Behind Closed Doors

2 Kings 4:4

“And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels; and you shall set aside what is full.”

When I was in college in my field camp class or also called Geology 660, a young man who was a loud boisterous person was in our group. His personality was always very extroverted, filled with bravado and arrogance.  One assignment, I was paired with this jock who was loud and proud.  When we got on our own his personality changed.  He changed from a jerk who would hurl insults for fun into a humble servant while alone with me.  Partly because I was better at what were doing than he was and he needed my help.  After our time together on this assignment he went back to his old jock ways and belittling people for fun to pump himself up. The point is that his countenance changed away from the group.

This women in 2 Kings 4 had a problem. Verse 1 tells us that “Your servant (Elisha’s servant) my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” She came to Elisha and begged him to help her and he did. 

Elisha asks the woman what she has in her house. She replies, “only a small jar of olive oil.” He then tells her to gather as many pots as she can, from anyone, neighbors, people on the street, as many as she can find. The women then went to go out and find as many pots as she could, she was putting her faith before her understanding. She was moving in faith that a miracle was on the way.

Elisha then tells them to gather the empty pots in a room and close the door. He told her to start pouring the oil from the small jar into the larger ones and don’t stop until all of the jars are filled. The oil did not stop pouring until all of the jars were full of oil. A miracle was performed that day because she filled up so many large pots that they were able to sell the olive oil, pay their debt, and live off the rest of profits. 

Her faith was tested that day in the most unlikely of places, behind closed doors.  Behind closed doors is when the push comes to shove and when your faith will get tested.  The actions behind closed doors often are seeds to what happens on the outside of our lives. 

Today, be faithful behind closed doors where no one can see you or praise you.  God said to Moses in Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  If all else around you looks grim remember Jesus is right there with you giving you perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3) because you are standing on the Word of God and not your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Prayer: Father, as we move throughout this day, I pray that we would be faithful behind closed doors, when no one is watching or can notice our behavior. Help us to remain true to your Word and stand on the promises of the Word of God in all circumstances. Open our eyes to see your hand in everything and everywhere we place our foot. In Jesus name, amen.