We read in Psalms 77:1, “I cried to God with my voice...” (ESV) and in Psalms 77:14, “You are the God who works miracles ;”( GNT)
In Psalms 77:11, he says, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past.” (GNB)
In the previous message we considered how the Psalmist changed his viewpoint from one of despair in Psalm 77:1 to one of faith in verse 14, only because He took time to stop, remember and recall all the wonderful deeds that God had performed in the past. The sure way for us to grow in our faith and see impossible situations change is when we too can take time to ponder, meditate and personalize all the wonderful deeds of God as recorded in His word.
Three kings encounter an arduous situation
We read in 2 Kings 3:9, “So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom took an indirect route to Moab. After seven days they ran out of water for the army and the animals.” (GNB)
Three kings of Israel, Judah and Edom journeyed with their armies to wage war against the King of Moab. The threesome were sure as they ventured out, that they would be triumphant in their mission and gain victory over the King of Moab. However, after travelling for seven days, they ran out of water, and were in dire straits when their armies and animals that accompanied them were almost dying from thirst. The situation that they found themselves in seemed completely hopeless.
In 2 Kings 3:10 we read, “The king of Israel said, "Bad news! GOD has gotten us three kings out here to dump us into the hand of Moab." (MSG)
When confronted with such a despairing situation, the King of Israel, immediately threw the blame on God. The three kings who went to battle against the King of Moab, did not enquire of the Lord before they set out. They went forth in their own physical strength, and did not consult with God as to the route they should take. However, when things went bad and there was encountered acute scarcity of water, the King of Israel had no qualms in shifting the blame on God for the predicament they were in. The reason for this attitude was that the problem he confronted seemed so huge that God became insignificant to him.
There are lots of situations that we encounter, where we too may despair and feel forlorn. Sometimes these could be related to our family, children, work, income or health. Often like the king of Israel, we don’t seek God when deciding to do something, but, when things get out of hand we either run to God and or end up blaming God for our misfortune. This kind of attitude is not new, but as old as the Garden of Eden. When God confronted Adam about his disobedience, without hesitation he replied, “it was the woman you gave me, who gave me the fruit and I ate it” Genesis 3:12. In the midst of difficulties, it would be wise for us to analyze ourselves to check where we have gone wrong, rather than to quickly shift the blame on God or others.
Oftentimes we too murmur when we are challenged with hard times, simply because we focus on the situation at hand, instead of looking to God who is in control of everything. What happens as a result is that our problems loom large before us, and God becomes small in our eyes. Let us be reminded that our God is far bigger than any difficulty that we may encounter. We must cultivate the habit of seeking God’s guidance in everything no matter how small or big it is. Only then we will hear from God, and can stay secure in the center of God’s will.
The way Job perceived hardships
We read in Job 1:21-22, He said, "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The LORD gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!" In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.” (GNT)
When Job lost everything he had, he could confidently say ‘The Lord gave and now He has taken away’. Prior to this testing that Job underwent, there was a dialogue in heaven between God and Satan, where God attested to Satan regarding Job as one who was perfect, upright, feared God and shunned evil. Satan immediately responded that Job’s allegiance to God was simply because He had the protection of God fenced around him. Satan’s premise was that Job would stop praising God and would fail, once all the blessings and security of God were removed from him. God allowed the testing, whereby Job lost all of it, but still praised God and affirmed with unshakeable faith, that since God gave, He also had the right to take away.
For most of us the kind of perspective that Job had seems too difficult to comprehend. When we lose anything, could even be a vehicle or a house, we complain because we often feel that these blessings are the result of our hard labor, and hence it is unfair to lose out on any of them. We must examine ourselves to see if the Lord can find qualities in us that were found in Job and if God can attest that we are indeed His chosen ones. In times of testing are we able to hold on to God, no matter what is taken away from us, simply because He is of far greater worth than any blessings that we can receive from Him? God is the source of all our blessings and our eyes must be fixed on Him alone, for only then no matter what tumultuous storms we may encounter, nothing can shake our faith in the Lord.
The kings sought counsel from the prophet of God
We read in 2 Kings 3:11, But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”
In a helpless situation King Jehoshaphat, suggested that they look out for a prophet of God who could counsel and guide them. On enquiring they found out that there was indeed the Prophet Elisha who was the assistant to the Prophet Elijah. The testimony about Elisha was that he was Elijah’s assistant who poured water on the hands of the Prophet Elijah. This was a sign of humility on the part of Elisha, who willingly and humbly served Elijah. In due course the anointing that remained on Elijah was manifested doubly in Elisha.
In a time when people are so concerned about positions, we need to learn from Elisha as to how we can stay truly humble. It is only when we humble ourselves before the Lord that He can lift us up. The first quality that God is looking for in those whom He can take and use are those who are willing to submit and stay humble under the mighty hand of God. Submission will come only where there is meekness. Humility is when we consider and regard others better than ourselves. God is observing us, our attitudes, thoughts, motives and actions and if they are pleasing to the Lord, He will surely lift us up in due time.
