2 Kings 7:1-20
Q.1. How was the royal officer rewarded for his lack of faith in Elisha’s promise of salvation? – (2 Kgs.7:1-2, 16-20)
Elisha was a true prophet of God (Dt.18:15-22) and as such, he told the king and his servant, that the siege and famine would end the next day (2 Kgs.7:1). However, the royal officer scoffed at the prophecy. He then was told – behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it (2 Kgs.7:2). Thus it came to pass – Now the king appointed the royal officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate; but the people trampled on him at the gate, and he died just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him (2 Kgs.7:17). Both prophecies were fulfilled on the same day (2 Kgs.7:17-18).
Q.2. What changed the minds of the enemies so that they turned from destroying Israel? How do such stories encourage us in times of trial? – (2 Kgs.7:3-7)
The Israelites were at the mercy of the Arameans who were bringing starvation and certain slaughter. Yet we learn once more about God’s grace and sovereign power from this story. As we often read, God used natural circumstances to execute His will – For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” (2 Kgs.7:6). Such stories remind us to factor in God’s purposes and power whenever we face trials. Nothing will happen to us outside of God’s plans. It honours God when we look beyond the seen, to the unseen, from which our help comes (c.f. 2 Kgs.6:15-18; Ps.121:2).
Q.3. What made the lepers consider the plight of the people of Samaria? What lesson can we learn from the actions of the lepers? – (2 Kgs.7:8-15)
The immediate impulse of these lepers was to help themselves. After all, they had been cast aside from their families and people. They ate their fill and buried some of the plunder for later (2 Kgs.7:8). Then their consciences began to prick them and they said – We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household (2 Kgs.7:9). Soon the dying city heard the news and their fortunes were rapidly reversed (2 Kgs.7:10-16). The lepers could have kept the good news to themselves. However, God would have held them responsible for the death of countless others (c.f. Ezk.3:16-21; 33:1-20). As did the lepers, we must get over our fears, and share the news that there is life to be found in the Saviour.