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)
