The Call to Continue

One of the wives of the sons of the prophets  cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord.  Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”  Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”  Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.  Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.” So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.  When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped. She went and told the man of God,  and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.” 

2 Kings 4: 1-7 CSB

When the king of Aram  was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.” But the man of God  sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly  warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.

The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?  ”One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”

So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”  he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do? ”

Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,  for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire  all around Elisha.

When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.”  So he struck them with blindness,  according to Elisha’s word. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.  When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.

When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “Should I kill them,  should I kill them, my father? ” Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”  So he prepared a big feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders  did not come into Israel’s land again.

2 Kings 6:8-23 CSB

The Continuation of the Call Isn’t Always Loud

• One of the wives of the sons of the prophets  cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord.  Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”  Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 2 Kings 4:1–2 CSB

• Let us not get tired  of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 CSB

The Called Use What They Already Have

• Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.  2 Kings 4:2–3 CSB

• I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 CSB

Continuing the Call Requires Obedience to God’s Strategy

• Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.” So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.  When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped. 2 Kings 4:4–6 CSB

The Call Continues Into Battle — With Spiritual Vision

• When the king of Aram  was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.” But the man of God  sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly  warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.

  The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?” One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”

  So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”  he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

  When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

  Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,  for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire  all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:8–17 CSB

• Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter  of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame,  and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2 CSB

The Call to Continue is a Call to Peace, Not Vengeance

• When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “Should I kill them,  should I kill them, my father?” Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared a big feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders  did not come into Israel’s land again. 2 Kings 6:21–23 CSB

• Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 CSB

The called multiply what they’ve received

• What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 CSB