2 Kings 13

The first part of chapter 13 of 2 Kings is about the rule of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu who became the next king for 17 years.  “He lived an evil life before God”.  That is a problem and I was struck by what scripture says next: “Exasperated, God was furious with Israel”.  Can’t you see it?  God has been pouring out His blessings for generations upon these people and they just don’t seem to get it.  Oh how I don’t want to look in the mirror and see me doing the same thing.  Why do we forget God like we do?  Why is it we come running when we need something but quickly turn our back when things are going the way we want?  They weren’t for Jehoahaz, and here is what happens:  “Jehoahaz prayed for a softening of God’s anger, and God listened”.  Our God is an eternal optimist guys.  He never gives up on us.  Jehoahaz has been “living an evil life” yet when he stops and turns to God – God listens.  Here is the frustrating reality of what happened.  “God provided a savior…the people were able to live at peace again”.  God did his part.  He heard and answered the prayer.  But check this out:  “But it didn’t make any difference: They didn’t change their lives, didn’t turn away”.  Oh how slow and stupid we can be as people.  God has given the people a reprieve from what they deserved and their thanks is to just keep on living the way they were prior.  Bad plan – wrong response to God’s grace and mercy.  We can learn much here men.  God will often bless us when we don’t deserve it.  OK – that is always the case.  But if we want that blessing to continue we best change how we live.  We need to line up with Him.  We need to repent – to turn and go His way.  Jehoahaz is a perfect example of what not to do.  The good news in the story is that even when we are totally messed up, God still cares and listens.  The truth is that God expects us to get our life in line for that blessing to continue.  Are you walking right there with Him today?

2 Kings 12

 Joash takes over the kingdom at age 7.  Can you imagine becoming king at such a young age?  I really can’t.  How would that work.  I am 51 and don’t feel like I have a clue.  But this is what scripture tells us about it: “Joash did what pleased GOD for as long as he lived”.  That is the legacy I want to leave.  I would love to be remembered as one who pleased God.  Do you have that desire?  I wake up every morning wanting to be right in the middle of God’s will and focused on serving Him.  It doesn’t always happen, but that is how I try to start my day.  The reality is that even with that desire and lifestyle, Joash was killed by his palace staff in a “conspiracy” after ruling for 40 years.  Pretty young to die for a man who was pleasing to God.  But his life had a positive impact and he made a difference.  He led a rebuilding project on the Temple and had to get after the priests to use the offerings correctly.  Joash didn’t do everything popular, it appears he tried to walk with God and honor Him.  That is not always the popular thing to do.  I sometimes forget that fact.  We think that if we are walking with God everything will just go smoothly.  It doesn’t always work that way.  In fact, sometimes it is difficult.  But God calls us to keep walking………….

2 Kings 11

You may recall the king of Judah was called Ahaziah.  He was killed by Jehu and then his mother, a rather evil woman named Athaliah took over the throne and kills all members of the royal family that remained.  Hmm – that would have been her family wouldn’t it?  Seems like a rather bad egg here.  But “Jehosheba, daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash and kidnapped him from among the king’s sons slated for slaughter”.  So one good sister, one bad one here.  Joash is kept safe in the temple of God by Jehosheba for over six years until Jehoiada the priest decides it is time.  He had been let in on this little secret and gets a word from God that this young man is to be the king.  Jehoiada instructs the sentries on how he wants them to stage the anointing in front of all the people.  They use the spears and armor that had been used by David and were stored in the temple to surround Joash and provide a safe way to anoint him king.  It happens and the bad woman (think wicked witch of the family) is “dragged outside to the palace horse corral” where she is killed along with anyone who followed her.  Joash takes the throne at age SEVEN.  Did you get that?  He was a seven year old boy who is now king.  Jehoiada made a covenant with God and the people and the first thing that happens is that the people “poured into the temple of Baal and tore it down”.  Here is a new king that gets things off on the right foot. 

