2 Kings 7:1-16
The King of Syria with his army surrounded Samaria and cut off all supplies to the city – Great famine broke out – Jehoram was the king of Samaria – things were so bad that donkey’s head was sold for a big price.
Not only that the families were killing their own children for food.
The king was horrified and could not take it – he goes after the Prophet Elisha to kill him.
The Main Characters are Four Lepers
Lepers lived outside of the city because of their condition – untouchables –no cure – beg to feed their hunger – absolute dependency on mercy of people
They discussed 3 options here
1. To go back to the city and die with everybody else in the famine.
2. Just stay here and die from hunger.
3. Go to the enemy camp and if they kill them it will be quick.
They did not know about the prophet’s prophecy – they chose the 3rd option to go to Arameans’ camp.
The lepers could not go in the daytime-so they went after the sunset – in the dusk
What they saw was unbelievable – God caused confusion in the Arameans camp to hear the sounds of great rushing army – they all fled leaving everything behind –the camp was empty.
These guys had their fill and even took silver, gold and clothes and hid outside.
They came back for the seconds also.
9th verse is very pivotal and important.
They could not stay there with a clear conscience.
The Samaritan people despised them and treated them as untouchables.
In spite of that kind of treatment the lepers still had concern for them.
They felt in their hearts that withholding such wonderful news is not right.
They also feared for God’s punishment for not sharing the good news.
4 lepers are showing compassion and concern for those who had never shown them any compassion or concern.
They knew very well what was going on in the city as people are dying of hunger.
Since the lepers are forbidden to go into the city they told the city gatekeeper what they had seen in the Arameans camp – so the message was relayed to the king’s palace.
The king did not believe for a minute because he suspected that the armies will come and snatch the hungry people of Samaria.
What prophet Elisha prophesied came true – a seah of flour sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel.
I see this event speaking to us in four ways.
God will provide our needs
God will provide no matter what our circumstances are – HE could pour out HIS blessings in many ways –unexpected ways through people – mysterious ways – meet our needs time and time again
God uses people like us to bless others
God used those 4 lepers to provide food for the entire city-so also HE could use us too.
We have to share blessings with others
God encourages us to share the blessings with others – not to keep them for ourselves but to share with others who have nothing.
During this thanksgiving week remember the Lord blessed us abundantly – let us share what we can with those who have nothing – may be buy a grocery bag at Safeway – may be donate some money to an organization who provides food - buy a gift card and share it with some family who are desperately looking for some help.
Give thanks in all circumstances
Give God the glory and thanks in all our circumstances.
Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Happy Thanksgiving Day
The King of Syria with his army surrounded Samaria and cut off all supplies to the city – Great famine broke out – Jehoram was the king of Samaria – things were so bad that donkey’s head was sold for a big price.
Not only that the families were killing their own children for food.
The king was horrified and could not take it – he goes after the Prophet Elisha to kill him.
The Main Characters are Four Lepers
Lepers lived outside of the city because of their condition – untouchables –no cure – beg to feed their hunger – absolute dependency on mercy of people
They discussed 3 options here
1. To go back to the city and die with everybody else in the famine.
2. Just stay here and die from hunger.
3. Go to the enemy camp and if they kill them it will be quick.
They did not know about the prophet’s prophecy – they chose the 3rd option to go to Arameans’ camp.
The lepers could not go in the daytime-so they went after the sunset – in the dusk
What they saw was unbelievable – God caused confusion in the Arameans camp to hear the sounds of great rushing army – they all fled leaving everything behind –the camp was empty.
These guys had their fill and even took silver, gold and clothes and hid outside.
They came back for the seconds also.
9th verse is very pivotal and important.
They could not stay there with a clear conscience.
The Samaritan people despised them and treated them as untouchables.
In spite of that kind of treatment the lepers still had concern for them.
They felt in their hearts that withholding such wonderful news is not right.
They also feared for God’s punishment for not sharing the good news.
4 lepers are showing compassion and concern for those who had never shown them any compassion or concern.
They knew very well what was going on in the city as people are dying of hunger.
Since the lepers are forbidden to go into the city they told the city gatekeeper what they had seen in the Arameans camp – so the message was relayed to the king’s palace.
The king did not believe for a minute because he suspected that the armies will come and snatch the hungry people of Samaria.
What prophet Elisha prophesied came true – a seah of flour sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel.
I see this event speaking to us in four ways.
God will provide our needs
God will provide no matter what our circumstances are – HE could pour out HIS blessings in many ways –unexpected ways through people – mysterious ways – meet our needs time and time again
God uses people like us to bless others
God used those 4 lepers to provide food for the entire city-so also HE could use us too.
We have to share blessings with others
God encourages us to share the blessings with others – not to keep them for ourselves but to share with others who have nothing.
During this thanksgiving week remember the Lord blessed us abundantly – let us share what we can with those who have nothing – may be buy a grocery bag at Safeway – may be donate some money to an organization who provides food - buy a gift card and share it with some family who are desperately looking for some help.
Give thanks in all circumstances
Give God the glory and thanks in all our circumstances.
Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Happy Thanksgiving Day
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