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miracle is still daily enacted, though not in the same manner as regards the
succession of events? In truth, the two worlds of the seen and unseen are not so wide
apart as some imagine. To many of us the answer to the "Give us this day our daily
bread," comes directly from heaven, and more than the daily bread, or the like of it, is
assured to us in the realization of His daily and indirect help. And if in this history all
this was exhibited in a concrete manner, it was required in the circumstances of the
time and for the purposes of the mission of Elisha, although its lesson is to all time
and to all men.
We mark, that in order to put aside any idea of direct agency in the matter on the part
of the prophet, the miraculous help was not sent by the hands of Elisha, but
connected so far as possible with some visible and ordinary means. It is in this
manner that we explain the question of the prophet, what the widow had in her
house. And when she replied, "Anointing oil,"^164 the promised help was connected
with the use of it as a means.
The widow was directed to borrow empty vessels from all her neighbors, then to shut
the door behind her and her sons, and to pour from what she had into those empty
vessels, when the multiplying blessing of God would fill them. It would be difficult
to imagine any symbol more full of meaning and instruction, alike in its general
direction and in its details. It showed that God was a present help. His special
blessing, given when needed directly and miraculously, would increase our scanty
provision. Nor can we be mistaken in supposing that the direction to shut the door
behind her and her sons was intended to enjoin not only reverent acknowledgment,
but silent worship of God. And truly so ought we also, when seeking help from Him,
ever to feel ourselves alone with Him, combining, like her of old, absolute trust in the
promise of His Word with active obedience to His direction: doing what lies in us
while praying; and praying while doing it. Lastly, it seems quite in accordance with
what had passed that when all the borrowed vessels were full, and the oil had stayed,
the widow should, before disposing of anything, have gone to the prophet for his
direction, and, we may add, equally so that Elisha should have told her first to pay
her creditor, and then to employ the rest towards the sustenance of herself and her
sons.
The second narrative^165 in this series of "the acts" of the prophet, transports us to the
quiet of the village of Shunem, and the retirement of a pious Israelitish home. We
know Shunem from our former history,^166 but then it was associated with battle or
else with scenes far different from those to which we are about to be introduced.
The modern Sulem is a wretched collection of mud-hovels. Except from its situation,
it scarcely recalls the thriving, healthy, happy, agricultural village of old, as it
seemed to look in sunny contentment over the rich plain of Esdraelon. It was in close
(^)