.
Bible passage
The widow’s olive oil
4 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 round and ask all your neighbours 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.’
Explore
In our readings, we have skipped chapter 3. It contains another water miracle, one that affected the armies of both Israel and Judah. Now, in chapter 4, we zoom in to a miracle on a much smaller scale. Having provided water that gave life and victory to nations, God now provides oil, to give life and hope to a widow and her two sons.
Elisha’s question in verse 2 is interesting; it invited the widow’s participation in the story. God could easily have filled her house with gold coins, but he invited her to offer what she had for him to use. This theme appears a few times in Scripture – one example is the boy with five loaves and two fish (John 6) – God takes what we offer him, and gives it back hundreds and thousands of times over.
The miracle he performed for this widow was limited only by her faith. She didn’t just happen to gather the right number of jars; God filled everything she brought to him.
And why did he help her? Simply because she asked.
Respond
Our God is a God of abundance. He cares for the poor and needy. He uses the small things we offer him to give us everything we need. What do you need from God today? What do you have that you can offer him?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 35,36; Philippians 1
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Rachel Warwick (Director of Mobilisation) and the team as they consider how best to build on the strategic work they have invested in over the past two years. Ask that this will lead to stronger engagement with a greater number of churches, ultimately enabling more children to discover Jesus.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
Starting secondary school is more than new classrooms and new friends. It’s a season of growth, challenge and discovery. For some children, it’s exciting. For many, it’s overwhelming. And for all, it’s a defining moment.
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Secondary school is coming whether children feel ready or not. Let’s make sure they step forward grounded in faith, guided by hope and prepared with practical wisdom.
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