July 3, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

2 Kings 5 - Here is the great account of the healing of Naaman, a Syrian army commander.  Please note how a little Israelite servant girl was used of God to bring Naaman to Elisha.  When Naaman was told to wash in the Jordan River he was upset that Elisha didn't do something outstanding!  Again, note how God used servants, vs. 13, to convince Naaman to simply do what Elisha simply said!  He did and he was healed.  Note also how Naaman didn't want to worship any other God but asked for "two mule-loads" of Israeli dirt to take back to Syria with him so if he bowed down in Syria he would be bowing on dirt that came from Israel, thus focusing his worship on the God of Israel!  Lots to see in this chapter!

2 Kings 6 - And "he made the iron to float" verse 6.  Another miracle of Elisha in retrieving a lost ax-head.  I also see a little humor in this chapter when the Syrian king is upset that his plans to attack Israel are always revealed ahead of time to the king of Israel.  His servants told him that Elisha knows what he says in his bed bedroom, verse 12.  The humor is when the king of Syria expects he can "sneak up" on Elisha!  If Elisha knows when the king of Syria is trying to sneak up on Israel, why should the king expect Elisha not to know of his plan to surprise Elisha!  Read the whole chapter and note the sad conditions of famine in the land of Israel because Israel has been sinning against God.

2 Kings 7 - Four lepers know they are going to die, either by starving to death in the city of Samaria, or they can die trying to get mercy from the enemy army outside their gates.  They journey to the enemies' camp only to find it completely abandoned and food and wealth is everywhere!  They begin to hoard stuff but soon realize they are not doing right, verse 9.  So they alert the Israelis and everyone comes rushing to enjoy the spoils.  A certain aid to the king of Samaria is highlighted for his questioning God's ability to care for His own, verse 2 and verse 20.

2 Kings 8 - The opening passage deals with the woman who provided Elisha with a room, who now is faced with trying to get her land back after a severe famine.  Elisha's servant, Gehazi, is used to make sure her land is restored to her.  The sad account of a servant of Ben-Hadad who came to Elisha to see if his master would be healed.  Though Elisha said that the healing was possible it would be the servant who would kill his own master and take the kingdom for himself.  In the process the servant gave his master false hope, verses 14,15.