DEVOTIONAL

As we begin 2 Kings, the spotlight shifts from kings and war to prophets and miracles. We continue to witness the power of God on display while His people rebel, and nations rise against Israel and Judah like God said they would do. The question I wonder is, will the people of God push too far away from God? As you read the passage, keep a close eye on the nearness of God and His response to His people.

The author of 2 Kings picks up with King Ahaziah of Israel, but the real focus is passing the baton from Elijah to Elisha, who are prophets of God not kings. Before we look at the work God does through Elijah and Elisha, I want to encourage you to read on your own 2 Chronicles 21-22 for the drama on the kings of Judah and Israel. My head spun a little to keep straight the king succession because more than one Ahaziah and Jehoram enter the picture. In my office, the second Brett or Josh are usually nicknamed “2.0” to keep things straight. I wish the author would have done that with the kings. The takeaway from 2 Chronicles 21-22 is God chooses to keep His covenant with David even though the king of Judah (Jehoram 2.0) turns against God and takes the people of Judah with him into that dark hole. This is huge. God is a covenant-keeping God even when we pull away, dishonor His name, and do everything in our power to glorify ourselves above His Great Name.

Now that we covered the kings, look with me at the prophets Elijah and Elisha. There is some serious work about to happen. I am not sure the time lapse between Elijah ascending to heaven and the miracle of Elisha purifying the stew, but the miracles are packed in one after another. In 2 Kings 1-4, God does what He is famous for as Omnipotent, Provider, and Healer. Do any of the miracles look familiar? I found several events point to similar miracles recorded with Moses in Exodus and Jesus in the Gospels. God flexes his Omnipotent nature by parting the waters of the Jordan for Elijah and again for Elisha. This happens for Moses years earlier in Exodus when God parts the Red Sea for Israel to walk across on dry ground escaping bondage from Egypt. It is important to pause and celebrate when we make it to the other side after God shows up to physically make a way in our lives. As I have gotten older, I would suggest to start the celebration before God makes a way because He is faithful to provide a way through the obstacle, uncertainty, or fear.

This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hands.

2 Kings 3:18

The next miracles Elisha performs proclaim how gracious God is to provide in abundance. When Israel faces famine as they prepare for battle against Moab, God fills a streambed with water to satisfy the people and their animals. I underlined 2 Kings 3:18 which says, “This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord.” This takes nothing for God to do. Why do I forget the power of God? Also, I imagine the same is true when every jar overflows with oil for the widow to pay off her debts and when she bears a son in her old age. We know God has shown up in similar ways for Abraham’s wife, Sarah, and Jesus at the Wedding at Cana. In the New Testament with Jesus, the disciples respond in doubt as they hold two fish and five loaves of bread to feed 5,000 men. I sense the same doubt in the servant of Elisha’s response in 2 Kings 4:43 as he tries to feed 100 men with very little means. Well, little in our eyes. The story ends where the men are stuffed with some left. Did the disciples have any left from their feast? Read John 6:13 to find out. Our God is Provider. He gives abundantly more than we ask or imagine possible. He does not hold back.

Lastly, the character of God as Healer is magnified through Elisha raising the Shunammite’s son. I think there is symbolism in how Elisha prays to God and heals the son. Elisha touches the son’s mouth, eyes, and hands. Maybe this reminds me how God is my voice, my vision, and my strength in all that I do. Elisha performs the miracle behind closed doors which is how Jesus heals a twelve-year old girl in the New Testament that died. God heals from the inside out. A lot of times healing starts in the quiet, in the secret moments between you and God. I know that is true for my life.

Even though the kings of Israel and Judah push away from God, we see through Elisha that the nearness of God is steadfast for His people. God never waivers. God continues to pursue Israel and Judah through the miracles of Elisha. The miracles are reminders of what God is famous for as Omnipotent, Provider, and Healer. This hope is good news for us today, too.

Q: Which character of God is the easiest to believe and why?

Q: Which character of God is the most difficult to believe and why?

Additional reading: 2 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 82-83