Such were the words of Moses just before his death and their entrance into the promised land.  He had taught them a song to remember.  In that song, he reminded them of all that God had done for them.  Additionally, he reminded them of their rebellious hearts which taunted against God’s grace and love for them.  He reminded them of how often God had reached out his hand in grace; but, one day when God Says Enough, Judgement will come.  Why would they or we be so foolish as to presume upon His grace so much that we cast all His Goodness and Righteousness aside for our own stubborn will?  How can we believe that our will, desires, and way are better than the perfect will of He who created everything?

Yet, that is exactly what we do!  That was also what the children of Israel did.  This brings us to the final chapter concerning the Northern tribes of Israel in 2 Kings 17. As we read these words, look closely around us.  Evil is spinning out of control.  How we would feel lost, if we did not know that this is also controlled by God. 

Deuteronomy 32:

1“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
    and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
² May my teaching drop as the rain,
    my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
    and like showers upon the herb.
³ For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    ascribe greatness to our God!

⁴ “The Rock, his work is perfect,
    for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
    just and upright is he.

All that is good.  Everything that is righteousness.  All the powers of love are Him; yet, that means He must be just.  Can you say you love your child and let them destroy their life in disobedience?  This is something, I face every day with my grandchildren.  Love must bring discipline.  Justice demands that sinners deserve the full penalty of death.  How evil could my own heart be if it were not for God constraining it?  And for all those who do not know Him, who would they be apart from His restraining grace?

Jonathan Edwards wrote in his sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God’s restraints. There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell. There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire. These principles are active and powerful, exceeding violent in their nature, and if it were not for the restraining hand of God upon them, they would soon break out, they would flame out after the same manner as the same corruptions, the same enmity does in the hearts of damned souls, and would beget the same torments as they do in them. The souls of the wicked are in scripture compared to the troubled sea, Isa. lvii. 20. For the present, God restrains their wickedness by his mighty power, as he does the raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;” but if God should withdraw that restraining power, it would soon carry all before it. Sin is the ruin and misery of the soul; it is destructive in its nature; and if God should leave it without restraint, there would need nothing else to make the soul perfectly miserable. The corruption of the heart of man is immoderate and boundless in its fury; and while wicked men live here, it is like fire pent up by God’s restraints, whereas if it were let loose, it would set on fire the course of nature; and as the heart is now a sink of sin, so if sin was not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into a fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone.

When God Says Enough, Judgement will come

35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’

³⁹ ‘Now see that I, even I, am He,
And there is no God besides Me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

When God says Enough, Judgement will come.  It is in His hands.  The increasing evil, He has allowed, although still He restrains.  It is a slippery slope that humanity stands upon.  One day their feet shall slip.  We see the ever-increasing psychopathic overlords trying to control everything around us.  There are pandemics released and a potential greater one being developed in the same labs.  Famine is increasing due to proxy wars.  The progressive elites demand we bow before their demands for reducing the carbon footprints, while they fly their jets around the world.  Yet, their demands are forcing farmlands to be destroyed and inflation to rage throughout the world.  There is drought throughout Europe only adding to the crisis.  Needed energy is restricted while we fight proxy wars for corrupt oligarchs, while humanity suffers. 

Our own nation so filled with corruption, we cannot help but feel despair and sorrow.  We cannot help but hear God saying,

²⁸ “For they are a nation void of counsel,
Nor is there any understanding in them.
²⁹ Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!  Deuteronomy 32:

When God Says Enough

 Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. ⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria…

Reason #1 Idolatry

⁷ For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, ⁸ and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

⁹ Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves ^[a]high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images^[b] on every high hill and under every green tree. ¹¹ There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, ¹² for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” 2 Kings (NKJV)

GUILY AS CHARGED–#2—They Stopped Believing God IS God

¹³ Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.” ¹⁴ Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. 2 Kings NKJV

#3—They Ignored God’s Commands

¹⁶ So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. ¹⁷ And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. ¹⁸ Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.

And What About Us? When God Says Enough

It was several years later, but Judah did not listen despite watching all that happened.  Oh, they had a few revivals.  But nothing lasted.  Such has been the story throughout the ages.  God has been patient, long suffering with such hard necked people; but there will come a day when God Says Enough and the remainder of prophecy will be fulfilled. 

