Tues.’s Devo - God of the Suddenly’s

Read: 2 Kings 6:1-7:20; Acts 15:36-16:15; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 17:24-25 The school of prophets had outgrown their building and needed to build a larger place. They went to the Jordan River and began cutting down trees for lumber. One of the prophets lost his ax head in the river and was very upset because he had borrowed it. Elisha threw a stick into the water where the ax head had dropped and it floated to the surface so the band could retrieve it. *** The army of Aram was at war with Israel, but every time they tried to sneak up on Israel’s army, they were warned ahead of time by Elisha. The king of Aram thought he had a mole within his ranks but they told him that Elisha, the prophet tells the king even what he talked about in his bedroom. Now the king of Aram wanted to seize Elisha. *** The king of Aram heard that Elisha was in Dothan and sent horses and chariots and a great army to capture Elisha. Elisha’s servant woke up the next morning to see that they were surrounded with troops, chariots and horses. When he told Elisha, Elisha told him not to be afraid because there were more on their side. Then he prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened. This time, the servant saw the army of God on the hillside. There were horses and chariots of fire. *** When the army of Aram approached Elisha, he prayed that their eyes would be made blind and they were all blinded. He led them to the center of the city of Samaria where he prayed that they could see again. The king of Israel saw the army and asked Elisha what he should do with them and he told him to feed them, so he made a great feast and fed them and sent them home. From then on, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel. *** Much later, King Ben-hadad besieged Samaria causing a great famine in the city. When the king learned that women were eating their own children, he tore his clothes in despair. The king blamed Elisha for all their troubles. He sent for Elisha so he could behead him. Elisha sent him back with a word from God. Tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of flour would cost only one piece of silver and twelve quarts of barley grain would only cost one piece of silver. The officer with the king said that that couldn’t happen even if God opened the windows of heaven. Elisha told him it would happen but he would not be able to partake in any of the blessing. *** Four lepers decided to defect to the Arameans hoping for mercy. When they went to their camp they found it empty of soldiers but full of provisions. After eating and drinking and getting what they wanted, they decided to share the good news with the king. They went in the middle of the night to the king and told him what they had encountered. When the king verified that it wasn’t a trap, the people ran out and plundered the camp. The officer who doubted it was trampled by the people and never got a taste of the reward. *** When we think there is no answer, God always has a way out. He is the God of “suddenly’s.” He will suddenly turn situations around for the good - we just need to keep believing. *** In Acts, Paul and Barnabas wanted to go back and visit all the places they had been and encourage them. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul was against it because John Mark had left them the last time. They disagreed so strongly that Barnabas took John Mark with him and went to the island of Cyprus and Paul took Silas and stayed on the land. *** Paul went to Derbe, which was over 400 miles from Jerusalem. Next, they went to Lystra where they picked up Timothy whose father was Greek but whose mother was a Jew. He had never been circumcised but to please the Jews, Paul had him circumcised. *** As they traveled, God showed them exactly where to go and where not to go. One night, Paul saw a vision of a man pleading with him to come to Macedonia and help them. So, they went to Philippi, a major city in Macedonia and stayed their a few days. They met Lydia outside the city and told her and her family about Jesus. She believed and her whole family was baptized. She urged them to come stay at her house. *** Lord, I thank you that you are concerned about borrowed ax heads as well as nations. You care for the one and the ninty-nine. Thank you that you cared for us.