The Beauty of Being Still

"And Elisha prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
2 Kings 6:17

This world has conditioned mankind to believe that there are only two suitable choices available when we are engulfed in a state of conflict. We can either confront head-on the person, or persons, assailing us. Or we can defer the hardship by retreating from it. This is popularly referred to as "fight or flight". And while these are understandable generalities to apply in such matters, God's Word affirms that there is another option entirely, and that is to wait on the Lord and let Him settle the issue. Even though it runs contrary to our human instinct God asks that we entrust conflict-laden burdens to Him and find spiritual tranquility. In other words, our actions need not always revert to war or withdrawing for sometimes the Lord desires that we be resilient and infused with a faith that stand strong, and a faith that is able to be still even in the midst of chaos and calamity.

2 Kings 6:8-23 underscores the beauty of being still and waiting on God’s light to shine through the darkness. In this account we read that Elisha, the prophet of God, had been advising Ahab, king of Israel, about the movement of one of Israel’s enemies: the Arameans. The king of Aram became so frustrated by his army’s inability to launch an assault against Israel that he assumed someone in his counsel was secretly revealing his battle plans to King Ahab. But it was determined that Elisha was receiving insight from the Lord and relaying it to the king of Israel. When the king of Aram discovered this he immediately set out to capture, and potentially kill, Elisha. To this end, the king of Aram sent a detachment of soldiers to Dothan when he found out the prophet was staying there.   

The Arameans devised a crafty plan by drawing close to Dothan and surrounding it at nighttime, thus avoiding any attention or suspicion. When the sun arose the next day Elisha’s assistant stepped outside and beheld the Aramean militia positioned all around Dothan, confirming there was no safe, suitable exit. Elisha and the people of Dothan were trapped. Elisha’s assistant, in a state of alarm, rushed to tell Elisha what was happening. And what was Elisha’s immediate response to his servant? The prophet said, “Don’t be afraid” (2 Kings 6:16a). Notice that the voluntary reaction of Elisha's assistant was to panic whereas Elisha's initial reaction was to pray. According to 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha beseeched God to open the eyes of his servant so that his servant could supernaturally see that the angelic army of God was near and greater than the Aramean force.

When the Aramean army descended toward Eisha again he called out to the Lord. This time Elisha asked the Lord to strike the Aramean soldiers with temporary blindness, which God did. Elisha then proceeded to lead the Arameans to Samaria, the heart of Israel's kingdom. When given the opportunity to slaughter the Aramean miltary contingent Elisha chose to have a meal prepared for the enemy warriors, reminiscent of the sentiment expressed in Psalm 23:5. And so not one soul was killed in this particular event because Elisha was fiercely trustful of God.

The character and spiritual fortitude of Elisha were something to behold. Pursued by enemies he didn't run. Exposed to severe famine he didn't surrender to fear. Given death threats he didn't display any sense of dread. Elisha's spirit was so at peace with God's governance that every matter, especially a contentious one such as this, was evaluated through the knowledge that nothing can escape God's watch or will. Therefore, why fret because the Creator of the universe was and will always mightily reign? The point being, Elisha knew God was, and is, the eternal King. And he knew that the Lord is the earth's true Ruler. Because this type of perspective was always at the forefront of his mind it allowed him to enjoy a spiritual posture that was reposed and at rest, despite the numerous hardships he faced. All this to say, the prophet of God had a rock-solid faith that carried him through many trials. 

One of the great tests of humanity is waiting. It requires tremendous dedication, trust, patience, and commitment to wait in difficult ordeals. Too often we fall short of yielding faith to God in such matters. Instead, we try to find a manner of resolution (fight or flight) on our own. But we were never intended to handle this life on our own. God intended for us to find the courage to seek Him, and intended for us to exhibit the courage to wholeheartedly believe in Him. Elisha was surrounded by a powerful Aramean army but he did not focus on the soldiers commissioned to capturing him. No, Elisha focused on the Almighty God Who captivated him. And that subtle, yet significant, difference powerfully affected Elisha's state of mind. So the question for modern-day believers is will we choose to exercise faith in God and be still, or will we exercise doubt and succumb to the worry that accompanies despair and carnal fear? I hope that God's followers will continue to turn to the Lord in all endeavors and discover the beauty of being still in God. 
      

