This poor widow was soon to find out what a treasure she had in that pot of oil. But before we go on with our story, would it not be well for each one of us to answer the question she was asked as to what she had in her house? Can we expect our children to be brought to know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour if we allow them to feed on all the evil that comes over the radio, and television, to say nothing of the other things such as magazines and lustful pictures that too often come into Christians’ homes? I believe we would all do well to ask ourselves the question which Elisha asked this woman, “What hast thou in the house?” If there is anything that is leading our children’s hearts away from Christ, and turning them to sin, let us get rid of it at once. One feels this is of all importance in a day like this when the devil is making inroads into Christian homes, as he never has before. It is amazing how even real Christians will allow, and even defend, the most shocking things in their homes. Oh may we keep our homes for the Lord, lest we become like poor Lot, who could not close the door of his house to evil when he wanted to, because it had been opened to the wicked inhabitants of Sodom too long! If we do not keep out the world when our children are young, we may find with sorrow, as Lot did, that we cannot when they are older.
After the widow woman had told Elisha that she had the pot of oil in her house, he told her to go and borrow empty vessels from her neighbors. She was to borrow many — “not a few.”
What a beautiful picture of the grace of God in this day. God’s grace is reaching out to many “empty vessels” — to all who are willing to take their place as empty, having nothing to present to God, only to acknowledge they are lost and helpless. “He bare the sin of many.” Isaiah 53:1212Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12). These are the ones who get the blessing. Dear sinner, if you come to God in any righteousness of your own, you will be rejected. Only “empty vessels” are acceptable, for God can fill them, as He did here.
When the widow had gathered all the empty vessels she could, she went into a room, alone with her sons, and shut the door; then she began to pour out the oil to fill the vessels. So it is with a sinner — he must get alone with God. The Spirit of God working in his heart convicts him of sin (John 16: 7-11) and then bears witness to the finished work of Christ who paid sin’s debt in full at Calvary. How wonderfully the Lord used the widow’s pot of oil; and how wonderfully He will use the Word in the power of the Spirit in blessing to every “empty vessel” who comes to Him.
As each vessel was filled it was set apart; and when we receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour we too are set apart for glory, no longer part of this judged world, but waiting for the Lord Jesus to come and receive us unto Himself. May He make this truth practical in our hearts and lives even now, for we should seek to walk in separation from the evil about us.
The boys continued to bring the vessels to be filled; and as long as there were vessels there was plenty of oil. At last the mother asked for another vessel, but there were no more. Then “the oil stayed.” What a solemn day it will be for this world when the Lord calls His own away, at which time the Spirit of God will leave too. (2 Thess. 2: 7.)
ML 12/09/1956