God of the Empty Jar (January ’09)
God loves the impossible situation. In the days of Elijah, the prophet was instructed by God to go to Zarephath during a drought. It was there that God would provide for a widow, her son, and Elijah with a jar of oil and a jar of flour that were nearly empty. Elijah obeyed God and the widow received the blessing of her jar being filled until the drought was over. God miraculously provided by filling the empty jar day by day, providing for their needs. (1 Kings 17)
There is another similar situation in the days of Elisha. Another widow who was about to lose her two sons to the creditor asked Elisha for help. He instructed her to borrow empty jars from all of her neighbors, to take them into the house, to fill them from the one jar of oil she had in her possession, and to sell the oil and pay off the debt. She obeyed and God filled the empty jars with oil, providing for her needs and protecting her sons. (2 Kings 4)
These two stories teach us that God is the God of the empty jar. He loves the impossible situation. He takes great pleasure in filling our lives with His presence. Our lives are empty before we know Jesus Christ as our Savior. But then He comes and provides for our need of salvation and He fills our lives with His love and forgiveness.
God continues to fill our empty jars with His blessings. Day after day, He provides strength, grace, mercy, and purpose. This year, I would encourage you to find an empty jar, place it in a prominent place in your home, with a pen and a pad of paper. Then each day as God blesses you, write that blessing down and place it into the empty jar. Before long your empty jar will be full of God’s blessings. Use that empty jar as an object lesson for your children. Use that empty jar as a witnessing tool when people are in your home. Explain to them what the jar is for and why you trust God to fill your life with His presence. Use that empty jar as a reminder of how God provides. Remember, God is the God of the empty jar.
