During recent Bible studies of the Jezebelic spirit, its influence, and its fierce battles with both the prophets, Elijah and Elisha, in 1 and 2 Kings, I took a moment to consider some deeper meanings found in the story of the widow and the oil.
2 Kings 4 [AMP]
“Now one of the wives of a man of the [a]sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].” 2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have [of value] in the house?” She said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a [small] jar of [olive] oil.”
Can you hear the confidence in the voice of the prophet Elisha as he challenged the widow regarding her heart posture or faith, as well as, calling her to assess the resources within her possession in that moment? She was in an undeniably desperate situation. Her sons, who were her heirs and the future heads of the family, faced bondage to satisfy the tremendous debt against her husband’s estate. This was supported by Levitical law concerning an inability to repay a debt owed for up to six years of servitude with mandatory freedom in the seventh year to honor Sabbatical release. (Note: this law is practiced even until today exercising 7 Year Debt Forgiveness regarding negative credit accounts). This widow was surely vexed in the midst of her husband’s death, having to now assume the familial duties of her husband, becoming aware of an inability to pay the debt, and to have become subsequently burdened with the great likelihood that her sons would be forcibly placed into slavery. And, yet the prophet was redirecting her attention back to herself.
3 “Then he said, “Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few.“
The widow was being instructed to assume responsibility and to act. Seems simple enough, right? I could only and confidently imagine that obtaining empty containers from her neighbors brought some challenges within itself. Not every neighbor may have been readily inclined to share an empty container for one reason or another. Not every neighbor may have been cheerful or friendly. Some may have required an explanation of the need or a guarantee of some kind for the safe return of the vessel. Judgement is expected, but irrelevant. She was a woman on a mission to save her family.
4 “Then you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out [the oil you have] into all these containers, and you shall set aside each one when it is full.” 5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing her the containers as she poured [the oil].”
The widow’s response was clear: obedience to the man of God without question and faith in action as she and her sons were set apart to work.
6 “When the containers were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” And he said to her, “There is not a one left.” Then the oil stopped [multiplying]. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
When faith and obedience and work are partnered together, the Hand of God is loosed to perform miracles.
Believers, Loose Your Purpose!
-Tammy B. Williams,
1/23/2026
Loose Your Purpose! 
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