Series: 3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope [#12]
THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM GOD’S PROVISION
2 Kings 3:16
Introduction:
This morning, we are going to continue our series from chapter 3 verse 16 of each Book of the Bible. We live in a time when the Church is in a spiritual drought; but it doesn’t have to be that way.
2 Kings 3:1-10 (NIV)
“Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them. Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to supply the king of Israel with a hundred thousand lambs and with the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel. He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" "I will go with you," he replied. "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." "By what route shall we attack?" he asked. "Through the Desert of Edom," he answered. So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them. "What!" exclaimed the king of Israel. "Has the LORD called us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab?"
There is hope in…
1. Disaster.
Evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s son Joram was the new King over Israel. King Mesha of Moab had been giving Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams; but when he realized King Ahab was dead, he decided he was done. King Joram wasn’t going to let that slide and so he was ready to go to war; but he was afraid to go alone. He got the King of Judah and the King of Edom to go with him.
I want you to notice that all 3 of these Kings and military were going to war over King Joram’s possessions. He did not care about anyone except himself. King Jehoshaphat chose the route and after 7 days there was no more water. We all know that without water, they had no hope. The positive thing from this disaster was that Jehoshaphat was reminded that they should have taken this to the Lord before just going out to war.
How many of us are guilty of this? We take advice from and follow people that have nothing to do with God and then we wonder why things go badly. We need to be wise about whom we listen to and follow. The only way that will happen is by seeking God’s will in that situation. We also need to be careful of our motives.
2 Kings 3:11-19 (NIV)
“But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?" An officer of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah." Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother." "No," the king of Israel answered, "because it was the LORD who called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab." Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you. But now bring me a harpist." While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, "This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones."
There is hope in…
2. Direction.
Elisha is very direct with King Joram. He lets him know very quickly that if it wasn’t for King Jehoshaphat, he wouldn’t even be there. Elisha had a harpist play music for him to help calm him. What God had them do was very interesting. God told them to dig ditches and that there would be plenty of water for the men and animals. I love that Elisha says that this is an easy thing for God. Notice, that God not only provided water for them; but also gave them victory over their enemy.
When you are struggling spiritually, seek God for direction. He will not just provide for you; but He will give you victory over your enemies.
2 Kings 3:20-25 (NIV)
“The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was--water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water. Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border. When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red--like blood. "That's blood!" they said. "Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!" But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites. They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well."
There is hope in…
3. Deliverance.
God delivered His people from their enemy. It is important for us to recognize that God told them to cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones. Not only were they to kill their enemy; but they were also to destroy all of their possible resources. Just like David cutting off the head of Goliath, we need to allow God to completely wipe out our enemy.
Conclusion:
God provides victory in more than just the spiritual parts of your life. He provides victory in the areas of our physical needs as well. You need to stop trying to depend on yourself and your plans and hand all of that over to Jesus.