God’s word was with Elisha
In 2 Kings 3:12, “And 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.” (ESV)
King Jehoshaphat perceived that this Elisha who was once an assistant to Elijah, had the very words of God with him. Elisha humbled himself before the Lord and Elijah, the result of which was that the word of the Lord abided with him. All three kings decided to go to Elisha and seek his counsel.The ones who went to visit Elisha, were not ordinary men, but kings of three nations.
If we desire that the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be manifested in our lives, the one thing that God wishes to see in us is humility. Many have talents, but do not have the humility that God desires so they can be used by Him. Like Elisha if we are humble, the Lord will do amazing things in our lives, and lift us up to heights that we cannot even imagine. The world may forget us, but God is watching over us all the time, and when we are faithful in every little thing, the Lord will reward us openly.
Joseph is a fine example of a man who was true to the Lord all through his life, in all his dealings and the culmination was that he was given the highest position in Egypt next only to Pharaoh. We must like Joseph, not compromise our stand but choose to stay faithful to the God who called us. The word of the Lord is clear, if we are faithful in little, the Lord will make us rulers over much, and the converse is also true that is we are unfaithful in small things, we will miss out on the bigger blessings.
Elisha did not fear the kings
We read in 2 Kings 3:13, "Why should I help you?" Elisha said to the king of Israel. "Go and consult those prophets that your father and mother consulted." "No!" Joram replied. "It is the LORD who has put us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab." (GNB)
Elisha was not fearful of the three kings who stood at his doorstep, but asked the King of Israel, ‘Why should I help you?’ Elisha recalled that the King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the parents of the King of Israel had defied God, worshipped Baal, encouraged false prophets and mistreated the prophet of God. As Joram, the King of Israel approached Elisha, he had already made up his mind that God had abandoned the three kings to the mercy of the king of Moab.
We read in 2 Kings 3:14, And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.”
Elisha was courageous enough to tell the King of Israel, that he did not wish to even look at his face, and the only reason he entertained them was because of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
Sometimes we tend to regard men who are in position more that we honor and respect God. A true man or woman of God will never be afraid of men, and will not hesitate to point out mistakes which are obvious to them.
The power of the Lord came down on Elisha
We read in 2 Kings 3:15, Now get me a musician." As the musician played his harp, the power of the LORD came on Elisha,” (GNB)
Probably when Elisha beheld the face of the King of Israel, he was so disturbed within, as his family had done much atrocities against God and His servants. That is why he called forth for a harp to be played so that the word that proceeded from his mouth should be the words of God and not those based on his emotion which were tumultuous. As the harpist played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha.
We should be cautious that no prophesy should be declared based on our own thoughts, but should be the outcome of spending time with God, and being assured that they are His words. This also reminds us that even playing of an instrument should be done with anointing, as an act of worship unto the Lord. Our worship should be such that it brings in the very presence of the Lord into our midst.
Elisha speaks the words of God
In 2 Kings 3:16-18, “And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”(NKJV)
The word of the Lord came to Elisha and he commanded the kings to make the valley full of ditches. This seemed such a contradiction as the armies of Israel, and the animals were parched and dehydrated from lack of water. However, they immediately obeyed, and in spite of their difficult situation, they dug the ditches as the prophet commanded them to. Elisha also told them that there would be no wind or rain, by so saying the prophet affirmed that there would be no visible signs for them to believe, and yet the valley will be filled with water so that they, their cattle and animals could drink and have their thirst quenched. Elisha reiterated to them that this was a simple matter for the Lord to perform. He further assured them that the Moabites would be delivered into their hands, and they would come forth victorious in that battle. Just as the Lord declared through the prophet, the valley was miraculously filled with water, and the three kings won the battle over the king of Moab.
Often the word of God that comes to us may sound contrary to the situation we are in. When the Lord speaks to us, we must like the kings, have a willing heart to receive and obey the word of God without question.
We might recall a widow who came to Elisha, and all that she had was a little oil in a jar. Elisha commanded her to collect all the jars she could from her neighbors and start filling them with the little oil she had. As she poured the oil, all the jars were all filled. When she and her sons came to a point where they could get no more vessels, then the oil stopped flowing.
It is also important that when the Lord commands us to do something, instead of sitting idly, we must go out in faith, and do all we can to experience the fulfilment of God’s word spoken to us. The Lord expects us to take that first step of faith, and when we do so, He will do His part of the supernatural in our lives.
No matter what our circumstances are, just like the Lord filled the valley with miraculous water, He will intervene to do the unexplainable in our lives. Let us go forth and be prepared to receive all that the Lord has in store for us, though there may be no signs to fall back on. When we trust God in those difficult moments, not only does He solve our problems in astounding ways, but will also take us to that higher level that He has intended for us to be in.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
