Read 2 Kings 7.
Syria took military action again. This time they
laid siege to Samaria. Their tactic was simply to starve the city to
death. The plan was working until the king of Israel had had
enough and blamed Elisha. When the captain arrived, whom the king sent to
arrest Elisha, Elisha prophesied that all would be well. There would be
plenty of food and provisions for the city within twenty-four hours.
The captain did not believe this word from the LORD.
He scoffed that even if God made "windows in heaven" it would not
happen. Without any assistance from Israel, God confused the Syrian
army so that they fled in panic. They left behind all their food,
clothing, valuables, and animals. The people of Samaria had
more than they could use. But unbelief cost the captain his life.
How does God open the windows of heaven? The LORD is
not limited in His ability to meet our needs. He does not drop money out
of the sky. The resources He wants to give to His people are already here
and nearer than we could imagine. If we can earn it all without
dependence on Him or if we feel we deserve it, then we could claim it as our
own. But when we know we did not deserve it and He surprises us with His
grace, then He alone gets the credit and the glory.
First, we are to honor God with what He has already
provided. "Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may
be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of
hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a
blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10)
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