Newsletter October 2022 Part 2
Impossible?
“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.’” 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)
The prophet Elisha spoke these words at a time of great calamity. The Syrian army was besieging the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, which was ruled by king Ahab with his evil wife Jezebel. This siege was the first stage of God’s judgment pronounced on the house of Ahab by the prophet Elijah. The situation had become desperate and food so scarce that most of the inhabitants could not afford anything edible, not even a donkey’s head or dove’s dung (2 Kings 6:25). Yet in the midst of this desperation, the man of God speaks a word of hope – God will provide food. By the following day, wheat and barley will be readily available, and everyone will be able to afford it. And when God speaks, it will come to pass, even though it may seem impossible by any stretch of human imagination.
One of the king’s officers hears this prophecy and immediately retorts that not even God Himself could do such a thing. Little does he realise that his doubt will not change God’s promise; God will do what He said He would do. Therefore Elisha tells this man by the word of the Lord that he will see others enjoying the blessing of God but, because of his doubt, he himself will not partake of it. God does bring about His purpose, but in a way that no one could possibly have imagined – He uses a group of desperate lepers who have nothing to lose in order to frighten away the entire besieging army. All the people of Samaria need to do is collect the abundant food supplies left behind by the Syrians. God’s promise comes to pass, and we read at the end of the chapter that the doubting officer is trampled to death by the crowd while overseeing the distribution of the food. (v.19-20)
God will always bless His people if we are obedient to Him and believe His word. No matter how desperate our situation may seem, God has an answer. However, He does not work according to our understanding. We may have decided how God should work, but He will do far more than we can ever imagine, if only we will trust Him and let Him bless us in the way He chooses.
In the coming months, we are sure to face trials. We will be confronted with situations to which there seems to be no answer – humanly speaking. But when God speaks, situations change. When God speaks, there is water in the desert and life where there was nothing but death. God’s word will not return to Him void. (Isaiah 55:10-11) Let us take Him at His word! Let us believe that revival is on the way: in our personal lives, in our church, and in our community and beyond. Let us not limit God by our own understanding and unbelief, but allow Him to reveal His power in us, amongst us, and through us. [He] is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20) Yes, He works through us! We may not see ourselves as much, nor may others think much of us, but God works through precisely such people. In Elisha’s day He used a group of desperate lepers – so why should He not use you today? He chooses seemingly insignificant instruments like us. That way, all the glory will go to Him alone. Are you ready to be used by God in these troublesome times? Are you desperate for the miraculous? Will you obey God, will you worship Him and believe that He can do anything, as His limitless power works through you and me? If so, you will not just see the coming revival from afar but enjoy the fulness of God’s blessing with all who trust in Him.
Pastor Konrad