God speaks through many avenues of communication. He has no favored channel, just whatever suits the message to be given. Here are two such messages, one about water and another about oil. The provision of water is from a dream I received and woke to write it all down before the day began. And the message about oil is found in the Word, precisely where God had me read about it not long after the dream. Both messages have a common theme; that God hears our requests, knows our needs, and will provide more than enough.
Dream…
It is a warm evening, and I am walking down a sidewalk, on a street lined with shops and cafes but which is closed to vehicles.
Because I have not eaten yet, it seems well to find a place to enjoy a good meal. It does not take long before my eyes noticed a little bistro, which looks very inviting through the window and so I step inside. It has a Tuscan feel, with soft colors and rustic Italian details, beautiful artwork, candles, and tasteful decoration. The place feels cozy.
It appears I can have almost any table because there is no one in here.
A woman approaches me, she has a very kind face, dark eyes, and dark hair. She is the owner and apologizes, explaining that she cannot serve me, as the restaurant is reserved for a private party tonight. The group wants to have dinner by themselves, and have requested the restaurant to close to normal business; that they would cover all expenses to make it worth her while.
I understand. “Yes, of course“, I said.
I walk back towards the front entrance to leave…when a party of five people come through the door.
The restaurant owner greets them and seats them at a table near the front – by the window. She provides them with large bottles of fine wine, an antipasto plate, warm bread, and lets them know that she will be back to take their order.
I hear lovely music playing in the background, and it causes me to dwell for a moment. I have not stepped outside yet. (I think to myself, perhaps after she takes care of them, she will allow me to have a plate of food in another corner of the restaurant, so I do not disturb anyone).
The people at the table consist of a man who might be in his late 30’s, seated in the center of four women, all of whom could be no older than 25. They were loud, boisterous, offensive, and verbally coarse. They affected an air of being privileged, deserving of top-notch service. The man was abrupt, filled with himself, and treated these women like sex objects, the way he touched them and demeaned them. Even so, they smiled and catered to his mannerisms. They were glittery and greasy. They were glamorous and gross. And they had the whole restaurant to themselves. All five of them treated the restaurant owner as if she was nothing but an object to please them.
I watch as they continue with their outspoken and lewd behavior.
They drink, they eat the appetizers, and then at once they all get up from the table.
As if nothing was wrong, they laugh and make their way to the front door, to exit.
The restaurant owner is bringing food to their table and is visibly alarmed that they are heading to the door. “Hey, I have your food… you are staying for dinner, yes?”
To this the man replies wryly, “Win some, lose some.”
And they all step out the door and vanish into the street.
The restaurant owner is stunned that they are leaving, as they were supposed to be paying enough to cover what she would have made with a regular open-to-the-public evening of dining. They did not pay for the bottles of wine consumed or anything at all. To them it was nothing, just having their kind of ‘fun’. A sort of “sucks to be you” attitude.
Oh my.
She stood there trying to keep her composure. And I was still over in the corner, having witnessed the entire episode. She was visibly rattled.
I carefully approached to align with her, to offer empathy and support. “That was so wrong!” I spoke. She replied “Oh, it’s okay… It’ll be fine.”. But she was in shock, the words were a cover-up.
“I want to help” I said. “How?” She responded, “This private party was supposed to be an evening’s earnings and now my earnings are less than zero!”
“I know” I started “and I understand that you have a lease to pay whether you have earnings or not“. She began to break as the facade of being tough and resilient dropped away. “How can this be done? I don’t know how I’m going to recoup what has been lost! I have nothing!” She cried.
I walked with her back to an area of the restaurant where beverages are served. She was without hope.
Suddenly, I noticed six large containers had appeared before me. They were fully collapsed, totally empty, see-through, square plastic water containers. They levitated in the air without moving as if they were waiting.
It seemed that there was nothing to fill them. Void.
Then the Holy Spirit gave me a resource, ‘water‘.
‘Water‘ was given. Slowly, container by container – each was filled with this ‘water’. We both stood and watched as on their own, the containers expanded to hold what was being put into them. No longer did they need to levitate, but they were as if you had six clear blocks stacked on each other, they were now solid, firm, and strong. Substantial. There was more than enough, an abundance.
“Okay” I said, “This will cover all of your expenses. There was nothing, and now you have everything“.
She was overjoyed. She now had hope. All it required was that she accept the ‘water’, as given. She was thankful. I gave her a hug and a smile and turned to look towards the front door of the restaurant, people were coming in to be ‘served’.
Word…
In 2 Kings 4: 1-7 we read about a woman who needs big help. If she pulls back, waivers, or falters in believing it will not work.
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
“Go,” said Elisha, “borrow jars, even empty ones, from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. Then go inside, shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these jars, setting the full ones aside.”
So she left him, and after she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing jars to her, and she kept pouring…
When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another.” But he replied, “There are no more jars.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.”
Her first step was to ask. Her second step was to believe. She had to believe that what she asked for would be given. In that moment she found assurance enough to walk by faith. Her faith extinguished the fear, doubt, and debt that was smothering her. It gave her a path to be made whole again. The tools were simple, almost too elemental…
Gather empty jars, as many as possible. Get them from your neighbors, friends, and anywhere you can find them. The more jars you have, the more God will fill.
And He filled the empty jars until there were no more to fill, giving her more than enough to erase her debt.
God gave her what she asked for, a means to be sustained. And He went over and above because of her ability to believe He could do this.
We have limited resources, but God is limitless.
Closing Thoughts
My dream followed a very linear course.
I was hungry and went to find something to eat.
Although I never ate, I gave from what I had to someone who was thirsty.
God offers doors – and when we enter through them, He has things for us to do. They are always for Him, to accomplish His perfect will. It was not the first dream where I am the deliverer of ‘water’.
I especially love how not long after having this dream, the same story was given about a woman who needed oil, which like water – could only be received by faith in Him.
Thank You, God. Amen
