Fri.’s Devo - Elisha in Action

Read: 2 Kings 5-8
Today’s reading reads like an action film. We see God heal a Syrian captain of leprosy because to the boldness of a little Israel captive. His leprosy leaves after he humbled himself to dip seven times in the Jordan and it reappears on Gehazi, Elisha’s servant because he lied to Elisha and wanted a reward.
Elisha throws a stick into the water and restores a borrowed ax head which just shows us that nothing is lost that God can’t recover.
The king of Syria thought he had a spy in his ranks because the army of Israel was always one step ahead of him and seemed to know his next move. When he investigated he found out it was because Elisha told the king of Israel everything he said in secret. He must kill Elisha so he surrounded Elisha’s house. Gehazi told Elisha they were surrounded by Syrians and Elisha answer is worth repeating. He said, “Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” He prayed that God would open Ghazi’s eyes and he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire. I wonder if Elijah was on one of those horses! Elisha prayed they would be struck with blindness and they led them to Samaria where their eyes were opened. Elisha told the Samarians to feed them and send them home. This humiliated the Syrians and they left Israel alone for a while but not the Samarians. How do you fight the supernatural with natural weapons? They had met their match!
They did come back and besieged Samaria. Samaria had no way to get food so they were starving. The king blamed it on Elisha since he was the one that made the Syrian’s so mad at them. Elisha prophesied they would have provision galore by the next day. Sure enough it happened and the officer who laughed and didn’t believe was trampled in the gates as the people ran to the plunder. It amazes me how close we can come to despair when God’s answer can come over night in a way we could have never imagined.
In Chapter 8, Gehazi gets to see the very story he is telling the king come to a happy ending.
Lord, you always see us through to the end. Your provisions never run out and you always save.