PROPHETIC PRESERVATION (3)

“And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest’” – 2 Kings 4:7b

Elisha, the Prophet, the servant and successor of Elijah, also manifested PROPHETIC PRESERVATION: “And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest” (2 Kgs.4:7b). Elisha emerged about 150 years after King David reigned over Israel and several years after Elijah had been sent to confront the idol-worshipping nation. After being humbled by a severe drought and famine, Israel was returning to true worship. At the end of Elijah’s lifework, a small spiritual revival had begun. Elisha’s prophetic mission was to deepen the revival as he continued Elijah’s efforts in restoring proper worship, his work serving as a model in righteousness and faith.

God, who sees in secret, always knows all who are His, and had earlier informed Elijah that there were 7,000 persons in Israel who had not done homage to Baal (1 Kg.19:18). As Elijah was nearing the end of his ministry, God directed him to anoint the younger Elisha in his place. After a few years of training, Elisha became God’s spokesman to the northern kingdom; and his ministry was filled with signs and miracles, proclamations and warnings. He was essentially the prophet of peace and healing. Beyond the national assignment however, he also ministered Prophetic Preservation to individuals, among whom like the case of Elijah, was a late prophet’s widow who was wallowing in debt!

Elisha’s prophetic ministry included works of healing and restoration; bringing joy to people through divine miracles. Whereas Elijah’s ministry began by shutting up the heavens for three years plus, Elisha’s ministry began by healing a spring of water near Jericho (2 Kg. 2:19-22). This was a Miracle of Preservation for the City, because the spring possessed a toxic nature that made it unfit and dangerous to drink.

The same prophetic unction brought the miracle of material blessings to an impoverished family of faith. One of the “sons” of the prophets, died and left his widow in deep debt, so poor, all that she owned was a jar of olive oil. She had two sons to care for, but thankfully, remembered to ask Elisha to help her. She seemed to have been left with no visible means of support. Her creditor was pressing her for payment and threatened to take her children as slaves. In desperate straits, she came to Elisha and pled with him to help. Elisha instructed her to go to all her neighbors and borrow as many empty jars as she could. Then, God favoured her with goodwill to fill every empty jar from her one jar of oil, which was multiplied miraculously. She was able to sell enough of the valuable oil to pay off the debt and live off the remainder.

Just as the widow was inspired to believe God, we also can trust in Him for healing, restoration, and prophetic preservation!