2 KINGS
MOMENT – (22APR19) Elisha, the prophet, had been blessed by a Shunammite woman
and her husband to have a place to stay whenever he came to their town. They furnished
a room for him on their roof with a bed, table, chair and a lamp. Elisha was
very grateful for their hospitality. As a blessing to them, the Lord allowed
for them to have a son even though her husband was old because they did not
have any children. During the course of time, the boy fell ill and died. The woman
went to Elisha in distress and told him what had taken place because she had
not wanted to get her hopes up of being a mother and then suddenly losing her
son. Elisha went to her home, prayed, laid over the boy twice, and the Lord restored
the boy to life. This is an abbreviated version of the story, but let’s highlight
some points that were in the details.
a.)
This
woman and her husband were of financial means and yet, money could not give
them a child. Many people make the mistake of thinking that money can buy
happiness, but money cannot solve all problems. This couple did not have any
children, which was considered as being blessed during that time. There were no
fertility clinics, adoption agencies, or surgeries and medications they could
take to conceive. They were financially secure, but were living in a state of barreness.
b.)
The
couple was hospitable with the man of God. Even though the couple had not been
blessed with children, they did not allow their circumstances to prevent them from
doing what they could for others. Sometimes, people make the mistake of
allowing their current situation to make them bitter towards God. Yet, this is
not how we are to be towards the God who loves and cares for us. We are to show
the love of Christ to others even in our challenging situations. Those who
already know Christ, will experience Him even more, and those who do not, will
see the witness in us, so that they can see how we operate in the midst of
trials.
c.)
The
couple supplied Elisha with a bed for rest, a table to work and eat, and a lamp
to light his way. In times where we may be experiencing a season of barreness,
the Lord still grants rest for our souls, a table for us to feast on His Word,
and a lamp so that we can see light at the end of the tunnel.
d.)
Elisha
knew that they did not have any children and pronounced a Word from the Lord
that the couple would be blessed with a son. The season of barreness is never
fun and is oftentimes lonely. Yet, God sees what we do to remain faithful to Him
and does reward those who persevere to the end.
e.)
The
child later fell ill and died. Sometimes our blessings can be given to us for
just a short while or a lifetime. But it is up to God as to the length of time
that we can enjoy the blessings that He has given to us. We are to count every
day that we experience His blessings with gratefulness in our hearts and never
take them for granted because they can be here today and gone tomorrow and/or
we can be here today and gone tomorrow.
f.)
The
mother did not say anything to the husband as to their son being dead, but she
only told him that she was going to go see the prophet. Some may find this
strange, but after she laid her dead son on the prophet’s bed, she knew that
she needed faith. Sometimes, we have to be careful who we tell things to when
we are trusting in God for a miracle. Everyone does not have the same measure
of faith that you may have, and instead of them believing, they will operate in
doubt and cause you to do the same. Therefore, the mother seemed to think that
it was best not to inform her husband, but to pursue her miracle first.
g.)
When
Elisha saw the mother coming, he sent his servant to go meet her to see if
something was wrong. The mother told Gehazi that everything was okay, but did
not go into details concerning the boy until she was face-to-face with Elisha.
As we will see later, Gehazi was not operating under the anointing as his
master was. Therefore, she may have spiritually discerned this and did not want
him as a middle-man for her much-needed miracle. Once again, we must be mindful
of who we place our trust in when it comes to God working on our behalf. Not
everyone who is connected to a man or woman of God is connected with God
themselves. We must ask God to give us people after His own heart who will, and
can come into agreement with us on our Christian walk and/or be able to
intercede for us when we may feel spiritually drained, and are unable to do so
alone.
h.)
The
mother humbled herself before the man of God by grabbing his feet in her despair.
Elisha’s servant tried to push her away, but Elisha rebuked him because he
needed her to tell him what had happened because the Lord had not shown him the
events that had taken place. The Bible says that we know in part and prophesy
in part (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). Elisha was a true man of God but even he was
not given the revelation concerning everything. Therefore, he needed the woman
to tell him what had transpired. Unlike Elisha, God does indeed know
everything, but He expects us to tell Him our heart’s desires as an act of
faith on our part. Just as the mother humbled herself at the prophet’s feet, we
too are to humble ourselves before the Lord when we are seeking His favor over
our lives.
i.)