God spoke of Israel and does of Our Nation today:

You grew fat, you grew thick, (with prosperity and pride)
You are obese! (with self-righteousness)
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation……

And He (GOD) said: ‘I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end will be,
For they are a perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faith.
²¹ They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God;
They have moved Me to anger by their ^[f]foolish idols.
But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation;
I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.
²² For a fire is kindled in My anger,
And shall burn to the ^[g]lowest ^[h]hell;
It shall consume the earth with her increase,
And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

²³ ‘I will heap disasters on them;
I will spend My arrows on them.
²⁴ They shall be wasted with hunger,
Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction;
I will also send against them the teeth of beasts,
With the poison of serpents of the dust.
²⁵ The sword shall destroy outside;
There shall be terror within
For the young man and virgin,
The nursing child with the man of gray hairs. Deuteronomy 32 NKJV

Judgement will come.  Are You Ready?

Paul sent a letter to the church in Thessalonica.  They were being severely persecuted by the world around them yet stood strong in their faith.  To all who believe, I challenge and encourage you with these same words.

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and ^[a]tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest^[b] evidence of the righteous judgment of God,

that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; ⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with ^[c]tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who ^[d]believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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How to Really make the Right Choices in Life to Honor God

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        We look around us and wonder. “Has there ever been such a time as this?”  Evil invades everything around us. Our life overwhelmed with trials.  Yet, is it really that different than before.  Oh certainly with all the modern technology, we know so much in seconds of time.  News speeds so quickly we cannot assimilate it before the next cycle begins.  Yes, we know that evil will wax worse, and sorrows abound before the rapture.  Immediately followed by the worst days of all in the end times.  However, it has been pretty awful before like in Noah’s day or Sodom and Gomorrah.  What about the years of the Kings in Israel?  Is it that different? We must learn from the faithful in those days. Only then we really make the right choices in life to Honor God. This in spite of living in a world such as this.

        The books of Kings and Chronicles there is outlined the history of the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judah.  Now what a messed-up bunch of humanity grabbling for power, prestige, money, and position.  There are stories of how they get so involved in idol worship, false doctrines, wars, and even family disputes.  All the way through, God sends his prophets to warn them.  But no one seems to listen for long.  Yet, in His grace, God holds fast with His promise to these His chosen people.  One day the Messiah returns. He comes from the line of David. And all the world are blessed with His offer of salvation.  From the promise given to Adam and Eve of a Savior through to today, God remains faithful.  He completes every promise. That in spite of so few people making the right choices in Life to Honor God.

A Tale of Kings

        Even before Kings were designated, God had warned the people that Kings are not the best of rulers.  At times they abuse their power.  They use the money and the labor of the people.  At times, people will follow after the King, believing he is the solution they need.  Only to find the one they trusted lead them farther away from the only true help.  God alone is the one whom they could trust.  If only they would believe, trust Him, and make the right choices in life to Honor God.  Then their lives could be filled with hope, peace, and joy.  But alas, such as we people are, we wander far from Him. Yet we cannot understand why life has gotten so hard.  Never do we believe the truth. It is our fault.

        Afterall, it is such a broken world we live in.  As the Kingdom divided following Solomon’s reign, these trials and sorrows even worsened.  No nation can stand for long once divided. 

        During the years, there were a few good Kings that would bring revival.  We will this week look at one who is named Joash.

Did the Kings make the Right Choices to Honor God?

Of the Kings, you may see by the chart that the majority of the Kings were evil leading the people further and further into idolatry.  This was worse in the Northern Kingdom of Israel; however, also leaked over into the Southern Tribes of Judah.

In particular, King Jehoram (also called Joram) of Judah married the daughter of Jezebel and King Ahab of Israel.  King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were the evilest of all. They promoted the worship of Baal and made life miserable for the true worshippers of God.  Well Queen Athaliah followed closely in the footsteps of her mother.  After her husband died, her son Ahaziah became King.  This was good for the queen mother who ruled through him. 

10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11 But [^h]Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 2 Chronicles 22 NKJV

IN OTHER WORDS

So, in other words, she tried to kill all her grandchildren so she could remain in power.  The underlying Satanic plot was to destroy the line from which the Messiah was foretold.  As though Satan thought all along, he might succeed one day in destroying God’s plan.