The Symmetry of Scripture

“The company of prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said ‘The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.’”  
2 Kings 2:15

“All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!’ And the news about Him (Jesus) spread throughout the surrounding area.”
Luke 4:36-37

There is a spiritual storehouse of relevant, practical knowledge contained in Scripture – a treasure trove which beckons to be found, framed, and fermented in the lives of God’s followers. But there is often a reluctance, or resistance, on the part of believers to actively take the time to sift God’s sacred repository for germane guidance and disciplined doctrine. Sadly, Christians tend to fall victim to the mentality to read biblical excerpts sparingly, or view them as detached, isolated statements. If we allow ourselves to embrace this mindset then we will surely fail to perceive the symmetry of God’s overarching plan. However, if we rightly survey the entirety of God’s Word with a humble heart then we will likely see the work of a holy God Who desires to redeem and bless mankind, which was made possible solely through Jesus Christ. 

The Lord’s codified accounts in Scripture display a God-led dispensing of love, justice, mercy, and grace. Furthermore, the Old Testament narrative provides a consistent foreshadowing of a Messiah. For example, God devised a singular way of deliverance for Noah and his family from the flood (Genesis 6-8), which was a foretelling of Jesus’ singular means of salvation through recognition of His gruesome death and glorious resurrection. Additionally, Abraham’s call to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22) was a preview to the necessity of Jesus Christ’s atoning work at Calvary. Overall, the Bible’s holistic message of redemption underscores the very real presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And it is in this vein of that we find Jesus’ life on earth displayed characteristics of a prophet, priest and prince, all three of which signified His divine position and authority.

It is Jesus’ prophetic abilities that I would like to dwell on for the remainder of this post. And I want to emphasize them by correlating Christ’s oracle-like power to the Old Testament prophet named Elisha. Interestingly enough, Elisha’s name can be translated “God his salvation.” Notice that Elisha is not translated God is a way to salvation, but rather God is his salvation. The underlying implication is that the Lord is the only way to salvation. Regardless, Elisha is a fascinating character study. He was a diligent farmer when Elijah found him in Abel Meholah. Elijah put his cloak around Elisha and asked him to become his disciple. After saying good-bye to his father and mother Elisha took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. Furthermore, he burned his plow equipment to cook his slain oxen and gave the food to the community (1 Kings 19:19-21), thus suggesting Elisha’s commitment to leave the agrarian life behind for good and follow God, via Elijah, into the great unknown. 

After some years as Elijah’s student and attendant Elisha personally witnessed Elijah’s incredible departure from this realm (1 Kings 2). After which, Elisha was granted a double portion of the spirit that once inhabited Elijah during his earthly work. Elisha then held the role as the primary prophet of Israel for many years. And during these years some very interesting miracles occurred that would later be mirrored through the labor and life of Jesus Christ. Let us briefly consider a few. In 2 Kings 2:19-22, Elisha was able to take tainted water and alter its properties into pure, drinkable water. In John 2:1-11, Jesus was able to take water and alter it instantly into wine. In 2 Kings 4:8-37, Elisha was able to resurrect a dead child. In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus resurrected a widow’s son. In 2 Kings 4:42-44, Elisha supernaturally multiplied twenty loaves of bread to feed a hundred men, as well as women and children. In Mark 6:30-44, Jesus supernaturally multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed five thousand men, as well as women and children. In 2 Kings 5, Elisha’s advice led to a man being cured of leprosy. In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus’ advice led to ten men being cured of leprosy.

I bring up all these connections not to elevate Elisha’s standing in Scripture, but to enrich our apprehension of God’s abundant and awesome Word. After all, Elisha’s power was not his own, but God’s. Christ’s power, though, was, and is, His own divine power. The point being, we should never encounter the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, and think of its passages as disconnected, random thoughts or stories for they are clearly not. There is a cohesive theme that God is highlighting for His believers. There is an urgent call to surrender to the Lord’s guidance and governance. In other words, there is a need for holy instruction and intervention in human affairs.    

In conclusion, there is a beautiful symmetry in Scripture. Embedded in it are numerous spiritual markers that await our attention and appreciation. May we gaze on them in humility and praise the all-knowing, everlasting God. His transformative message yearns to fully envelop and enhance our lives. The words in both Old Testament and New Testament confirm the Lord longs to relationally engage us, save us, and deepen our existence, as well as instill in us a great redemptive, spiritually-potent purpose. Therefore, let us examine God’s dynamic Word and cherish the Lord’s ongoing communication of liberation and love, which was dramatically displayed and confirmed through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. 

