Today’s Scripture: 2 Kings 4:7
I admire people who can obey God at the drop of a hat, even if they don’t know the end game. Some people—like me—want to have all the details before stepping out in obedience.
In this week’s story, we read how Elisha instructed the widow to collect as many jars as she could. Then, she was to fill them all with oil. But, he didn’t tell her what to do beyond that point. Had it been me, I would have assumed a LOT of things, and would have tried to come up with some doable options. Should we hoard the oil so we don’t starve? Or, maybe this is a test of generosity—Fill the neighbors’ empty vessels and give them back full. You know, give and it shall be given.
Sometimes our “vain imaginations” can stretch the Lord’s will beyond what He intended. The widow, however, obeyed one step at a time, assuming nothing. When she reported to Elisha that all the vessels were full of oil, he gave her the remaining instructions: “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.” Ohhhhh – Now it all makes sense.
Benjamin Franklin said, “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.” That’s probably the best way to obey the Lord—both eyes closed but heart wide open. With blind faith, we will assume nothing.
- How easy/difficult is it for you to obey God even if you don’t have all the information? What do you need to do to keep from stretching God’s will beyond what He intends?