Elisha
told his servant to go place his staff on the boy, but the mother was not
satisfied with Elisha’s servant being the only one to go, so he went with her
as his servant went on ahead. We cannot always send others to do the Lord’s
work when it is something that is specifically for us to do. When Gehazi went
and laid the staff over the boy, nothing happened. Therefore, it took Elisha to
go before God himself on behalf of the boy.
j.)
Elisha
had to have faith that the Lord would restore the boy’s life to him because it
did not happen the first time that he laid over him. Yet, God did not let
Elisha’s faith falter and the Lord raised the boy back up with him sneezing
seven times and then opening his eyes. We as believers must be persistent in
our faith and believe that God is a Miracle Worker regardless of how dim our
situation seems. Faith involves believing in what we cannot see and believing
in what we do not know.
k.)
The
woman’s blessing was restored to her, and her son who was dead became alive.
The mother could have just accepted that her son was dead and buried him. But
she had faith to know that God could do miracles, and was not willing to just
accept that her blessing had been cut short. Sometimes, the enemy wants to
prevent, block, and shorten the blessing that the Lord has for us. We may have
been praying on a certain situation and it is not that God’s answer is no, but
it is the enemy trying to prevent it from happening. Why is that? He can see
what we cannot and how what God has for us will bring joy, happiness, and
peace. Yet, he can only block our blessings for so long. Therefore, we must be persistent
in our faith, and hold on to whatever the Lord has spoken over your life, so
that the enemy cannot claim the right to cancel what the Lord has already given
His stamp of approval for. God’s Word will not return unto Him void. Something
to ponder…
QUESTION OF
THE DAY – (22APR19) A man from Baal Shalishah brought twenty loaves of barley bread
and some new grain to give to Elisha. Elisha told his servant (more than likely
Gehazi) to give it to the one-hundred men that were present. The servant asked
how he could give them the food with such little. But Elisha told the servant
to give the food to them and they would have enough to eat as well as plenty
left over according to the Word from the Lord.
This story
may remind you of when Jesus performed the miracle for feeding the crowd of five-thousand
with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21). Have you ever
been in a situation that you had more month than money? Were you worried that
you would not have enough money to buy gas to last till the next payday for
work, food for the kids to eat, rent before the landlord came knocking, or some
other financial issue that seemed impossible to get through? Have you ever
given your last to someone without knowing how you would be able to help
yourself out of a bind? One thing that we can learn from such lessons in the
Bible is that the Lord will supply all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). We serve
a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and there is no time when Heaven
is out of service. Whatever you are in need of, have faith and believe that the
Lord will provide because He is our Jehovah-Jireh (God my Provider).
2 KINGS
MOMENT – (22APR19) Naaman was the captain of the army and was very respected by
his king and soldiers. Yet, there was one problem – Naaman had leprosy. There
was no cure for leprosy during that time and leprosy was not a disease that
anyone wanted to have. One day, his servant girl who was an Israelite was talking
to her mistress and told her of her desire to see Naaman be healed of his
disease. She told her mistress of Elisha the prophet. When Naaman went to the
prophet’s house, Elisha sent his servant to tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan
seven times and then he would be healed. Naaman was reluctant and irritated
because he expected a miracle to take place in another manner and he thought
that the prophet should have come out to meet him himself. Yet, after being
convinced by his servants to do as the prophet said, Naaman obeyed and received
his healing.
Sometimes we
may expect God to operate in one way and He may do something in a total
different manner. We cannot put God into a box because He will break out of it
every time. Naaman had to have a taste of humility by Elijah not coming out to
meet him and by having to dip in a river that was not known for its cleanliness.
Our lack of humility and expectations of God can sometimes hinder our blessings
as well if we are unable to receive what He has for us in the manner that He
wants to give it. Yet, when we place our full complete trust in God, we can be
sure that all will happen as He so chooses. God may ask you to dip in the nasty
Jordan so that you can receive your blessing. Will you be willing to go, or
will you pass over your blessing in the high hopes for it to come in another
manner. Something to ponder…
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