2 Kings 6:15-19 ESV

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

15 Kinaumagahan, nang ang lingkod ng tao ng Diyos ay bumangong maaga at lumabas, isang hukbo na may mga kabayo at mga karwahe ang nakapaligid sa bayan. At sinabi ng kanyang lingkod, “Kahabag-habag tayo, panginoon ko! Paano ang ating gagawin?” 16 At siya'y sumagot, “Huwag kang matakot, sapagkat ang mga kasama natin ay higit kaysa mga kasama nila.”17 Si Eliseo ay nanalangin, at nagsabi, “Idinadalangin ko sa iyo, PANGINOON, na buksan mo ang kanyang mga mata upang siya'y makakita.” At binuksan ng PANGINOON ang mga mata ng binata, at siya'y nakakita. Ang bundok ay punô ng mga kabayo at ng mga karwahe ng apoy sa palibot ni Eliseo. 18 Nang ang mga taga-Siria ay dumating laban sa kanya, nanalangin si Eliseo sa PANGINOON, at nagsabi, “Idinadalangin ko sa iyo, na bulagin mo ang mga taong ito.” At kanyang binulag sila ayon sa salita ni Eliseo. 19 At sinabi ni Eliseo sa kanila, “Hindi ito ang daan, at hindi ito ang lunsod. Sumunod kayo sa akin at dadalhin ko kayo sa taong inyong hinahanap.” At kanyang dinala sila sa Samaria.

O LORD, PLEASE OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE.

While Elisha and his servant were in Dothan, a great army with horses and chariots came and surrounded the city. Every exit was sealed. The next morning, the servant who saw the army and shouted in fear, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

Fear is our natural reaction when we are overwhelmed, is it not? When we realize that our problem is much bigger than we can carry. And this is the reality we face today in the ongoing pandemic. But God is real, too. Thus we may say with David, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”[Psa 56:3]

While the servant was in panic, Elisha was in perfect peace. Why? He saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire around him. We may not God by our naked eye but we must believe that “ He is and He is the rewarder to them who diligently seek Him.”[Heb 11:6] As the prophet Isaiah has written;

“fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”[Isa 41:10]

We must see the Lord as greater than our problems so that His peace could be experienced. For He promised, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”[Isa 26:3]

Elisha had understood why his servant was frantic. Instead of disparaging him, he prayed unto God to open his eyes. His fear ended when he saw the host of army protecting them. And, amazingly, the same Lord who opened the servant’s eyes had blinded the eyes of the Syrian armies according to the prayer of Elisha. Thus, Elisha ushered the blind armies away from the city toward Samaria.

Today, we are either like Elisha seeing God by faith, thereby experiencing His peace. Or, like the servant, we are panicking. We need to “believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”[Psa 27:13]

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2 Kings 6:8-14 ESV

8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD

During war, decision making and military actions between warring kings matter greatly. The king of Syria was outsmarted by the king of Israel many times. The Syrians had set ambushes but the Israelites knew their plans. The reason was simple. Elisha’s counsels to the king was followed. The prophet knew every move the king of Syria did.

Similarly, God doesn’t want us to be deceived by the enemy. Knowledge of the truth is paramount in our spiritual warfare. We must discern the truth from the errors the father of lies thow upon us. And discernment is knowing not the difference between black and white which is apparent. It is recognizing the rightness in a seemingly wrong thing and the wrongness of a seemigly right thing. The key is the Holy Spirit using the word of God. “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”[2 Cor 10:4]

The king of Syria was puzzled. Upon knowing from one of his servants that Elisha was the culprit, he ordered right away to find and seize him. Literally, Elisha was the brain of Israel’s successes. Similarly, it is understandable that Satan is after to the godly. He seeks to fire his magic bullet to the closest to the Lord. Let us be realistic in our walk with the Lord. The closer we are with God, the more we feel the relentless attack from the enemy. Everyone who is for God wholeheartedly is his his firecest enemy. That is why jesus says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”[John 15:18-20]

