2 Kings

2 Kings 4: The LORD provides and gives life

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the widow's oil and the Shunammite's son, let us come to the Lord together. Ask Him to meet every need in our home, to show us that He gives life, and to make Jesus our daily bread.

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

Psalm 36:8

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You provide for the needy and give life to the dead. Help us to trust You for every need, and to know Jesus as the bread of life. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

A widow of one of the prophets cries to Elisha, because her husband is dead and a creditor wants to take her two sons. Elisha asks what she has, and she has only a pot of oil. He tells her to borrow empty jars from her neighbors, shut the door, and pour, and the oil flows until every jar is full. She sells the oil, pays her debt, and lives on the rest. In Shunem, a prominent woman and her husband build a room on the roof for Elisha, and he promises her a son. When the boy dies, his mother goes to Elisha, and the prophet prays alone until the boy sneezes and opens his eyes.

As you read 2 Kings 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD provides for the needy and gives life to the dead, as He did through Elisha.

Elisha served the LORD when many people were in need, and this chapter shows four needs that were met through him. A prophet's widow was about to lose her sons to a creditor (verse 1). She had only a pot of oil, but it filled every jar her neighbors lent (verses 2 to 6). She sold the oil, paid her debt, and lived on the rest (verse 7). A Shunem woman who made room for Elisha had no son, and he said she would hold one (verse 16). When her son died, she hurried to Elisha, who shut the door and prayed to the LORD (verses 20 to 33). The boy's flesh grew warm, and he sneezed seven times and opened his eyes (verses 34 and 35). In a famine Elisha made a harmful stew safe, and a hundred men ate as the LORD said (verses 38 to 44). No need in this chapter was too great for the LORD, whether a debt, a childless home or death itself.

How does 2 Kings 4 show us that the LORD provides for the needy and gives life to the dead, through Elisha?

A little oil fills many jars at Elisha's word.

Elisha asked the widow what she had in the house, and she had only a pot of oil (verse 2). She poured oil into the jars her neighbors lent, and it did not stop until none were left (verses 3 to 6). The oil paid her debt, and the family lived on what remained (verse 7). The text does not name the LORD here, but her husband had feared Him, and Elisha was His prophet (verse 1).

A son is born, as Elisha had said.

The woman and her husband made a room on the roof for Elisha (verses 8 to 10). Elisha asked what he could do for her, and she said she lived among her own people (verse 13). He promised that she would embrace a son, and she said, “do not lie to your servant” (verse 16). She conceived and bore a son at that season, as Elisha had said (verse 17). The text does not name the LORD here, but children are a gift from Him (Psalm 127 verse 3).

Elisha prays to the LORD, and the boy lives.

The boy died, and his mother laid him on the prophet's bed (verses 20 and 21). Elisha shut the door and prayed to the LORD alone (verse 33). The boy's flesh grew warm, he sneezed seven times, and he opened his eyes (verses 34 and 35). Jesus said that He is the resurrection and the life (John 11 verse 25).

The LORD feeds a hundred men with a little bread.

Wild gourds made the stew harmful, but Elisha threw meal into the pot, and nothing harmful remained (verses 39 to 41). A man brought twenty loaves of barley, and Elisha said to give them to the people (verses 42 and 43). His servant asked how a hundred men could eat so little, but the LORD had said some would be left (verse 43). They ate and had some left over, according to the LORD's word (verse 44).

Memorise

So he set it before them, and they ate, and had some left over, according to Yahweh’s word.

2 Kings 4:44

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I bring my needs to the LORD, and do I come to Jesus?

The widow had nothing in her house, except “a pot of oil.” The oil filled every jar that her neighbors lent her, and her debt was paid. Later the Shunammite woman's son died, and the boy lived again when Elisha prayed to the LORD. Jesus is the One who gives life that death cannot take.

Sin leaves every person empty and in debt before God, and no one can fill his own life. Jesus came and died on the cross and paid the debt of His people's sin, so nothing is left to pay. He rose again, and He lives forever.

So come to Him with all your need. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus, the bread of life. Whoever comes to Him will not hunger (John 6 verse 35), and He forgives all who trust Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD cares for people in need, and that the boy lived again when Elisha prayed to Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He provides for us and gives life, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:5

Father, thank You that You provide for the needy and give life to the dead. Thank You for Jesus, the bread of life, who went to the cross and rose again for His people. Bring each child to turn from sin and trust Him. Help us to bring all our needs to You this week. Amen.