Sat.’s Devo - God’s Abundant Provisions

Read: 2 Kings 6:1-7:20; Acts 15:36-16:15; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 17:24-25 The school of prophets needed a larger place to meet, so they told Elisha about a place down the Jordan that had plenty of logs to build their building. Elisha agreed and they began cutting down trees to build. One of the prophets lost his ax head in the water and cried that it was borrowed. Elisha threw a piece of wood into the water and the ax head floated. He told him to grab it. *** Elisha’s ministry demonstrated God’s care for the individual in the midst of his troubles where Elijah’s ministry demonstrated God’s sovereignty over a nation. Elijah was called to rebuke kings and prove to the nation that there was a God in Israel. Elisha, whose name means “God is salvation” came with help and salvation. This is demonstrated in the next story. *** The king of Aram was getting frustrated that the Israelite army was always a step ahead of them and seemed to know their plans. He accused his own men of being double agents when one of them explained what was really happening. Elisha was telling the king what he was planning in secret. So now, the king of Aram wanted Elisha and sent troops to get him. *** They sent an army to Dothan to capture Elisha. Elisha’s servant woke up the nest morning and found that there were troops everywhere. He told Elisha but Elisha was not afraid. He prayed that God would open his eyes and let him see. When the servant looked out again he saw the hillside around Elisha filled with horses and chariots of fire. *** Elisha prayed that God would blind the Armenians and he did. Elisha went out and told the blind officers that this was the wrong city and led them to the middle of Samaria, then prayed that their eyes would be opened. He told the king of Israel to feed then and send them home. The king did. *** Years later, Ben-Hadad brought his army back and besieged Samaria and there was a famine in the city just like Elisha had said. It became so bad that two women each had a baby and ate one of the babies one day and were going to eat the other one the next day, but the mother hid her baby. The one who had lost her baby brought her grievance to the king. He was so upset with her story that he put on sackcloth and vowed to kill Elisha. *** Elisha told his servant that a murderer would be visiting them but he was not to let him in. His leader would be behind him and they would wait for him. Sure enough the messenger of the king came planning to kill him but Elisha sent out a message. By this time tomorrow the 6 quarts of flour would only cost one piece of silver. Inflation would totally reverse. The officer didn’t believe it and said even if God opened the windows of heaven it would never happen. Elisha said that he would see it but never taste it. What he meant for Elisha would come to him. *** Meanwhile 4 lepers sat outside the city gate and decided that their best fate would be to defect to the Arameans in order to live. They went to their camp and found it empty of men but full of supplies. After eating and drinking they decided to go and tell the men at the gates of Sarmaria their great discovery. *** When it was confirmed that the Arameans had left, the whole city rushed out to plunder the camp of the Arameans. There was more than enough for the whole city and 6 quarts of flour sold for one piece of silver. The man who had come to murder Elisha was trampled to death at the gate. *** In Acts we find that Paul and Barnabas had such a disagreement over whether to give John Mark another chance, they ended up splitting up and going their own way. We only know Paul’s story. He joined up with Silas and went back and encouraged all the churches they had started. *** One night, Paul and a vision of a man from Macedonia begging him to come and help him. No doubt this was an angel. *** When they arrived in Macedonia they went to a meeting by the river on the sabbath. some women had gathered there to worship God. One of the women was Lydia who became a believer as well as her whole family. Paul baptized them and then they went home to stay with her. *** Lord, thank you for abundantly taking care of us in time of uncertainty in the world. Thank you for stories that increase our faith and show us your love and power. We put our trust in You.