The lessons of this book are extracted from a close reading of the storyof Elisha and the widow, found in 2 Kings 4: 1-7. There are many lessons we can take from this passage; however, the central illustration that the story reveals is about God's ability to provide for us in spite of the challenges and difficulties that we encounter, and the limitations that we may have. God is able to supply our needs, often in miraculous ways, and as we analyze the scripture, we shall discover His process. Our foundational text reads: A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves. 2 So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil." 3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors-empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones." 5 So she went from him and shut the door and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest ." 2 Kings 4: 1-7 If you are in a situation like the widow's, where you feel down and out, this book is intended to help you. If you are dealing with a problem that seems so complex, so overwhelming, and all-encompassing that you don't know where to turn, then this book is for you. Be encouraged by the widow's story; that in those moments when you feel powerless to change your situation, there is hope for transformation. It is in those moments when you feel broken, and your ego is bruised and humbled, that you are in a good position to receive the grace, mercy, and miracles that only God can deliver. If you can relate to the widow in this story, and feel like you have nothing but a small, and seemingly insignificant thing to offer, then you should rejoice, because if you choose to rely on God, and exercise faith and obedience to His word, you may very well be on your way towards seeing the power and favor of God in your life.A Complex Set Of Problems Have you ever noticed that in life problems often come in groups? They don't usually appear at your door one at a time; they invite their cousins and friends along with them. While you are trying to get a grip on one situation, another one springs up, followed by yet another, lending credence to the adage that "when it rains, it pours". Dealing with a cluster of problems is not always easy. Many times the situation gets very complicated and overwhelming. This was the situation the widow was in.Here was a woman who was confronted simultaneously by various challenges in her life. First of all, she lost her husband. Unfortunately, while she was mourning and expecting people to have sympathy for her, the problem became compounded by other factors. In addition to being widowed, we learn that she was in debt. Her children were about to be taken away from her; she was suffering shame in her community; and she was frustrated with God. She was going through a crisis of huge proportions. So she went to the prophet Elisha, who used to be her now-deceased husband's boss, and presented her dilemma to him, seeking a way out. I believe that we can all identify with this woman, because we all face complex and complicated problems at various points in our lives. We can break down the widow's problems into five different issues:
