In 2 Kings Chapter 17, Assyria takes over Israel and scatters the people. From Genesis 1 to now, God's covenant people are suffering the full extent of the cursing at Sinai. The problem lies in their hearts. God gives patience, mercy, grace and plenty of warnings time and time again. They refuse to listen and heed God's warnings and instead choose to worship false gods and idols. As a consequence of their choices, they are scattered among strangers in a foreign land away from friends and family. They are tossed into exile. Covenant disobedience leads to covenant cursing. Continuous chances for redemption are handed to them on a silver platter, but they choose to squander it. Our choices have consequences. We are forgiven and loved by God no matter what we do, but we will still have to face and wade through the consequences of our choices whether they be good or bad. 

In 2 Kings Chapters 15, we find a summary of 7 different kings - 2 rule in Judah and 5 in Israel. As you read, you see a continual spiral downward and their worst enemies were within their very own kingdoms. In Chapter 16, Ahaz rules in Judah and behaves pretty much like a pagan northern king. If these kings were to shoot at the right target, they'd aim straight for God. Instead, they continually follow their own plans, leave the trader gate open by not getting rid of all the pagan shrines, and end up in a continuous downward spiral. 

In 2 Kings Chapters 13 & 14, God repeatedly gives Israel an opportunity to repent but Israel continually refuses. God is fulfilling the curses of the covenant and shrinking Israel since they refuse to turn to God. God performs one more miracle through Elisha, even though Elisha was dead, by bringing a dead man to life simply by having the dead man touch Elisha's bones. The prophet of God may be dead, but God and His Word is alive. The promises made through Elisha will come to pass because the God he served is alive and He's watching their every move. 

In 2 Kings Chapters 11 & 12, King Ahaziah's mother decides she wants to rule over Judah after her son's death and starts killing off the rest of the royal family to secure her place on the throne. Ahaziah's sister steals away his infant son, Joash, and hides him in safety so he doesn't end up murdered. After 7 years, the priest fashions a coronation secretly and the crazy mom who stole the throne for the last 7 years is killed. So a 7 year old is now ruling over Judah, but not without the help of the priest.

In 2 Kings Chapter 10, Jehu "cleans house" according to God's direction but also takes on a wee bit of his own agenda in the process. He is able to destroy every trace of Baal worship but doesn't remove the golden calves. He did some good stuff, but didn't obey God with all his heart. God is after our hearts, not our actions. 

In 2 Kings Chapter 9, Elisha sends a member of the group of prophets on a secret-ty type mission to anoint Jehu as king. He even tells him to "run for your life" once the mission is completed. Jehu starts out by following God's heart, but will he make it to the end remaining obedient to God? 

In 2 Kings Chapter 8, the woman whose son was brought back to life leaves for 7 years to avoid the famine and her home and land are all restored to her when she returns. God provides.  The king of Aram is sick and dies, but not because of the sickness. Elisha is brought to tears when he is shown what will be coming for the people of Israel. Our actions, how we think and act, affect us as well as those around us. Judah has become infected by the sins of the north. Regardless, God reminds us of His promise to continue to have a descendant of David ruling. God keeps His promises. It's His legacy and who God is, more often than not, He does so in spite of us. 

In 2 Kings Chapters 6 & 7, Elisha helps a fallen ax head float to the top of the river. Elisha bamboozles the Aramean army, with God's help the whole way through of course. Famine strikes Samaria and even though the king of Israel was blaming God and wanted to kill Elisha, God had mercy on them and brought forth food. God is both just and merciful and the only thing we'll get to take to Heaven with us is someone else.  We are each just 1 beggar commissioned to show another beggar where to get bread - the Bread of Life that is. 

In 2 Kings Chapter 5, King Aram had this commander he super duper liked because he helped gain so much victory. He had leprosy so the king sent him to Israel to be healed. The king of Israel thinks it's a sham but Elisha steps in and God heals the man after some pride is knocked out of the guy. He is healed and humbled so it's really a double healing. Elisha's servant gets lies and gets greedy and ends up cursed with that very same leprosy. 

In 2 Kings Chapter 4, we see 4 miracles that take place.  A poor widow is provided with an abundance of oil, her son is raised from the dead, poison was cleansed from stew, and 100 people are fed with what should not have been nearly enough food. All the miracles are directly related to serving people which shows the heart of God. Miracles are God's heart working in the present world. In each situation, tenderness and grace is shown and hope is given like never before. God's provision is directly proportional to their faith and willingness to obey God's instruction.  We may not think we have anything to give, but God uses the resources, gifts, and talents we have right in front of us to multiply His glory.