2 Kings Chapter 7
There are 2 contrasting reactions and consequences in this chapter.
First was the officer on whose hand the king leaned on. When Elisha proclaimed that the end of their siege and hunger is at hand, he responded in a very negative manner.
Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ ”
2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”
And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
~ 2 Kings 7:1-2 ~
His consequence was:
17 Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
~ 2 Kings 7:17
He not only did not see or taste the provision of God, he was trampled to death!
Now we turn our attention to the 4 lepers who were outside the city walls and also starving to death. They were ostracised by the people within the walls and left to fend for themselves. And in the midst of this hopelessness, they decided to leave it to the hands of the Syrians on whether they live or die by surrendering to them.
To their amazement, the Syrian camp was completely empty of soldiers through the miraculous workings of God. However, it was not empty of food and treasures.
As they ate and plundered, they suddenly came to this realization:
9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”
~ 2 Kings 7:9 ~
Who do we choose to be today? The king’s official or the lepers?
The king’s Official
The king’s official died – having seen the work God but was not able to taste it.
He doubted the man of God when Elisha pronounced God’s providence. This could be because of the bleak surroundings and the sense of hopelessness that pervaded around him. And he chose to focus on this rather than God.
The author of Hebrews reminds us that “Faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).
It is easy to be swallowed up in doubt and fears as we still struggle through this pandemic. We feel helpless and after almost 2 years of uncertainties, do we lose faith and no longer believe that God is there for us.
If we have the same attitude as the king’s official – consider that we may see God’s workings but have no part in it.
The lepers
When we read about the 4 lepers, we marvel at God’s providence even for those who are outcasts.
Lepers in those days were put outside the city walls as they were sick… and all they had to look forward to was death. And yet God chose to reveal His providence to them first and not to the king!
And their response to God’s blessing is telling: they ate and drank and then took and hid possessions (like what many of us would do when we get something good)… and then collectively decided that this was not right – they had to share this God blessed miracle with everyone inside the city walls that they were separated from.
And so they went to tell the city. And the whole city rushed out to enjoy the spoils that God has provided.
It reminds me that we are like the lepers – once cast off and having no part in the house of God. But God chose to reveal His salvation to us and bless us with all things good.
While we enjoy His blessings, the question is do we hide them for ourselves. Or can we be like the lepers to realise that this was not right and that we have to go and share with others?
The grace of God is abundant and free. We cannot hoard it all to ourselves. We need to go and share it so that more can also enjoy the same blessings that we have.
So who do you want to be?
The king’s official who saw the works of God but could not taste it? Or do we want to be like the lepers, who saw the works of God, tasted it and shared it with others?