Prerequisites for Miracles
A miracle can’t be explained by natural intelligence. However, for God to provide a miracle; He simply sets aside a law or set of laws then brings forth another peferred law to display. We have a partnership with God for the working of miracles. What must we do before HIS miracle is granted? Let’s study 2nd Kings 4:1-7 for clues. Generally, faith must be involved except in rare instances. Hebrews 11:6 ~ “Without faith, it is impossible to please HIM. He that comes to God must be believe that HE is and that HE is the rewarder of those that diligently seek HIM”. Certainly, Elisha had faith as evidenced by the many miracles that he affected. This widow woman had faith in Elisha’s walk before God. We can unite our lesser level of faith with a man of God, who has a greater depth of faith. Oftentimes, a desperate situation is involved - in this instance, the creditor is coming to take the widow’s 2 sons to be slaves so that the overwhelming debt could be eventually resolved. This would leave her without income to take care of her household expenses. No social security back then. In desperation, she cries out to the prophet Elisha. Desperation can drive us to pray more diligently. Elisha asks her what she has in the house. To this, she answers that she has nothing more than a small jar of oil. Perhaps, she has already sold some of her household items to pacify the creditors for a season. Obedience is required. Elisha received instructions to communicate to her as a word of wisdom. See the 2nd listing in 1st Corinthians 12:8. She now has a choice to make. Will she do what Elisha has communicated to her to do? She chooses to be obedient and tells her sons to borrow as many empty vessels as possible from the neighbors. Every miracle recorded in the Holy Bible has been preceded by a man of God acting in obedience. With the door shut, she begins to pour the oil from the small jar into the borrowed vessels until all of them were full. Then, she asked Elisha what to do next. Elisha instructed her to sell the oil so that she and her 2 sons could be sustained for a lifetime after the debt was wiped out. At first, these instructions seemed to be very odd. However, you often have to do that which is unusual to obtain exceptional outcomes that are desirable and in your best interests. Are you willing to do that as the Holy Spirit speaks to you.?
