Elisha and the Widow's Oil
2 Kings 4:1-7 Old Testament PrincipleTrust
A poor widow came to Elisha for help. Her husband had died, and a man she owed money to was coming to take her two sons away as slaves. All she had left was one small jar of oil. Elisha told her to borrow empty jars from her neighbors, lots of them, and pour. God made the oil keep flowing until every jar was full. She sold the oil, paid what she owed and kept her sons. We can trust God with what we need.
God sees people in need and keeps His promises to care for His own. We can trust Him with our needs and do what He says, even when all we have looks small.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
The widow's oil kept flowing until there was no more room. Paul writes that God supplies all our needs "according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19), and John says, "From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace" (John 1:16). In Jesus, God never runs out of what we need most.
Philippians 4:19; John 1:16; Matthew 6:31-33
The Big Story · Redemption
God keeps and provides for His people, even the poorest family in Israel. In Jesus, God gives His people everything they truly need, out of His endless riches.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: How many will it fill?
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Bread and oil
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Bring me another jar
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God gives me what I need!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Pour, pour, pour, Color the jar
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
A poor mom's husband had died. A man was coming to take her two boys away to work for him, because she owed him money. She had just one small jar of oil. Elisha told her to get lots of empty jars and pour. God made the oil keep coming until every jar was full! She sold the oil and kept her boys. We can trust God to give us what we need.
Memory verse
“My God will supply all your needs.”
Adapted from Philippians 4:19
Start here
Ask, "What would you do if you had a big problem and only a tiny bit of something?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today a mom had a giant problem and one little jar. Let's see what God did."
Bible story 6 min
A mom ran to God's prophet Elisha. "My husband loved God," she said. "But he died. We owe a man money, and we can't pay. Now he is coming to take my two boys away to work for him!"
Elisha asked, "What do you have in your house?" She said, "Nothing at all, just one small jar of oil."
Elisha said, "Go to all your neighbors. Borrow empty jars. Don't get just a few! Then go inside and shut the door. Pour oil into all the jars."
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: Several empty cups or jars of different sizes, A small pitcher
- Choose the mom, Elisha and two sons. Everyone else is a neighbor with a cup.
- Act out the skit. The sons collect cups from the neighbors.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
The widow of one of the prophets came to Elisha in desperate trouble. Her husband had died in debt, and the man he owed was coming to take her two sons as slaves. All she had was one jar of oil. Elisha told her to borrow as many empty jars as she could, shut the door and pour. God kept the oil flowing until every jar was full, and it stopped only when the jars ran out. She sold the oil, paid the debt and lived on the rest. God supplies what His people need, so we can trust Him.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Trust and obey, Bring me another jar
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
A prophet's widow faced losing her sons to a creditor, with nothing left but one jar of oil. Elisha didn't hand her money. He asked what she had and told her to act in faith, borrowing every empty jar she could find. The oil flowed until there was no more room for it, which shows that God's supply was never the limit. God keeps His promise to defend widows and the fatherless, and in Christ He supplies every need of His people. We can trust Him and obey Him, even when what we hold looks small.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The God who provides, My jars
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Trust
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman Who Touched JesusMark 5:21-43Jairus begged Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. On the way, a sick woman touched Jesus' cloak and was healed, and Jesus stopped to talk with her. Then news came that the girl had died. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; just believe." He took her hand, and she got up! We can trust Jesus even when it seems too late.New TestamentTrust
In the BeginningGod Provides a LambGenesis 22:1-19God tested Abraham, then provided a substitute in Isaac's place, a picture of Jesus, the Lamb God provides for us.Old TestamentTrust
Elijah and the Widow1 Kings 17:1-16; Luke 4:25-26During a long drought, God fed Elijah with ravens by a brook. When the brook dried up, God sent him to a poor widow with only a little flour and oil. She trusted God's promise, and her flour and oil never ran out. God takes care of people who trust Him.Old TestamentTrust
Jesus Walks on WaterMatthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21In the middle of a stormy night, Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water. Peter walked toward Him, but when he looked at the wind he began to sink. Jesus caught him right away. Jesus is God, and we can trust Him in every storm.New TestamentTrust
Kings and ProphetsDavid and Goliath1 Samuel 17:1-51; 1 Samuel 16:1-13God saves His people by His own power, through the champion He chooses.Old TestamentTrust
Seeing God's WorldThe Big StoryGenesis 1:1, 31; Genesis 3:1-24; Revelation 21:1-5; Romans 11:36The Bible is one true story from beginning to end. God made a good world, sin broke it, Jesus came to rescue us, and one day He will make all things new. Because we know how the story ends, we can trust God in every chapter of our lives.Old TestamentTrust