What A Difference A Day Makes
August 2019 |
“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.” — II Kings 7:1-2
It Came To Pass
As believers we will often face situations that are difficult. We should always recall to mind that God is in charge of all that occurs in the life of His saints. While it may not seem so at the time, the issues we face today—issues that bring anxiety or even pain into our lives—will not last forever. God will often allow certain situations to exist in order to affect a needed change in our hearts. He knows what kind of pressure will be needed to break us of self sufficiency, dependence upon the flesh, pride, or trust in anything other than His delivering and sustaining power. As we travel through the trials of life, keep in mind that we are traveling through. Over and over again in the Scriptures that little clause is repeated: “It came to pass.” Well, my friend, be assured that this which you are going through today will pass as well.
Our God Is A “Suddenly” God!
When we have learned all that we can learn from our present trial, God will remove it. Even when our own foolishness or sin has created the situation, God is able to bring good out of it. If we as believers will repent of our wrongdoing, God will always bring us back to a place where His peace and strength will dim the trials of our past. And the beauty of it all is that it does not take God years, months, or even weeks to turn things around. We serve a “suddenly” God.
In a single moment, on any given day, at the time of His choosing, God can turn a seemingly unredeemable and unending situation upside down, reverse its course, and bring a blessing out of heartache. He is not limited as man is limited. When God is ready to move, nothing can stand in His way. Again, I encourage you to believe. I encourage you to look up, for “your redemption draweth nigh.” The change you have dreamed of and cried for may be only one moment from occurring. Let hope arise in your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you until that time when God does what He has promised to do. He is able!
Elisha’s Story
In our opening text, Elisha prophesied an unbelievable deliverance from the Lord. Samaria was under siege by the armies of Assyria. Famine gripped the city to the extent that mothers were eating their children. Donkey head and dove dung were expensive fare for a meal. No end of this situation could be seen. But one day, Elisha stands up and in essence says, “By this time tomorrow the famine will be over, the enemy will be defeated, and abundance of food and money will flow through the gates of Samaria.”
A lord who was close to the king stood up and rebuked Elisha for his words. He chose to walk in unbelief in regard to the word given through Elisha. But God would do exactly as He had spoken through the man of God. That evening, just as the sun was setting, four lepers who were desperate and beyond hope brought the news. They had ventured out into the camp of the Assyrians and had been the first to see God’s miracle working hand. The enemy had fled and left great supplies of food and spoil. In less than one day, God had done the impossible. Incidentally, the man who acted in unbelief was trampled by the people as they ran to obtain what he had refused to believe. Don’t stop believing God!
He Will Do It For You
The Bible plainly states that God is no respecter of persons. What He has done for others, He can do for us. Joseph’s prison sentence was changed in a day. He went from being a prisoner to being the prince of Egypt. The demoniac of Gadara started off one day tormented by a legion of devils and began the next day sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. Paul and Silas were beaten within an inch of their lives, but at midnight God heard their praise and sent an earthquake to free them.
Take heart, dear friend, if God can do it for these, He can and will do it for you!
|
<em> |