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2 Kings 6:1-7 ESV

Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

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At sinabi ng mga anak ng mga propeta kay Eliseo, “Tingnan mo, ang lugar na aming tinitirhan sa pangangasiwa mo ay napakaliit para sa amin. 2 Papuntahin mo kami sa Jordan, at kukuha roon ang bawat isa sa amin ng troso at hayaan mong gumawa kami roon ng isang lugar na aming matitirahan.” Siya'y sumagot, “Sige.” 3 At sinabi ng isa sa kanila, “Maaari bang ikalugod mo na sumama ka sa iyong mga lingkod?” At siya'y sumagot, “Ako'y sasama.” 4 Kaya't siya'y sumama sa kanila. Nang sila'y dumating sa Jordan, sila'y nagsiputol ng mga punungkahoy. 5 Ngunit samantalang ang isa'y pumuputol ng troso, ang talim ng palakol ay nalaglag sa tubig; at siya'y sumigaw, “Naku, panginoon ko! Iyon ay hiram lamang.” 6 Sinabi ng tao ng Diyos, “Saan iyon bumagsak?” Nang ituro sa kanya ang lugar, pumutol siya ng isang patpat, at inihagis doon, at pinalutang ang bakal. 7 At kanyang sinabi, “Kunin mo.” Kaya't kanyang iniabot iyon ng kanyang kamay at kinuha iyon.

ALAS, MY MASTER! IT WAS BORROWED.

The sons of the prophets had realized the need to build additional rooms for them. Among them, one was certainly commendable for not making the absence of axe not to involve in the work. They proposed to Elisha to allow them to cut timbers for such a project. Like them, we can plan but unless God allows us to execute our plan, we should not go ahead.[see Prov 16:3] We should not go ahead of God.

As Elisha granted their request, he should have remained. But one servant pleaded him to go with them. At the hindsight, it was good that Elisha was there because the lost axehead was recovered. Let’s invoke God’s presence in every endeavor we do. It is presumptuousness that we can do something without His presence and power, isn’t it? Let’s learn from Moses, who said, “And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”[Ex 33:15] Could we thrive without God? Apart from Christ we are nothing.[John 15:5]

Had the servant stayed home, the loss should not happened. But, he accomplished nothing, too. We must be realistic. There is always a risk in serving God. Losses or set backs may happen. Just like the storm that. happened, when the disciples crossed the lake of Galilee, our crisis do come even we obey God’s will. The good thing is Jesus was with them to calm the storm. Likewise, Elisha was with the servant to float and recover the iron axe head. Indeed, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”[Psa 46:1]

Moreover, the loss from our hands of something we borrowed is more worrying, isn’t it? Our lives together with our time, talents and treasures belong to the Lord. We must consecrate our all for His glory.[1 Cor 10:31] Then, it’s not worrying when we are spent for Him and His glory. Rather, it is satisfying. [Phil 1:20-21]

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2 Kings 5:19-27 ESV

But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

THE EVIL OF GREED.

Obviously, Gehazi had not embraced the spiritual values of his master, Elisha. He went after Naaman and manufactured a story that his master had changed his mind. What he asked for did not arouse suspicion. It was a clever ploy in not asking too much. He did not ask for gold but one talent of silver and two changes of clothing. Greed makes one clever in making cover up stories. Let us be aware that when we are tempted to lie against God, Satan is there to help us. He is the father of lies.[John 8:44]

And, Naaman, for having the pleasure to bless Elisha, eagerly dipped into his treasures and give two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing instead. Presumably, Gehazi had calculated that Elisha won’t know anything about his clandestine acts. But he was wrong. When asked by Elisha where he has been, he denied vehemently. One sin breeds to another.

Clearly, Gehazi took an opportunity as a servant of Elisha as a means of gain. He thought he could continue to serve under Elisha with greed in his heart for material things. Is godliness a means of gain? Certainly not. Paul said, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”[1 Tim 6:6-9]

We couldn’t serve God and mammon[money] at the same time, could we? Jesus had said plainly, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”[Matt 6:24] Simply said, we must not use God for money. Rather, we should use money to serve God, and not the other way around.

Ultimately, Gehazi had reaped what he had sown. What he got couldn’t compensate the punishment he received. Yes, he got Naaman’s silver. But, he also got his leprosy that was passed unto his descendants. Like Achan’s punishment of losing his clan, the price of greed is still equally costly to Naaman and his family. While Achan and family were stoned to death, he and his family were plagued with leprosy.

2 Kings 5:15-19 ESV

15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”

A 360 DEGREE TURN.

