Today’s Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1, 4
In yesterday’s short devotional, we noted how the woman involved the neighbors in her situation as she borrowed as many jars as possible. After she and her sons collected all they could, Elisha told her to “go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.” Who were they shutting out?
Scripture gives a few other examples of miracles behind closed doors. Here are two:
- 2 Kings 4:8-37 records the story of the death of the young son of a well-to-do woman. When Elisha entered the room where the boy’s body lay, he shut the door on his servant and the distressed mother.
- In Matthew 9:18-26 we read how, when Jesus raised the young girl from the dead, He first closed the door on the skeptical crowd.
In the first example, Elisha didn’t want the distress of the boy’s mother to distract him from getting hold of God. In the second example, Jesus shut out the noisy, mocking crowd.
In our story of the widow, even though she found a lot of support from the neighbors who loaned her vessels, there may have been a few who were skeptical. Elisha may have wanted them shut out so the woman and her sons could experience the miracle without disbelief. Furthermore, the creditor was on his way (see 2 Kings 4:1). If he showed up sooner than expected and saw the free-flowing oil filling the vessels, he might have grabbed it all, leaving her with nothing.
Sometimes we need to shut others out so we can be more open to a miracle from God. People who are skeptical, disrespectful, or who question our spiritual sanity will not encourage our faith. It’s good to meet with God behind closed doors. Then we can emerge with a greater sense of Who He is and how He will meet us next time we face a difficult situation.
- Who/what distracts you from meeting with God behind closed doors?