The Endless Oil Bible Skit

Story of Elisha and the Widow | by E. Nielsen

Based on 2 Kings 4

Characters
Narrator, reads from the script, stands in back to the left. 
Widow, drape a cloth over her head and give her a small jar or pitcher (even a paper cup). She stands in the middle; Widow's two Children, they stand close to their mother; 
Elisha, a prophet of God, give him a Bible to carry. He stands to the right; 
Lender, a Loan Shark, give him/her a notebook and pen or a money bag. S/He starts on the left. 

Other props
Five jars or cups (more if available). The children will bring these to their mother. Set them to the left.

Narrator: There once was a woman whose husband was a prophet. He was a partner of the great prophet Elisha in the old days of Israel before Jesus was born. He was a good man, but times were hard for those who loved God and he had to borrow some money. He was working on paying it back when he died. So one day the Lender came to the woman.

Lender: Where is the money your husband owes me!?

Widow: Sir, my husband has died. I can't pay the money! I don't have anything. I'm not even sure what my children will eat today! 

Lender: Well then, I'll take your children to be my servants till they have paid off the debt. I'll make them dig ditches for as long as it takes. 

Widow: But they're so young--what good would they be to you? 

Lender: They are young, but I'll make them work!

Widow: Please sir, give me more time!

Lender: You have till tomorrow--I'll be back at noon. 

Narrator: So the widow came to Elisha and cried as she told him her problem.

Widow: My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the LORD. But now the money lender has come, threatening to take my two children as servants! What can I do?

Elisha: What can I do to help you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?

Widow: Nothing at all, except a small jar of olive oil.

Elisha: Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.

Narrator: So she did as she was told. Her children kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim!

Widow: Bring me another jar. 

Child 1: There aren't any more! 

Child 2: Look, the oil has stopped!

Narrator: The widow went to tell Elisha the prophet what had happened. 

Widow: My small jar of oil filled up all the jars- It's a miracle! But now what do I do? 

Elisha: Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on what is left over.

The End.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you suppose it means to fear God like the "junior prophet" did? (To respect God; to love and honor him.) 

2. Why do you think the widow first told Elisha she had nothing? (We tend to undervalue what we have.)

3. What happened to the oil? (A miraculous provision.)

4. What do you suppose people used oil for in those days? (Cooking, lighting, cleaning, and skin moisturizer). 

5. How was Elisha sure that God would provide for the widow? (God promises to provide for his people.) 

6. How did the widow use the money she got for the oil? (She first paid off her debt [always the first step, because when you owe money to people, they have power over you.] Then she lived on the rest.)

7. How do you suppose she lived on the rest of the money? (Using it wisely, investing it, starting a business, etc.)

8. Can you think of a similar miracle that Jesus did? (Feeding of the 5000--Matthew 14:13-21. The baskets filled with bread and fish until everyone was fed. There were 12 basketsful leftover, enough for Jesus' disciples to have their own basket! God provided for his faithful followers then, and will continue providing for his children today-- Matthew 6:25-33.)

Something to think about: 
How might we undervalue what we own or the talents we possess? 
What does God want us to do with what we've been given?
How might we "invest" our possessions and talents?

Copyright 2013 E. Nielsen 

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