We cannot outdo the palace intrigue of old.  Note, the wife of the priest Jehoiada who raised Joash was actually her daughter.  Probably because he was only one year old, she may not have ever even noticed him being born.

Queen Athaliah ruled the kingdom of Judah for 6 years.

#1 Courage to make the Right Choices in life to Honor God

23 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds…they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.

 4 This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors; 5 one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.  6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” 2 chronicles 23:

True Courage

It took courage to stand; but that courage as you note came from knowing the Lord has said.  He is the courage needed.  We must know His word and that is our sword to stand courageously.  And so, with great courage they crowned the new King Joash surrounded by sword bearing Levites and priests to keep him safe.

And the Queen?

Well, she heard the commotion and came to declare, “Treason, treason” It was an insurrection of sorts in her mind.  But she fled to the stables, where she was pursued and killed. 

#2 Must Cleanse from Evil to Make the Right Choices to Honor God

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the [^b]temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.  2 Chronicles 23

It is absolutely necessary to cleanse away the sin.  For us it is to lay it at the feet of the cross, to leave it there with sincerity of heart.  Oh, a day when we are drawn aside, we may wander again.  How often does God forgive?  More than I can count; but He looks upon the heart.  We may come with a broken and contrite heart to Him as often as needed. 

#3 Right Counsel is Needed to Make the Right Choices to Honor God

Jehoash (Joash) [^a] became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the [^b]high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census[^c] money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that [^d]a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the [^e]damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.”  2 Kings 12

Adult Choices to Honor God

He did learn well, because at the age of 30 he realized the temple was still in shambles and nothing had been repaired.  Jehoiada was quite old by then and perhaps had been more complacent.  The task needed to be done; but somehow the money never got directed to the temple repairs.  So, King Joash devised a more secure plan and set up a giving box at the door of the Temple which was secured and brought to the treasurer each day.  Then the King hired the carpenters, contractors and all who were needed to finish the task.

Unfortunately, after Jehoiada died, the King had some very poor counselors to follow.  This led to the breaking of the peace within the Kingdom of Judah. 

2 Chronicles 24:

¹⁵ But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. ¹⁶ And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.

¹⁷ Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. ¹⁸ Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. ¹⁹ Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

²⁰ Then the Spirit of God ^[a]came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ ” ²¹ So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. ²² Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his ^[b]father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it, and repay!”

#4: One Must Always Remember God is a Just God to make the Right Choices in life to Honor God

²³ So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their ^[c]spoil to the king of Damascus. ²⁴ For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

So they executed judgment against Joash. ²⁵ And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the ^[d]sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.  2 Chronicles 24

Conclusions

We cannot become complacent in our own lives either, listening to the wrong crowds and ignoring, “Thus says the Lord.” 

Nevertheless, God will accomplish all that He has planned.  The Question is are we willing to have the courage, the faith, and the fortitude to make the right choices in life to honor God.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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How Absolutely Marvelous; Yet Mystifying is the Way of God

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        Sometimes when we read of all that God has done and plans to fulfill, it seems as though we are part of a mystifying story that is absolutely marvelous as well.  Each part of the story is filled with such wonder.  There are moments of great joy, and sometimes sorrows which leads to the next joy being even more exuberant.  Then there are the moments of fear, which press us ever forward reaching for that which will steady through the storm.  Each step, the way of God leading us to a greater faith and hope.  Finally, there are glimpses of greater joy that we have ever seen before lying just before us.  We know it deep within our hearts.  Hearts born to live in perfect harmony with Him, always searching and moving forward.

        Perhaps it was that vision of blazing horses pulling a blazing chariot to sweep up Elijah from this earth into heaven that gave Elisha special courage and faith.  He could see the spiritual beyond the mundane tasks of this earth.  Yet, that too caused him great sorrow.  He could see the impending doom.  The futility of all those around him that sought after earthly treasures and idols who promised them.  He had seen glory and how absolutely marvelous that was.  The warmth and beauty of God’s grace and love kept Elisha strong.  He saw the spiritual battle around him and was overwhelmed with sorrow because of all those who did not believe. Knowing their fate, made him very sad. 