Clearly, Naaman had faith that he could be healed by the prophet Elisha. Otherwise, he should not have travelled miles with gifts to see the prophet. The problem was that he had a preconceived idea how he should be healed. Having not able to meet Elisha personally and was asked to dip at the Jordan River seven times were far from what he thought about. He felt insulted. But, a simple word from one of his servants had convinced him to just do it. He got healed.

In deep gratitude, he returned to Elisha to thank and present him his presents. This time Elisha met him in person but not to accept his presents. By doing so, he strongly made an impression that God must take the center stage and not him.

Through this miracle, Naaman’s eyes were opened to know God personally. It was not Elisha but God who healed him. It was necessary for him to go to Jordan river to experience the power of God. Indeed, the truth that God heals using a murky river without the presence of the prophet is quite a scene. Simply put, God weaned Naaman from trusting the prophet in order to know and trust God directly.

His change was 360 degrees. He went back to Syria never again to make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any god. [v.17] Instead, he will worship the Lord upon an altar made of earth taken from the land. This has an allusion to Deut 20:24, “An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.” However, Naaman apologetically recognized an unavoidable occasions when he is found in the temple of Rimmon in the course of his official duties.[v.18] He went off with the blessing of Elisha.

Like Naaman, we could be enamored by our successes. And, God allowed some reversals to make us humble and broken in order to encounter God. And, when we sought Him we found Him, healing our soul from hopelessness to joy.

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2 Kings 5:9-14 ESV

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

JUST DO IT.

In His chariot and horses, Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house with precious gifts only to be met by the prophet’s messenger. As he was told, the messenger said to Naaman, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

Naaman was furious. Why? He was disappointed and insulted. He expected to be met by the prophet personally and be healed by him instantly. What was he thinking when he asked, “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” For him, it was either just a bluff or a useless ritual. That he could easily do it in their clean rivers than Jordan. He was skeptical for its unreasonableness. Why should he travel hundreds of miles away just to dip himself in a murky water? But, Isaiah had written;

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.” [Isa 55:8,9]

As he turned back, one of his messengers tried to convince the angry general, saying, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” Though reluctant, he dipped into the Jordan River seven times. And to his amazement, his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean as a result.

His obedience made the difference. Simply stated, blessings are experienced only if we obey God’s words. In the New Testament, Peter fished the whole night and caught nothing. The next morning, Jesus urged him to launch into the deep. He was doubtful yet obeyed. Consequently, he was humbled to witness Jesus’words fulfilled before his very eyes.

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2 Kings 5:5 -8 ESV

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

LET HIM COME NOW TO ME.

Naaman went to the king of Israel bringing with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothing. He brought the letter from the king of Syria which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

How did the king of Israel react with such demand? He was shocked. It was an impossible request for only God can heal leprosy. Hence, he thought the king of Syria was looking for a reason to fight against him. He tore his clothes to express his sorrow for his helplessness.

Are we like desperate Naaman, who expects help from the wrong person? Or like the king of Israel, are we victims of unrealistic expectations from others? In either case, we find man seeking help from another man is helpless. In short, only God can we expect and not be disappointed. In the midst of the king of Israel’s dilemma, the prophet Elisha came in to rescue. He said, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

Like them, man has been searching for the answers of his questions and meaning of life at the wrong places. Thankfully, God took the initiative. He sent His son. [John 3:16, Rom 5:8] With open arms, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”[Matt 11:28-29]

And perhaps today, you are like the king of Israel having been overwhelmed by much expectations from others. Our Father, like Elisha, is more than willing to shower us His grace. Jesus had expressed this in a parable. And He said to them “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” [Matt 6:5-12]

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-2 Kings 5:1-5 ESV

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

THE INFLUENCE OF A LITTLE GIRL.

Naaman was a mighty man of valor and a well decorated military commander of Syria. Because of his military conquests, the king had highly favored him. We are told at the outset that all his accolades are coming from the Lord. Meaning, Syria had triumphed because of the sovereignty of God. Indeed, we can find comfort that every geo-political movements and maneuverings are under the auspices of God. Paul says, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ [Acts 17:26-28]

But, he was a leper. Leprosy is a disease which may cause him to loss his carreer and make him an outcast. In other words, Though the fiercest battle couldn’t put him down, leprosy had made him realize his vulnerability. He learned to listen to his wife and her servant, a little Jewish girl.

