She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.
The miracle in this story is just as real and from God as the fire from heaven on Mt. Carmel or the parting of the Red Sea or the feeding of the 5,000. It is true that God is concerned for His own. I do not know the reason why she was instructed to go to her house and close the door and keep this a secret. It was understandable that this was also the practice with Elijah and the widow at Zaraphath. There was a famine in the land. Others would have come to her house and discovered Elijah, who was hiding from king Ahab.
Perhaps secrecy was necessary to avoid misunderstanding if others saw her taking the borrowed jars and having a very large supply of oil. She didn’t have that oil to begin with. It was multiplied by the Lord in a miraculous manner. Frankly, we don't know the details other than sometimes God provides private miracles for personal reasons, and we know it is by His hand. Jesus often told people not to tell of His private miracles because His time had not yet come to be revealed publicly.
Sometimes God fails to get the credit and glory for supplying in His normal and natural manner. Generally, people think it is only by supernatural means that He is to be glorified. I stepped on some glass a while ago and cut my foot. I took the time to thank the Lord for all the things that I took for granted. I became truly thankful for being able to walk- there are some who can't. I thanked the Lord for indoor plumbing to wash and clean the wound. I am thankful for soap and the understanding of bacteria to help prevent infection. I thanked the Lord for clothing and comfortable shoes to wear. Things came to my mind that are provisions from God that the poor go without.
Imagine the response when the family witnessed the power of God miraculously increasing the supply of the oil. The crowds wanted Jesus to do the miraculous all the time. People in Palestine followed our Lord looking for food, wine, and healing of personal diseases.
The oil stopped as soon as the widow ran out of jars. Grace was given to the amount of her faith. She could have gotten more jars if she had only known, but she was given blessings according to her work of faith.
Our blessings may be limited by our capacity to receive. There is no limit to God's love, but often we lack faith, we lack prayer, we lack obedience, or do not use those spiritual resources enough. This is an encouragement to trust big. Trust, obedience, and faith are all part of being prepared.
We are not given the whole story or we might act differently. One who trusts God responds without knowing the outcome but believes God will work it out. God doesn't bless those that aren't using what He has already given to them to use. If you don't use it, you lose it.
Application: Are you using what God has given to you?
Prayer: Lord, I know many of the ways You provide are miraculous. Teach me to walk in obedience and faith, and then watch how You put the pieces together in Your way and Your time.