Absolutely Marvelous

In 2 Kings 4 (NET) we read:

Now a wife of one of the prophets^[a] appealed^[b] to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord.^[c] Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.” ² Elisha said to her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil.”

³ He said, “Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers.^[d] Get as many as you can.^{[e] 4} Go and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour the olive oil into all the containers;^[f] set aside each one when you have filled it.” ⁵ So she left him and closed the door behind her and her sons. As they were bringing the containers to her, she was pouring the olive oil. ⁶ When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons,^[g] “Bring me another container.” But he answered her, “There are no more.” Then the olive oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She went and told the prophet.^[h] He said, “Go, sell the olive oil. Repay your creditor, and then you and your sons can live off the rest of the profit.”

Marvelous, Yet Mystifying the Miracles of God

Then, he met a very gracious Shulamite woman who made certain he had a private room to sleep in with food provisions each time he passed through the providence.  She had been baron.  Elisha prophesied that she and her husband would have a son.  She could hardly believe; yet God gave her a son.  That son died; however, by faith she placed him in the room where Elisha stayed.  Then with her husband’s permission she left with the carriage and drivers to find Elisha.  Through Elisha, God restored her son’s life. 

This was the life of Elisha.  Absolutely marvelous miracles all around him.  He directed the leprous Syrian general to wash in the Jordan 7 times and he was healed.  But nothing was more miraculously absolutely marvelous more than in Chapter 6. 

A Vision Beyond Man’s sight.

The King of Syria wanted to kill the King of Israel; but each time his attempts were foiled.  He determined someone was spying and betraying him.  But his men told him that it was a prophet who could hear everything he whispered though many miles away.  So, the King of Syria sent troops to surround Elisha’s little school of theology.  (For he had a great school teaching others of God’s wonderful absolutely marvelous glory).  Well, his servant was frightened when he saw the army surrounding them. 

¹⁵ The prophet’s^[r] attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha,^[s] “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” ¹⁶ He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.”^{[t] 17} Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.”

The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that^[u] the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ As the army approached him,^[v] Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people^[w] with blindness.”^[x] The Lord^[y] struck them with blindness as Elisha requested.^{[z] 19} Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” He led them to Samaria.

²⁰ When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see.” (2 Kings 6 NET).

The army found themselves in the center of Samaria, surrounded by the Samaritan army.   Elisha commanded that grace be given them as prisoners of war.  He advised the King to feed them then send them home.  Elisha was the one whom they came to kill, and he spared their lives.

How Mystifying Is the Way of God

For a time, there was peace for Samaria, but that did not last long for they failed to turn to God.  As they and their King continued to sin against God, the Syrian army once more came and encircled them cutting them off from all food and supplies.  A horrid famine had presented and now with no roads to find food they were in a dire state of affairs.  Instead of pleading to God, the King determined this was God’s fault and the fault of Elisha as God’s man.  He sent a lynch man to kill Elisha. But of course, Elisha saw him coming long before he arrived.  Then, God spoke through Elisha to the people.  He told them that by tomorrow morning, food would be plentiful and the prices reasonable.  The horrid inflation they were enduring would end suddenly. 

² So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 2 Kings 7 (NKJV)

Not a good idea to mock God, but such are the foolish of the world who hold fast to their ideas as being greater than Gods.

What happens next is Absolutely Marvelous; yet Mystifying

³ Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” ⁵ And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.

⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”

⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives. ⁸ And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from itsilver and gold and clothing and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. (2Kings 7: NKJV)

Think of this. 

4 Lepers who believed there was no hope went to surrender to the Syrians.  At least then they would die quickly rather than slowly of starvation.  For if there was no food for the other people.  These who lived off the scraps thrown them out of charity had no hope.  But when all hope is gone, but God.  Well, He is all you need.

The Most Unlikely News Bearers

At first, they reveled in their fortune only to then to realize they must share in this news with all the others.  Perhaps these 4 lepers were more noble that many of the people in the city.  It is funny how God does absolutely marvelous things in such mystifying ways.  They ran to town to tell everyone.  At first the King refused to believe it so.  It must be a trap.

