Wait Patiently For Your Blessings 05.04.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is sunday May 4, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Kings. Please read Chapter 6-8 in your Bible, or Click Here to read. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%206-8&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the Syrians (Arameans) attacking Israel; a famine in Samaria; & Elisha's prophecy being fulfilled. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that God's timing is everything and in order to see the blessings in store for us we must endure the present struggles and wait patiently for Him to make things happen. As we endure struggles God is preparing us for the great things ahead.

Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, sent the Syrian soldiers to capture the prophet Elisha, however during the attempt they had been miraculously blinded and were then led by Elisha inside the walls of the capital city of Samaria. "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. " (II Kings 6:15-19).

Once trapped there, the soldiers were at the mercy of the king of Israel. However, at Elisha's command, the king prepared a great feast for them, "And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel." (6:21-23).

Now the once-powerful, luxurious, fortress-city of Samaria was faced with all the horrors of an extended famine. To surrender to Syria meant death for King Jehoram (Joram) and slavery for his people. But, remaining within the walls eventually reduced the people to starvation, some even resorted to cannibalism. These appalling conditions were the result of Israel's disobedience as God. When it appeared there was no hope, the Lord again brought Jehoram face-to-face with Elisha, "But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer? Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." (6:32-7:1). Then an offical to the king ridiculed him, "Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof." (7:2).

The prophecy was miraculously fulfilled when God, in His great mercy, sent fear into the hearts of the Syrian army and they hurriedly abandoned their camp leaving their food in abundance for the Israelites. The king's official was trampled to death in the rush for food, "And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him." (7:17). Obedient Christians need not fear for tomorrow! Instead, we can rejoice in the promises of God, who shall supply all your needs.

Ben-hadad, was sick, but also an idol worshiper. At his request Hazael went to the prophet Elisha to ask if the king would recover from his sickness, "And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?......And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria." (8:7-8,12-13).

With deceptive concern, Hazael waited for his opportunity,to kill Ben-hadad to reign over Israel, "And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead." (8:15). Covetousness blinds a person to the cruel, unscrupulous actions of which he is capable in order to satisfy greed. Hazael was willing to stoop to any depth of evil in order to gain a favored position immediately. Perhaps in earlier years, Hazael would have been horrified at the thought that he would heartlessly assassinate his royal master.

Circumstances confront us with new temptations which were never before felt. Had Joseph's brothers been told that one day they would consider murdering or selling him into slavery, they undoubtedly would also have asked: Is thy servant a dog? Like Hazael they were men and sinners by nature. Apart from the indwelling Christ, man yields readily to the passions which war against his soul; he gives way to the circumstances which appeal to his greed. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:12-14).

Hazael could have followed the example of King David who many years earlier, after he was anointed king by Samuel, had the opportunity to murder Saul. But David refused to take matters into his own hands; he knew that God's timing was best. We are perfectly safe when we commit our desires to the Lord first and yield ourselves to be guided by His Word. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:3-5).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through Elisha, who wept when he realized what Hazael would do to Israel and its people (II Kings 8:11-12). We are reminded of Jesus as He wept over Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matthew 23:37-38).

Have a great day of the Lord.
God Bless,
Christina

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