Exceptional Devotion to an Extraordinary God

“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.” 
2 Chronicles 17:3-4

How do we as a modern-day society define the word exceptional? What are the essential characteristics that make someone, or something, rare and worthy of recognition? Many would likely point to vocational position or wealth as prime indicators. Others might claim fame and influence are benchmark traits of exceptionality. But what we find in Scripture is that God weighs exceptional characteristics much differently than humanity. And this reality is evident in the life of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. 

2 Chronicles 17 records Jehoshaphat began his reign as king correctly. He committed himself to understanding God’s decrees and faithfully observing them. He refused to endorse the personal, or corporate, acceptance of idolatry, a spiritual dilemma that plagued so many of the Hebrew tribes. Lukewarm belief is something that will always draw God’s rebuke and wrath. Scripture affirms that the Lord is not accepting of a spiritless, lackluster faith. But this condemnation was not warranted with Jehoshaphat’s conduct in his initial years as king of Judah. This young man held a singular fidelity to God, and pledged himself to adhering to the Lord’s great doctrine.      

Per 2 Chronicles 17, there were effectively three key markers that validated Jehoshaphat’s faithfulness to God: legacy, loyalty, and leadership. Regarding legacy, Jehoshaphat understood the critical importance of cherishing his heritage. Jehoshaphat was a direct descendant of King David and was no doubt familiar with his ancestor’s renowned bravery and worship-driven heart. Furthermore, Jehoshaphat’s father, Asa, experienced God’s mighty hand in powerful ways as a result of his consecrated belief in the one, true God. Were King David or King Asa perfect in their moral behavior or decision making? No. But these two specific ancestors of Jehoshaphat were widely known within Hebrew history for their willingness to let God govern and guide them. So Jehoshaphat determined to take the best of his spiritual legacy and advance it. He knew well the tremendous privilege his role as king rendered him and so he sought to humbly oversee the responsibilities that were in his charge and care.

Regarding loyalty, Jehoshaphat was fiercely obedient to God’s statements and structure. He understood that the Lord is the dominant authority and possesses the right to govern as He sees fit. Therefore, Jehoshaphat set out to affix himself to God’s Word. He did not pick and choose what instructive decrees he would submit to. Instead, Jehoshaphat allowed the all-consuming nature of Scripture to take hold of his life. Even though he was surrounded by wicked influences, particular in relation to the despicable worship practices of Baal, Jehoshaphat was not willing to let his heart be led away by carnal, immoral pursuits. He intentionally sought out God’s truth so that it would direct him and aid him in every endeavor. 

Regarding leadership, Jehoshaphat was so earnest in his devotion to God that three years into his reign as king he instituted a national reeducation of Scripture. According to 2 Chronicles 17:9, Jehoshaphat sent royal officials and priests throughout Judah to teach people about God’s Word. Jehoshaphat’s personal motivation, in that he refused to worship idols, was confirmed by his corporate message, which was carried forth through his representatives and priests. And what was the end result of Jehoshaphat’s biblical awareness campaign? God put genuine fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah (2 Chronicles 17:10). So-much-so that the adjacent territories were afraid to even go to war with Judah, and in some cases paid Jehoshaphat a tribute to prevent Judah’s military aggression (2 Chronicles 17:11). 

In all, 2 Chronicles 17 reveals that a dedication to God can bring about a blessed peace and joy. Jehoshaphat’s relationship with God yielded indescribable benefit. The civil leader was true to the eternal God, the great King of glory, and his exceptional devotion provided evidential mercies of an extraordinary Lord. Did Jehoshaphat have a great vocational position? Yes. Did he have wealth? Yes. Did he enjoy fame and influence? Yes. But is that what the Bible highlights as the exceptional qualities of Jehoshaphat? No. What stood out about Jehoshaphat was his passion to rely on the Word of God. He chose to break apart from the idolatrous example of his Israelite brethren and maintained a bold conviction to serve God and God alone. Truly, this king was rare because his heart was attuned to the things of God. May we, like Jehoshaphat, be exceptional in our devotion to the extraordinary God. 

The Captivation of Commitment

“Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you planned. But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son’…The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.” 
1 Kings 17:13; 16

There is something captivating about those who maintain a firm commitment to God. Perhaps it is because holding fast to the Lord is challenging and requires a courageous amount of faith. Life on earth was never promised to be a trouble-free existence. Even Jesus alluded to this in John 16:33. But the incredible hope that the Son of God conveyed to humanity in the aforementioned gospel passage is that life can be so much less burdensome emotionally and spiritually if God’s followers will surrender genuine heartfelt commitment and trust into the Lord each and every day. Are there moments when this seems gruelingly hard to accomplish? Yes. But realize that any amount of faith submitted to God is never misplaced, and never comes back void.    