However, in the end, he sent out a scouting troop who confirmed the absolutely marvelous miracle.  There was an abundance of food which could be sold at a very reasonable price for all to eat.  And the naysayer we read of before? Well, he went out to see and got trampled by the crowd, just as foretold.  He would see it, but not live to enjoy it. 

So what do all these stories have to do with us? 

 God Is the Same Yesterday, today and tomorrow

“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 NKJV

Furthermore,

God is Absolutely Marvelous Yet Mystifying, there is none like HIM

 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance ^[b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been ^[c]grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not ^[d]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1

• Therefore, though famine, pestilence or trials come, we have nothing to fear because we can trust Him.  Even though his ways are mystifying to us, we can rest in His promises.  He has always completed all that He has foretold and He isn’t about to stop being the absolutely marvelous, sovereign God who can calm our hearts and give us peace, joy and love today. 

Isaiah 55: (NKJV)

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷ Let the ^[b]wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me ^[c]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

¹² “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

One Way of Salvation and only One way, which is God and God Alone

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

What happens when you feel that you have done your very best.  Still the world collapses around you?  You have prayed night and day for your country, your family, your friends as you watch everything going up in flames.  All your labor you see as inconsequential.  So many miracles realized.  God’s glory displayed as never before.  You ran with excitement, knowing this would be the moment.  Surely, everything would be wonderful.  But alas, the thing you had most wanted does not happen. Not the way you thought it should.  Depression Overwhelms your heart.  Is there anyplace to turn where you can find hope?  Did you fail?  Was it your fault?

Elijah did as God commanded.  The Glory of God shown forth with brilliance as the sacrifice was lit with fire from God.  All the people and King Ahab witnessed this.  They had witnessed God’s power and resolve when the rain stopped for 3 years and six months.  And then returned as promised when Elijah prayed.  God used Elijah to show forth the Sovereignty of God and the powerlessness of the fake other gods they worshiped.  Their useless gods were symbols of their imaginations, fed by their own sinful desires and the wish to justify their depravity of spirit and life. 

As the rainstorm began, Elijah ran alongside the Kings Chariot. Can you imagine His heart beating with glee?  After all this, surely a revival would break out.  All the evil priests were dead.  God was fully vindicated.  Certainly, they would all turn from their sins to follow God.  The King and Israel would be saved at last.

But instead, Queen Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life.  He ran in fear.   Sorrow gripped his heart.  Elijah cast aside his shield of faith, as depression shot its darts deep within his heart. 

When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. ² Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning,^[a] “May the gods judge me severely^[b] if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!”^{[c] 3} Elijah was afraid,^[d] so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, ⁴ while he went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He went and sat down under a shrub^[e] and asked the Lord to take his life:^[f] “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.”  I Kings 19 (NET). 

Notice: he plead for God to take his life because he saw himself to be “no better than those who had rejected God.”  This was the first time we are told he went anywhere without it being by God’s direct command.  Yet here he was in the depths of depression.  Did he see his own sin of either pride, fear, or faithlessness? Did he believe the lack of revival was because of hidden sin in his own life?

What About Us When Depression Overwhelms?

How easily one falls after some amazing miracle.  High from the “glory” we cast aside our shield of faith. Heart wide open to Satan’s arrows we take a hit.  Then depression overwhelms and we withdraw to a place of solitude.  Why is that?  Does pride seep in from all the victories?  Or fear driving us away, when just for a second, we do not hear God’s voice directing us? It is that way, when faith fades and fears rise within us, we cannot hear God’s clear voice.  Even if this is only for a split second in time, we run away.

There Is A Time When Running Stops

There is only so far one can run before it becomes necessary to stop for a while.  

⁵ (Elijah) stretched out^[h] and fell asleep under the shrub. I King 19

 Point 1 When Depression overwhelms your heart—take time for rest and nourishment.

The Kindness of God Brings Hope and Rest

Suddenly an angelic messenger^[i] touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more.^{[j] 7} The angel of the Lord came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.”^{[k] 8} So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.  I Kings 19 (NET)

Notice, God did not rebuke him for his fear.  Instead, God sent an angel to feed him and to watch over him.  God realized that he was tired and needed nourishment and rest before he would be ready to go on.  Then he traveled for forty days and forty nights.  Some believe this was symbolic of the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert near Horeb because of their disobedience.  However, I rather see it as God’s grace presenting a picture of Christ who would go for forty days and forty nights in the desert without food or drink while being tempted by Satan.  Do note the one meal gave him “the strength to travel forty days and forty nights to reach the mountain of God.” 

