Today's Reading:

2 Kings 5
2 Kings 6
2 Kings 7
2 Kings 8:1-15

There is importance in community and expansion. Even from the beginning of time, God commanded us to grow and multiply so that His truth would be known to the ends of the earth. The prophets wanted to build a larger meeting place for Elisha to teach. This showed how God’s Word was thriving as they continued to expand in numbers.

As God’s people grow, they often faced new challenges and spiritual opposition. This is why the story of the heavenly army is so important. When we pray for a hedge of protection around us, we must remember that the spiritual realm is very real. The work God does multiplies through us. Like Elisha’s servant’s eyes were opened to see the chariots of fire surrounding him, we too can ask the Lord for His army to be placed in a strategic position to keep us safe and protected as we grow in number.

Naaman was the commander of the army for Ben Hadad, the king of Aram (possibly Ben-Haddad II). Through Naaman, the Lord gave victory to Aram over the Assyrians. God controls all nations, even using evil or unbelieving leaders to do His will. Israel had a peace treaty with Aram from the agreement with King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom. Israel and Aram (Syria) were enemies with a lot of hostile times and border conflicts, but not always huge wars.

Naaman’s young Israelite servant girl, who was captured in a raid, wanted him to seek Elisha the prophet to heal him of his leprosy. The king of Aram wrote to King Joram of Israel, asking him to cure Naaman. Joram thought it was a ludicrous idea, as he was not God who could perform miracles. Elisha told the king, no worries, he would heal Naaman. Naaman, went to see Elisha bringing a gift of thanksgiving to help smooth the political transaction for the expected healing.

Elisha told Naaman to go wash in the Jordan River seven times, an unusual idea. Naaman was expecting a dramatic miracle performance. Oh, but the power of God, when we just obey His commands, even the small acts can produce huge results. Naaman’s pride was hurt at first, but he relented and obeyed, therefore was healed. He promised to not bow to other gods and asked for pre-forgiveness since he would have to pretend to do so as part of his official duties to the king. Elisha did not condone the behavior but gave grace for the circumstances, knowing it would result in Naaman’s death to not abide the king.

Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, was upset that Elisha did not accept payment for the miracle. He followed Naaman and made up a lie about two needy prophets for his own material gain. Gehazi then lied to Elisha about where he had been. Elisha saw through the selfish greed. As a result, the leprosy that had left Naaman now fell on Gehazi and his descendants.

The company of prophets (Elisha’s students) wanted to build a larger meeting place as they were expanding in number. During construction, one prophet’s borrowed axe head fell into the river. This tool was too expensive for a prophet to own. Elisha threw a stick in the water, and the iron axe floated up. This miracle showed that God is concerned about the well-being of others and that we should take even the little things to Him. His glory helps us with ordinary and everyday problems. He has power over the impossible, such as in a stick making iron float. The prophet’s honesty, admitting the tool was not his own, showed contrast to Gehazi from the passage just before, who was greedy.

Now the king of Aram was again at war with Israel. We must remember that because Israel healed Naaman of leprosy, it did not mean that everything was okay between the nations. Israel was weak, and these were surprise attacks and raids. The king of Aram suspected a traitor because Elisha kept revealing his secret battle plans. Even private conversations in King of Aram’s bedroom were known by Elisha through divine knowledge.

A literal heavenly army of chariots of fire surrounded Elisha as a hedge of protection. Elisha had prayed for God to open his servant’s eyes to see God’s army. Elisha then prayed that God would blind the Aram army so he could lead them away in a trap to Samaria as prisoners. In a surprising act of kindness, Elisha fed the enemy soldiers and then sent them home, creating a temporary truce.

The famine during the siege of Samaria was so severe that people were buying garbage to survive. A donkey’s head, which was “unclean” and had very little meat, was about $1,000 in today’s silver value. The dove’s dung, which was bird poop mixed with seeds that could be used for fire fuel or, in worst-case scenarios, food, was being sold for about $70. The high prices for garbage showed how severe the famine was. Only God was able to provide food and deliverance; the situation was beyond human control.

A desperate woman begged King Joram for help. She and another woman agreed to eat their sons in cannibalism due to the famine. They horrifyingly boiled and ate the first woman’s son, and then the second woman hid her son the next day. Horrified, Joram mourned. In his rage, he threatened to kill Elisha, blaming him for the disaster of the famine. Joram did not pray or repent for the nation. Instead, he was angry and blamed the wrong people. Famine was a consequence of Israel’s idolatry and sin. Joram expected Elisha to magically fix it, feeling abandoned by God, yet he refused to turn to Him.

Elijah prophesied that the famine would stop in 24 hours and the food cost would drop dramatically. The king’s trusted officer (the one Joram leaned on like a right-hand man) did not believe Elisha’s words or have any faith, thinking it unfathomable to happen in such a short time. Elisha warned him he would see the miracle happen but not get to eat any of the food.

The law forbids lepers or anyone with skin disease to live in the city, yet the four lepers were at the city gate. They believed they had nothing to lose. Either stay put with a 100% chance of dying, or 50/50 chance by going to Aram. God drove the Aram army away and, in a panic, they left their tents, horses, and donkeys behind. The four lepers plundered their tents, and Israel took enough supplies to end the famine.

It was written twice that Joram leaned on his officer (2 Kings 7:2 and 7:17), which showed closeness and trust. The irony and judgment of the man who heard God’s words personally and directly from Elisha, yet still doubted and mocked. He would see the miracle of the famine stop but not enjoy it. This is a strong reminder for us to never doubt God’s Word.

In chapter 8, we revisited the Shunammite woman whose son Elisha raised from the dead. Elisha had warned her to leave the area as there would be famine for 7 years. She had just come back and asked King Joram to restore her land to her. The king had just been talking about the miracles of Elisha with Gehazi when she arrived. Note Gehazi, now a leper because of his greed, may have been one of the four lepers with his sons at the city gate (speculative). The king not only restored her house and land but also the income earned while she was away. God often gives us more than we ask for. Can you think of a time when God answered your prayer in an even bigger or more generous way than you imagined? What did that teach you about God’s character?

How was Gehazi near the king if he was a leper? The king had wanted a firsthand account of Elisha’s miracles; maybe they were entertaining or encouraging? Gehazi would have had valuable inside knowledge. It was ironic that the man judged for his disbelief in God, still gets to tell of God’s mighty power to the king.

Today's Discussion question:

God often gives us more than we ask for. Can you think of a time when God answered your prayer in an even bigger or more generous way than you imagined? What did that teach you about God’s character?

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