2 Kings 7:1-20
Thursday, 29 September 2022
“Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” -2 Kings 7:9
Today’s reading takes place during the period of Israel’s divided monarchy and during the ministry of prophet Elisha. Ben Hadad, King of Aram had laid siege to Samaria, so that no one was able to go in or out of the city. A common method among ancient armies was to starve the inhabitants of a city into either surrendering or reducing them to a state of utter weakness so that they would be unable to resist once the wall was breached. This was/is the state of each one of us when we did/do not have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to resist the enemy of our souls.
But here we see God choosing to save Samaria, the rebellious capital city of Northern Israel through His provision. One could understand God defending Jerusalem; But Samaria…? His mercy and compassion is unfathomable. Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” If God only rescued the deserving, mankind would have ceased to exist. The prophet spoke the promise of a monumental miracle to take place the next day and how is this news received? With joy? With praise to God? No!-with cynicism and unbelief. Even after the miracle was done and the news was taken to the king by four afflicted people who received it, it was received with scepticism and unbelief.
In the same manner, when people hear about the greatest act that God did, which is the Good News that Jesus Christ died on the cross to take the punishment for the sins of the world and was buried and raised from the dead, it is received with cynicism and unbelief by most people not realizing that believing and accepting this Good News is the only way they can attain eternal life. John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
So how can people know about this Good News unless the once who have accepted this free gift from God and reaped its benefits, speak about it to others? There are still many, who have not yet heard about what their Heavenly Father did for them. It is the duty of every saved soul to take the Good News to everyone. He desires to see people saved: “…he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
When the king and his aide who directly heard this message refused to believe it the benefits first went to the four afflicted because they decided by faith to step forward and because of them many others also received it. John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we can never fathom the wisdom of God and on whom He chooses to bestow his goodness and mercy. So let us leave aside our thoughts and prejudices and preach the gospel to all and teach everyone who accepts to obey His commandments.
Think on: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”.” Romans 10:14-15
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