How Long Will You Wait?
(2 Kings 7:3)
2 Kings 7:3 (ESV) 3Now there were four men who were lepers£ at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?
Introduction: Samaria had been besieged by the Syrian army. Famine had covered the land. Things had become absolutely hopeless and desperate. In chapter 6 we are told that things had gotten so bad that a donkey’s head was sold for 25 pieces if silver and that dove’s dung was sold for 5 pieces of silver. It had gotten so bad that mothers were killing there children so that they would have something to eat. Do a pretty sight huh? All of this happened because of Israel’s sin. They had forgotten their God and began to worship idols and because of this God allowed them to reap the benefits of their sin.
In chapter 7 we are told of four men who were lepers. Since they were lepers they were not allowed into the city for they were considered unclean. So what we have is the Syrian army surrounding the city of Samaria. These four men can’t go into the city and they can’t go into the Syrian camp. They were in a real dilemma. Then it hit them. If they just stayed were they were they were going to die of starvation, either way they went they were going to die.
Let’s look at these four men and see what we can learn about our own condition.
1.Their Condition Was Hopeless: (vs. 3)
3Now there were four men who were lepers
These men had no hope. Leprosy was a horrible decease. It was a certain death. Not only was it a certain death but for those who had leprosy they were made to alienate themselves from society. They could have no contact with their family members or friends. So as you can see their condition was hopeless.
Just has these four men were in a hopeless condition, you and I were in the same shape. We certainly were going to die. We had no hope. The Bible says, in
Ephesians 2:1 (ESV) 1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Because of sin our condition is absolutely hopeless. We are just like the four men with leprosy.
2.Their Calamity Was Certain: (vs. 3)
“Why are we sitting here until we die?”
Their future meant certain death. They were going to die. The way they looked at it death was going to come and it was the one thing that was sure.
Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
3.There Choice Was Obvious: (vs. 4)
If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.”
There choice had become very obvious. They could sit there and die, they could go into the city and die, or they could go to the Syrian camp and die there.
Joshua said to the children of Israel that they had a choice. Joshua told the children of Israel “Chose you this day who you will serve,”
You and I are just like the four lepers, we have a choice to make and the choice is very obvious. We can sit here and die (a spiritual death) or we can get up and go to Jesus. If we decide to just there we will certainly die.
2 Corinthians 6:2, for he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
4.Their Commitment Was Courageous: (vs. 5)
5So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there.
Notice that these four men just didn’t sit and talk about it. They made a very courageous choice. They got up and went to the only place that could offer them hope. The Syrian camp was the only place with food and water; they had everything that the four men needed to live. Was there risk involved? Yes, there was but with faith and courage they got up and went the Syrian camp.
The New Testament is filled with people who were courageous and came to Jesus. They realized that without His help they would surely die.
Let me tell you something for you to come to Christ will take courage and faith. How courageous are you?
5.Their Conclusion was Miraculous: (vs.6-8)
6For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” 7So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them. These men needed a miracle if they were going to live. I hope tonight we can introduce you to the miracle worker. Jesus knows how to do a live saving miracle in our lives. You see salvation is God’s greatest miracle.
Conclusion: How long will you wait? Will you just sit here until you die or will you get up and come to the one than can bring the miracle of life to you? You see you have a choice to make. What will you do?
