Running head: ELISHA AND THE WIDOW 1
Elisha and the Widow
Student’s Name
Institution
ELISHA AND THE WIDOW 2
Observation
I have read the story of Elisha and the old Widow in the KIJ version. The interpretation in
NIV aligns that in KIJ proving the dame ideology. The notion, in this case, is based on the help
that Elisha provided to the old Widow whose husband had died. There was a debt. It would lead
to her to give up her sons until Elisha intervened through the miracle of the oil in jars.
Basic elements
The main characters in this story are Elisha and the Widow. Elisha was in the area when
the woman cried out that her sons are about to be taken away due to a debt owed by her husband.
The creditors aimed at acquiring the two sons who would become slaves to pay off the debt.
There was nothing in the household that would enable her to settle the debt but a pot of oil.
Elisha asked her to find more jars and shut herself and the sons in the sons. Once she had filled
all jars with oil, the sale from the oil would be used to settle the debt owed by the husband to the
creditors. The set up of the story is in rural set up whereby Elisha was visiting in his pastoral
activities and would offer his Christian aid to believers. The narrative structure indicates an
interaction of a woman who is helpless and cannot watch his two sons becoming slaves to
creditors.
Basic observation using key questions
Elisha becomes of significant help to the old Widow in the time of need. The Widow
looks forward to keeping her sons from the creditors by finding a means of settling their debt.
The concern, in this case, is to ensure that the debt is paid without having to give the sons.
However, there is a challenge that underlies the source of the income towards settling the debt.
The jar of oil is not enough to settle the debt; hence Elisha, the servant of God, was the means of
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helping out the Widow in the situation. The miracle performed through Elisha to the Widow
takes place in her home. It is after she runs out of options to settle the debt that she results to
Elisha in remorse that his servant her husband left a debt which they should repay. Therefore, the
miracle is used to offset the Widow from her misery in losing her sons.
Interpretation
The story tells the truth of how widows suffer under financial situations, especially when
their husbands die. They do not have people who stand up for them when the circumstances
warrant intervention by their husbands. In some cases, they lose what they labored together with
their husbands after they pass on. It brings out the importance of planning a budget that will cater
to financial needs in the family in the long run. Besides, transparency in dealings whereby the
family will agree on indulging in activities that will require agreed outsourcing of finances. The
wife has knowledge of who they owe, and the mechanism of repaying is done. The events that
follow up, clearing a debt that one does not understand how it was spent are a painful process
that is draining. Also, it indicates how the Widow had trust in Elisha that he would help her out
in offsetting the debt, not necessarily in the manner of selling the oil, but it was her last result.
The Widow did not find impossibility in the notion of oil, which was not a lucrative income.
However, she went ahead to ensure she would not lose her two sons. It is in trusting, obeying
that the Widow witnessed a miracle that allowed her to settle the debt. Openness in daily
activities between husband and wife is essential to ensure they are not in jeopardy in time of
death. Besides, it informs them on how to deal with such circumstances without surprises of
creditors carrying out an auction of items intended for the family development.
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The principle
It is crucial that families carry out their financial indulges openly and providing
information that will provide leverage in their absentia or death. Financial information on
acquired wealth and assets should be stored with the knowledge of the family members to avoid
loss or overvaluation by creditors.
Correlation
The story is based on redemption of the Widow in her debt to creditors. There is a point
of desperation that increases her chances to believe and have faith that Elisha will not mislead
her. It is her late chance of protecting her sons from slavery besides reducing her misery. In this
situation, she has just lost her husband and instead of recuperation from the loss, creditors have
the leverage to take away her sons. She would remain alone until the debt was fully paid. The
Widow is redeemed upon the miracle of the oil through which Elisha liberates her from the
debtors and her son from slavery.
In Exodus 22: 22-23 says that no one should take advantage of the Widow or an orphan.
God will hear their cry from heaven. Regarding the principle, knowledge will aid the family in
preparing themselves to provide creditors what is owed to them. However, in cases where the
creditors will base a collection of debt to cause misery to such, God will intervene for their sake.
In Isaiah 54:5, God reinstates the word in exodus by pointing out He is the husband to the
widows, and Lord Almighty is His name. It points out to widows that God will provide a way out
for them in the gap left by their husbands in death, divorce, or permanent singleness.
The same principle is portrayed out in the book of 1Timothy 5:16 indicate that widows should
receive help from the church. Besides, the family should play a role in the same course to reduce
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their burdens as a result of losing their husbands. These categories of women are oriented on
how to fill the gaps left behind hence have a lot to handle. Jesus Christ indicated that they need
care from the church, and the family and God will give them joy as they accomplish this dutiful
task. It is in the same notion that Elisha asked the Widow to shut the door since the public was
not allowed. They had failed in providing help; hence they would not share in her blessing which
God had multiplied.
Application
The question of Duty
The church and believers in Jesus Christ have a moral obligation to ensure that they meet
the needs of widows in the society. It is a Christian duty in which they should ensure necessities
do not burden them through communion. The roles are not limited to pastoral visits but toward
meeting their provision, which will ensure there do not surge in problems with creditors through
debt. As a church, it is a loyal duty to ensure that beyond the members who are widows, it is
crucial to reach out to widows in the society. It pleases God through the dutiful giving of such
people.
Character
Believers portray what they understand of the bible, whereby people in the society look
up to them as a mirror. In so many ways, Christians portray a message in times of desperation,
robust economies, and tragedy. They are supposed to act in resilience and in collaboration to
ensure people continue being hopeful. Also, despite the calamities that come up in the day to day
lives, they are to be of noble character. In the same way, the Widow did not question the
direction by Elisha to seek extra jars. She understood the oil would not cost highly but had trust
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in Elisha's word.
Goals
Christians are not limited to believing the word of God but being practical in believing
that they can have significant goals embedded in God. Christians are not limited to primitive
living, whereby they just achieve mere goals. They have been empowered to conquer the world
not only in faith but by increasing assets. They should move from one level of promotion to
another, achieve academic excellence, and partake in great leadership of the world in Christ. It is
in these goals that they increase their faith in God and test their limits to ensure they achieve.
Discernment
It is essential to discern the spirit of God by ensuring one understands Christian living.
Many interpretations take place in the world. Many callings in the world are not of God. The
Widow realized that God would use Elisha to solve her problems. It is in the same notion that
people should use discernment of evil and good when prompted by problems that need solutions.
It will help in avoiding false prophets, false preachers of the word for personal gains through
exploitation with not positive outcomes. Thus discernment is an essential aspect of Christian
living in the modern world.