This consideration aptly sets the stage for the account of a widowed woman in 1 Kings 17. But before we delve into this narrative we must first reflect on the historical context of this passage. King Saul, King David, and King Solomon all enjoyed some measure of state unity within the twelve tribes of Israel. But after Solomon’s reign ten tribes split apart from recognition of Jerusalem as their capital, and refused to accept King’s David royal lineage. Therefore, the tribal cohesion that Israel once enjoyed was effectively shattered. Ten tribes aligned themselves together and became known as Israel, while the remaining two tribes were then identified as Judah. Sadly, Israel was quickly overrun with idolatry and wickedness whereas Judah, by and large, maintained an allegiance to God for a season. But eventually even Judah’s singular allegiance to the Lord withered away as well.

Enter Ahab, one of the worst kings of Israel on record. The times at this point in Scripture were very dire. A three-year drought was devastating the land. The spiritual tenor was low because the prophets of Baal were essentially state-sponsored by Ahab’s wife: Jezebel. And yet in one of the worst regimes of note God raised up a most spectacular prophet: Elijah. And it was the Lord Who brought about the circumstances in which God was introduced to a widowed woman and her son in the town of Zarephath. 

In 1 Kings 17:9 God ordered Elijah to go to Zarephath in Sidon. Elijah, like everyone else in Israel, was struggling to find water or develop a sustainable source of food. And so the Lord directed Elijah to relocate for a time in Zaraphath because He had determined to use a widow to help nourish Elijah physically. Elijah obeyed and when he neared the entrance to the city he noticed a woman gathering some sticks. Apparently made aware supernaturally that the woman gathering the firewood was the widow Elijah was destined to meet Elijah asked the woman for some water and bread. The emotionally fragile woman responded that she was about to make a meal for her and her son. Unfortunately, the meal she was about to prepare would be their very last meal. The little bit of flour and oil the widow possessed was not going to be replenished. She was financially destitute and had no other means of monetary support. The widow was on the verge of giving up and dying by starvation.

And then Elijah rendered a most fascinating statement to the widow. He requested that she use the remaining flour and oil to craft a small loaf of bread for Elijah before preparing the meal for her own family. The prophet of God asserted that God would not allow the flour or oil to cease until the Lord returned rain upon the land. This seemingly small, simple appeal demanded absolute, complete faith from the widow. She was, in effect, placing her well-being, and that of her son, in the hands of God. In the process, she would have to not let the tangible reality obscure her mindset. What the widow had in a jar and a jug was verifiable and quantifiable. She likely knew exactly how far the flour and oil would carry in terms of food rations. But what Elijah was pledging on behalf of God was unknown. There was no exact amount identified. No specific designation of meals were calculated. All that the widow had to rely on was faith in the sovereign God, and the word of His prophet, a prophet that the widow had likely never met before. 

What did the widow do? She went away and did as Elijah told her (1 Kings 17:15). What was the result? There was food for Elijah and the widow’s family every day (1 Kings 17:15). The heaven-ordained provision of sustenance and benevolence extended beyond one meal for the prophet. The widow opened up her home for Elijah (1 Kings 17:19). Imagine the conversations that took place after Elijah first encountered the widow at Zarephath, conversations that would never have happened had the widow not believed in the power of God, or relinquished trust in Him. God’s blessing was ushered into a family that was once filled with sadness, despair, and brokenness. The Lord’s love was poured out on the widow and the environment of hopelessness was overcome. The daily meals were daily reminders of God’s unbreakable promise and unending goodness. 

Elijah helped provide some incredible moments in history, and briefly displayed a glimpse into God’s vast power. The Lord was earnestly reaching out to His covenantal people in Elijah’s day. God was eager to reestablish a relationship with the Hebrew nation. Elijah was no small part of that redemptive plan. And the widow at Zarephath was no small part of Elijah’s life. Yes, there is something captivating about a sincere commitment to God. In ancient times, as it is today, there is often a reluctance to believe, or accept, God is enough. Can we truly be satisfied with Him and Him alone? We can if we will surrender faith in the eternal God - the God Who knew well the plight of a widow in Zarephath and responded to her plight with incredible passion. May our heart be that of the widow in Zarephath.  May others be captivated by our commitment to God.