Behind Closed Doors
by Diane Watson
I was reading a bible devotional study recently which started with the above verse of Scripture. I then read the whole context and found out that the widow with her two sons was desperate because the creditor was coming to take her boys as slaves to pay the debt.
She came to Elisha and asked him to help her. Elisha asked what she had, and she said a little oil. So, he told her to collect a lot of empty jars. Then Elisha told her to go inside and shut the door behind her and her sons, to pour out the oil into all the jars and, as each was filled, to put it to one side.
The widow did as she was asked – she obeyed Elisha.
While behind closed doors, away from the world, God worked His miracle, filling up all the jars of oil from the little she had, therefore providing for her needs.
I believe at this time, during the pandemic, when we are told to stay at home, it is a time we are to seek God and obey Him.
It was interesting that God used what she had – a little oil. In the bible oil often represents the Holy Spirit. Like the parable of the ten virgins who did not have enough oil in their lamps (Matthew 25:1-13), I wonder if we have enough oil of the Holy Spirit. Do we need to take this time of having to draw aside from the world to be refilled with God’s presence?
Perhaps on the treadmill of life, even though we were doing God’s work, we have not spent enough time to be with Him personally. This is a perfect opportunity to get alone and be with Him, to be refilled and equipped for what He is calling us to next.
Can we expect that God will do miracles for us too during this time?
Somewhere I read the following words of encouragement.
God sometimes shuts the door and shuts us in,
That He may speak, perhaps through grief or pain,
And softly, heart to heart, above the din,
May tell some precious thought to us again.
May we draw aside to be with God in these days of uncertainty.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to thank You through all circumstances. Thank You for this time to draw aside to be with You and to stop and listen to Your heartbeat. May miracles flow by being in Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Diane Watson is Deputy Centre Director of Ellel Pierrepont. Her husband Paul is Centre Director of Pierrepont and Regional Director of Australia Pacific and India. They have 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren. Diane had the vision for the first Australian Ellel Centre at Gilbulla, near Sydney, and was its Centre Director for the first 5 years.
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