By Dustin Allman
Pastor, The Fort Church, Kingsport
Focal Passage: II Kings 7:1-15
Charles Spurgeon told a story of his grandfather James and his unwavering faith. “He had a large family and small income, but he loved God, and he would not have given up his preaching of the gospel for anything.” One day the family cow suddenly died. It was their source of milk. He was concerned but said, “God said He would provide, and I believe He could send us 50 cows if He pleased.”
On that same day, a group met in London — a group James Spurgeon did not know — that wanted to help meet the needs of poor pastors. They raised a large sum of money and began distributing it. When they reached the end of the list, there were still five pounds left.
One man suggested sending it to James Spurgeon. Another said, “No, let’s not send just five pounds. Let me add five more!” Others joined in, and the day his cow died, James Spurgeon received twenty pounds in the mail! You can trust God to keep His promises and provide for your needs.
This story is an illustration of God’s provision. The situation in Samaria was challenging. Extreme conditions of starvation were proving desperate (see II Kings 6:26-31). Instead of repentance, the previous passage shows that Joram had sent his captain to kill Elisha. But Elisha was not afraid.
Allman
In beautiful irony (and surprise!) Elisha proclaims good news of deliverance to the king. God promises relief in 24 hours. II Kings 7:2 shows us the captain got sarcastic, “No way! Even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”
In his skepticism, he mocks the prophet. He doubts this prophecy of abundance. This skeptical captain cannot fathom God being God and doing what God does!
I remember having a conversation with a gentleman from Seattle. In the early 90s, this man met another man starting a new business, looking for investors. The man attended a meeting, but decided not to invest. The business would soon become Amazon. He didn’t understand why people would buy products from the internet. Jokingly, he said, “I was not a man of great vision!”
This prediction wasn’t just a “prediction” of course. It was coming from a reliable source. Elisha, a prophet who obeyed God.
This story is an illustration of a skeptical, unbelieving heart. Four men stood by the city gate, most likely with leprosy. They had been marginalized to live in isolation because of their disease. Lo, and behold, take a risk going into the city — it’s empty! They began to loot, but decided to report their findings to those starving in Samaria.
When the king hears the report, he doesn’t believe it. He chalks it up as a trap. Even though Elisha promised deliverance and had always been reliable, Jehoram refuses to believe. Our failure of belief usually isn’t because of a lack of proof, but with a skeptical, cynical heart. The lepers’ story turns out to be true. Israel’s king was supposed to be God’s instrument of blessing to the nation, but God used these unnamed outcasts as heralds of good news.
God often uses nameless missionaries to make His Name known! We have greater news to report than deliverance from any military invasion. We tell the world how death has been defeated and victory is ours through Christ! B&R
