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A Widow Blessed by Obedience

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Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.[2 Kings 4:4~5]

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There was Elisha, one of the great prophets in Israel.
He was a servant of Elijah who did not die but was raised up to heaven on a chariot of fire.

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Many people gathered to learn from Elisha.
They diligently learned the words of God spoken by the prophet Elisha.

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One day, a woman came to Elisha and said to him, "My husband, your servant, died a few days ago who had revered the LORD."

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"After he died, my husband was in debt so his creditor is coming to take my sons as his slaves. Please help me." In those days, if someone did not pay back their debts, they had to be taken as a slave.

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Elisha said to the woman, "How can I help you?
Tell me what do you have in your house?

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She sadly said, "I have only a little oil. That is all I have."
She was really poor.

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"Then, do whatever I say.
First, go around and ask all of your neighbors for empty jars.
Ask for as many jars as possible."

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"Then, go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.
Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."

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She left him and did as Elisha had said.
She asked for jars all around the town with her sons.
They borrowed as many jars as possible.

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And then they shut the door behind her and her sons, the sons brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.
The first jar became full.

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So her son brought the second jar to her. The second jar became full, too.
It was a miracle. In fact she only had a little oil.
However, the little oil kept coming out from the jar.

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Finally, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "
There are no more jars left." Just then, the oil stopped flowing.

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The woman went and told Elisha what had happened to her, and he said,
"Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.
Then you and your sons can live on what is left."

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She sold the oil and paid all of her debts, so she did not have to send away her sons as slaves. And they could live on the money that was left.
God solved the trouble she had through Elisha.

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God listens to our prayers and helps us, like the woman, if we pray and obey the words of God. Bible says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." [Philippians 4:6~7]

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Beloved friends, who have heard these words today, we have to pray to God, who wants us to receive everything that we need. I hope that you would pray to God and obey the words of God to experience great miracles from God as well!