The Divine Recovery Series

The Israelites in exile reading these books would understand the faithfulness of God and His unchanging concern for them.

• When the book of Kings were written (550 BC), both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms have already fallen. (Northern ISRAEL in 722 BC and Southern JUDAH in 586BC)

• For the exiles who might have felt lonely and forgotten, the Word of God assures them otherwise.

• The Lord showed them that He cares not just for their nation as a whole but even for the needs of individuals.

Let me share with you a trivial thing that happened last year. I went to the Polyclinic in April to check on my elbow pain. The doctor said nothing serious.

Since I was there, I mentioned to her about my eye spots. She said it could be floaters but better to go for a check-up at TTSH. So she wrote a note to arrange and said TTSH would text me the appointment date. But the date cannot be re-scheduled, you just take it or leave it.

The date came back (May 9), just 2 weeks away, but I won’t be in Singapore. So I called in and said I could not take this date, and added, do you have another slot (even though I am not supposed to re-schedule).

That’s right, I could not. She could not, saying she needs to refer it back to the Polyclinic.

That night, while driving I still remember, I utter this comment, “I hope they can give me another date, and that’s a Monday!”

The next day, the Polyclinic staff called and said they are willing to re-schedule but the next opening is AUGUST (2 weeks away to 4 months away). “OK, I take it.”

She was hesitant. “That’s too far away. Not advisable.” I assured her that I’m fine with this. She was apprehensive, and then added, “The doc has written the word URGENT on the note. I need to check to the doctor.” and she hung up.

After some minutes, I received a text. TTSH gave me a new appointment – 15 May and it’s on a MONDAY!

The Lord knows and He provides. Despite a “no re-scheduling” and “no available slot”, they could give me a Monday on 15 May. I cannot ask for more.

• Anything serious with my eye, no. If the Lord knows that it’s not serious, then why did He help me get an early date?

• It’s not for the eye, but for me. To wait for 4 months and not knowing what’s wrong and a note that says URGENT, is not going to be helpful for me.

• God gave me the peace of mind that I needed.

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We see the providence of God here, the fact that Elisha was at the site of the problem.

• It wasn’t just by chance he was there, the author seems to highlight to us.

• 6:2 the prophets asked for permission and Elisha says, GO. KJV “Go ye.”

• 6:3 says “Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”

• It seemed that he wasn’t prepared to go with them, at this point, at least not yet. Not when they were chopping down trees.

• UNTIL someone came to ask him to “please come with us.” And he did.

The interesting thing is that the author included such a very casual exchange.

• Are you coming? Please come. This become a crucial turning point, because Elisha’s presence turned out to be significant.