The little girl had believed that the prophet Elisha was the man of God. She must have heard about the many miracles Elisha did. Her faith gave her the boldness to suggest to Naaman’s wife, saying, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy”

The wife and Naaman don’t have to believe the little girl. Who was she that the chief commander of the Syrian army should believe her? Yet, she told them the truth anyway. Similarly, we should seek to tell the truth of the gospel in season and out of season. For ‘faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’[Rom 10:17] True freedom is only by knowing the truth. [John 8:32; 14:6]The power lies not in the messenger but in the message. As Paul had expressed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” [Rom 1:16]

As the little Jewish girl was unnamed and unknown, we should be in our service to the Lord. “He[Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.”[John 3:30] It’s not us who influence but the power of the gospel and the Spirit. To exalt Christ alone and not ourselves is a very wise pursuit in life. As Solomon had said in his metaphor, “I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege works against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.” [Ecc 9:13-16]

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2 Kings 4:38-44 ESV

38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. 41 He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.

42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firs fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

GOD’S PROTECTION AND PROVISION.

The famine of the land has made life very hard for Elisha and the sons of the prophets. As Elisha commanded his servants to cook stew for the sons of the prophets, one of them went out into the wild to gather herbs. He ‘found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were.’ While they were about to eat it, they found out they could not do it. They cried, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” Elisha asked for flour and threw it into the pot. They ate and there was no harm in the pot. How did Elisha know what to put in in order to make the stew alright? His wisdom from God made him greater than the cook.

At another instance, a man had given his firs fruits of twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha instructed his servant to give to the sons of the prophets. But, the servants thought it won’t be enough for one hundred men. To make his command clear, Elisha repeated it, by saying, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” They ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

We couldn’t limit God or put Him in a box, could we? Like Paul, we may confidently say, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”[Phil 4:19] In His first miracle at the wedding in Cana, Jesus had helped the problem of lack and shame to the couple and their families. He changed the six jars of water into the best wine. The key was the obedience of the servants to His words. As Mary had cautioned them, “Do whatever he tells you.”[John 2:5]

Similarly, Jesus fed five thousand men excluding the women and children at the wilderness by just five loaves of bread and two fishes from the boy. It was incomprehensible so that Andrew, Peter’s brother commented, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”[John 6:9]. The key was that these bread and fishes were in Jesus’ hands.

During the time of crisis, who is in charge of our lives? Do we take things in our hands? Or, do you surrender to God and obey Him whatever He says? God will provide the way. Our, responsibility is to trust and obey.

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2 Kings 4:32-37 ESV

32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

PICK UP YOUR SON.

When Elisha saw the dead boy lying on his bed, he shut the door and by himself, he prayed unto the Lord. Jesus had declared this posture when we pray, saying, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”[Matt 6:6] Are we desperate enough to plead with God in secret?

Then he laid himself upon the baby, mouth to his mouth, eye to his eye and hands to his hands. Suddenly, the boy’s body became warm. Elisha got up, paced back and forth for a while in the house. And, he stretched himself once more upon him. By this time, the boy had resuscitated so that he called Gehazi to call the mother. As she came in, he said to her, “Pick up your son.”

She received her son from God again. Simply put, she received her son twice from God. The second time must be sweeter. An unbeliever is born once in this world but may die twice, if he won’t trust the gospel for their salvation. Physical and spiritual deaths are haunting him. However, if he believes on Jesus, he is born twice and will die once. That is, he may die physically but his soul won’t languish in Christless eternity in hell. A born again believer is twice owned by God, that is by creation and by spiritual regeneration.

There is joy, without a doubt, when our birthday comes. We celebrate our physical life having been extended by God. What about a celebration of our spiritual birthday? Does it not call for a much joyous celebration? Is there a greater privilege other than to be born into the family of God? Hence, we can say with te apostle John, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”[1 John 3:1]

As the woman picked her son up, she bowed down in worship. She left leaving her sorrows and hopelessness behind. Similarly, we can pick up our broken but mended lives and start to live anew in the Lord. Indeed, the life with have in Christ is design for our fullness [abundance]. [John 10:10] Let’s celebrate our life in Christ today.

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