Also of note, where did Elijah head?  To the mountain of God to seek refuge there.  God has not yet spoken to him.  His despair is real still; but he is seeking to find God’s voice again. 

So, point 2 when Depression overwhelms your heart—seek God with all your being.  Go to a place you know He is present.

God Speaks  to His servant

⁹ He went into a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly the Lord’s message came to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal^[l] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,^[m] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you,^[n] torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”^[o]

Notice: “I Alone Am LEFT”—Wow!  Have you ever felt that way?  It is a deeply lonely place to be when Depression overwhelms your heart.  I wish I could say, I have never been there.  But I have too often and usually after I have majorly failed God.  Caught in my own self’s pity party.  It is good to know that God responded with such grace.  He did begin first with a command that was not even adhered to. 

¹¹ The Lord^[p] said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”  I Kings 19.

He did not go at first.  Was he ashamed or afraid or still just depressed?

A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides,^[q] but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  ¹² After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  After the fire, there was a soft whisper.^[r]

Point #3: When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:  Do not get distracted by all the chaos around you—Remember God is on your side.

If God is for us, who can be^[i] against us? Romans 8:31

The Gentleness of God

 Psalm 103 (NKJV)

As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He ^[a]knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is ^[b]gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,

And so, it was for Elijah.  When he heard God’s whisper, he remembered His grace.

After the fire, there was a soft whisper.^{[r] 13} When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Suddenly^[s] a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal^[t] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,^[u] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”^[v]

Point #4:  When Depression Overwhelms You—be honest with yourself and with God.  He knows what you are thinking anyway, so just say it out loud so you can hear it yourself.

God Recommissions His Prophet to a New Area

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. ¹⁶ You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. ¹⁸ I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”^[w]

New commission, you will go out and anoint the King of Syria (the one who will attack Israel).  It was Hazael who fought against Israel and Judah, taking possession of all of Israel east of the Jordan.  Although he does not take over as King until well after Elijah’s death; yet, he was anointed to become King against a lot of odds.  But God always accomplishes what He determines to do. 

Furthermore, God told Elijah that he was not alone.  He was to train his predecessor and there were 7000 Israelite who were faithful to God.

Point #5:  When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:  God loves you so much He will not leave you here one second beyond the last task He has for you to do on this earth. 

God Takes Elijah Home

There were some other missions that Elijah carried out including his foretelling of Ahab’s death and the death of Ahab’s son as well.  Then God called him home. 

Ahab knew it was nearing time as God ordered him to Gilgal, to Jericho and then to Jordan.  Each step of this journey, he told Elisha to stay behind.  But Elisha refused to leave his side.  At each stop they spoke with other Godly prophets who also told Elisha, God is going to take your master home soon.  Then they came to the Jordan.  Elijah dipped his rod in and the waters parted just as they had for the Moses long before.  He walked across with Elisha at his side (since Elisha refused to leave him).

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” ¹⁰ And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” ¹¹ And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Point #6: When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:  God has gone to prepare a place for you and I where we will live forever with Him.  Just a little while longer and we will see His face.

POINT #7:  When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:

Never ever forget! This life regardless of how long you may live is but a blink of the eye compared to eternity.

⁷ But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power^[o] belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸ We are experiencing trouble on every side,^[p] but are not crushed; we are perplexed,^[q] but not driven to despair; ⁹ we are persecuted, but not abandoned;^[r] we are knocked down,^[s] but not destroyed, ¹⁰ always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus,^[t] so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible^[u] in our body. ^... ¹⁴ We do so^[ab] because we know that the one who raised up Jesus^[ac] will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

¹⁵ For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including^[ad] more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase^[ae] to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not despair,^[af] but even if our physical body^[ag] is wearing away, our inner person^[ah] is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, light suffering^[ai] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison ¹⁸ because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.  (2Corinthians 4) NET

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

How to Really Experience a Faith Evidencing Truth Beyond Sight

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com