It happened
just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley
for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold
tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.” (v.18)
Israelites
living in Samaria knew desperate times as today’s reading makes painfully
clear. Suffering the consequences of breaking their covenant with God (Deut.
28:45-57), the city of Samaria was under siege by the Arameans. Sustenance was
scarce and food prices were sky high.
Yet
instead of turning to God in sorrow over his disobedience and idolatry, the
king blamed God and Elisha for such desperate times. He wanted revenge instead
of repentance. His anger toward God was clear: “This disaster is from the LORD.
Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (6:33).
However,
even in his state of anger towards God, the king got a message of hope from
Elisha: this time tomorrow, the crisis would be over (v.1). All that remained
was, would he believe the explicit promise of God? Even though king’s servant
voiced his disbelief, and the king displayed sheer skepticism (v.7:12), the
bulk of this chapter highlights the fulfillment of Elisha’s word by telling us
four different times that everything happened just as God said it would
(7:16-20).
The
bottom line in this story is the same for us, do we believe the explicit
promises in God’s Word or not? I for one put my trust in the multitude of
promises in His Word and give thanks to Him for those that have come to pass
and those that are yet to come. When God speaks His Word of promise, it can be
trusted.
The Truth
“For all
the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to
the glory of God through us.” (1 Corinthians 1:20)
