The Anointing Oil

“...Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors; empty vessels; do not gather just a few...” -2 Kings 2:4

What a miracle! The woman was a widower and she had a debt she couldn’t pay. The creditors came to collect the money. Since she didn’t have it, they were threatening to take her two sons as slaves.

In the story we don’t find her whining, complaining, or crying poor me. No begging, no illogical conversation, nothing. She’s calm, cool, and collected. It’s very interesting how she addresses the Prophet Elisha. Look at what she says upon seeing him.

“..Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord...” What an opening statement! She wasn‘t hysterical, or complaining about what she was going to do. She went to Elisha with great faith not a complaining spirit. What she was actually saying was, “My husband is gone, but he did everything right in the eyes of God. He was a godly man, I know God will be faithful to me and our sons.” This woman was incredible. A fine example of what it means to serve God. “I shall fear no evil because God is with me, and He will help me. He will deliver me from all my troubles.” God loves this kind of attitude.

Elisha asked her what she has? Her reply should speak to us loudly. She had a little bit of oil. Please understand this little bit of oil was most likely anointing oil. She had nothing in her house. Just that. Again, I find this interesting. That anointing oil was all she needed. That anointing oil was filled with power and might. After all isn’t that what happens when we poor the anointing oil on others or ourselves? There’s power in the anointing. Miracles, wonders, and the unimaginable happens under the anointing oil.

Elisha told her to go and collect all the empty jars and vessels from her neighbors and pour the oil into the empty jars. She collected all the jars, and began to pour that little bit of oil she had left into the first jar, filled that and went to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and on and on until every single last jar and vessel was used. Please catch this. “All the jars in her entire town.” This is for sure a “Wow God” moment. Can you even imagine it? Everyone is without or with very little but not this woman. She had the anointing oil. Catch what the Spirit is saying to you. The oil never stopped pouring. It ended when she ran out of every jar, glass, cup, pot, or whatever vessel she was using in the entire town! There was no empty jar anywhere to be found. Glory to God! What a moment.

I believe she knew what was about to happen when Elisha told her what to do. I believe in her spirit she knew God was about to bless her. She left Elisha and, immediately, did what he said. You know how I know she knew what was about to happen? She didn’t beg him to go with her. She didn’t need the man of God to help her do it. A word was spoken, and she believed the word. She didn’t need reassurance or confirmations. When God speaks. we need to obey.

What was the word? It wasn’t “God is going to give you lots and lots of oil.” Rather, it was a command to do something. She had to go and collect those jars, and vessels. She had to shut the door behind her. You see, there’s times in our lives we have to shut the door behind us and do what God told us to do in order to see the miracle manifest. It’s not about telling the world what God is about to do first. It’s about letting the world see what the Lord has done. This was something she and her children needed to do alone. She exercised great faith. She collected as much as she could. She collected everything. Another key point. She took it all. Leaving nothing unused. That anointing oil poured, poured, and poured until all of the jars were filled. Enough to sell the oil, pay her debts, and keeping the rest for her personal use. I’m so sure she had months and months supply left over. Oh, the power of the anointing oil!

Friends, it is that anointing oil that still has wonder working power. It is that anointing oil that brings about our miracles. Miracles take place when we do what God commanded us to do. There needs to be a stop in our murmuring and complaining. She did exactly what Elisha commanded her to do. She didn’t question it or call her girlfriends for their opinions. She went, got the jars, and, then closing her door with her sons began to pour the oil. Can you picture this? I’m one of those picture-everything kind of girl. I have a great imagination. Ask my children, family, and friends.

I can see her confidence. I can see her excitement. I can see her taking that precious oil and begin to pour it in the first jar. I can see her smile. I can hear her praise. I can see her grab the next jar. I can feel her heart pounding with excitement. I can hear her shouts of praise. I can see her sons bewildered eyes open even wider at what they are seeing. Can this be real? I can see it because I’ve been in positions where I had to shut doors behind me and do what God told me to do. I have seen the eyes of my children as miracles were performed before us. This is why I can easily imagine this scene in this woman’s and her sons' lives.

Do you know you have God’s anointing oil on your head constantly pouring? Stand up, step up, and step out in confidence that the God of this woman is the same God of you and me. God is asking us today, “Is there anything too difficult for me to do in your life? Is my arm to short to perform it?” It’s all about accepting the Word, and then doing what was asked of us to do. Then you shall see your miracles. Sometimes you just are called to step out in faith, and the miracles happen. Now imagine if she didn’t to what she was told. Slavery would have been the destiny of her children. What we do affects not just us but the future of our children. Obedience and faith bring the anointing oil. Let it pour, and pour, overflowing and never stopping. It’s our portion.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro Founder and President of Thread of Hope, Inc.