 

Some of you guys think you are leading a company with less than enough experience or resources.  Think of poor Joash. He is a seven year old kid who has spent his entire life in hiding.  He has no experience or skill.  He does have one great thing in his favor – his entire life has been spent in the temple in the presence of a caring aunt, a godly prophet and the Father Himself.  His life would have been taken had it not been for these people who cared for him and brought him up in God’s presence and the knowledge of the Father.  We will see tomorrow the impact that had on him and the kingdom.  So don’t tell me you don’t know how to lead or what to do.  You are all older than seven!  And you serve the exact same God as Joash, who will give you the same direction and wisdom if you will only stop and ask.  Joash didn’t have a choice – he had no clue what to do on his own.  Sometimes we are probably too smart for our own good, thinking we can figure it out.  Total dependence on the Father is where we all need to go.

2 Kings 10

2 Kings 10 tells the story of Jehu cleaning up things and fulfilling the prophecy of Elisha.  He killed the 70 sons of Ahab and wiped out everyone who had anything to do with him.  He destroyed 42 people from the family of Ahaziah who was the other king that he had killed per Elisha’s prophecy.  Then he tricked the worshippers and priests of Baal to come together for a grand time of worship and kills them all.  Jehu wipes out a lot of people all of a sudden here to complete what Elisha has prophesied.  But here is the sad part – catch this:  “Even then, though, Jehu wasn’t careful to walk in GOD’s ways and honor the God of Israel from an undivided heart. He didn’t turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin.”  God gave Jehu the enemies as Elisha had predicted.  Jehu followed those directives and wiped them out.  Here comes that word…..but….he wasn’t careful to walk in God’s ways….from an undivided heart.  Did you catch that?  Jehu didn’t go all the way in obedience.  He only did the part that he wanted to complete.  He did not completely turn from the sin of his forefathers and walk with God.  Consequences – yep you bet there was.  Scripture tells us that “God began to shrink Israel”.  Here we have a guy who become king and goes most of the way in obedience to God but holds on to a few things from the past.  He just can’t go all the way.  His heart is still longing for that of his ancestors rather than turning completely to God.  Guys – God is not content to be mostly the God of your life.  He is only going to be satisfied when He is the ONLY God of your life.  Don’t make the mistake that Jehu makes here.  Total obedience is the measure by which God will hold us accountable.  No less will do.  Are you walking with Him in total obedience today?

2 Kings 9

Elisha sends one of his servants to find Jehu who is to be anointed as king.  The servant takes off and goes to where Jehu and the other army officers are, takes him out back and anoints him with oil as Elisha has said.  Jehu is given the direction to kill Joram, then king of Israel to fulfill God’s prophecy that the family of Ahab and Jezebel would be wiped out.  So this servant comes and anoints Jehu and he walks out to the rest of the army buddies and tells them what just happened.  The result – they take off their robes and make a throne for him to sit on and fall in line with his leadership.  Tell me that isn’t a God thing.  One minute this guy is just another army officer, the next he is king.  And they support him.  The army takes off to find Joram who just happens to also be with Ahaziah, king of Judah, another rotten egg.  Jehu kills them both that day and fulfills God’s prophecy.  I found an interesting verse that reminded me of some of you.  Scripture tells us that Joram said this as Jehu approached: “The driving is like the driving of Jehu….crazy”.  From a distance Joram knew it was Jehu approaching.  Does your driving define you?  Some of us have a good friend called Mike who fits this description.  My brother falls into this category too.  I am not saying it is a good thing today, but it is sort of interesting that the way that Joram was able to know Jehu was coming was by how he drove his chariot.  We all have things that define us to others.  We need to be sure that those things reflect our God, not some “crazy” way we live.  Jehu is now king because Elisha had him anointed and he carried out God’s directives.  Here it is again – that obedience thing.  Are you obeying the Father today?

2 Kings 8

The king of Israel wants to hear about the marvelous things that Elisha has done in the past.  Gehazi his servant tells him of the story of the woman whose son died and was brought back to life by Elisha.  Just as the story was told, the woman returned with her son from a foreign land where they had been the last seven years of the drought as Elisha suggested.  The king was overwhelmed to see the proof of Elisha’s miracle and orders the farm to be returned along with all the profits from the last seven years.  What a blessing for this woman that Elisha touched.  Her very bad situation was fixed many years earlier, Elisha gave her counsel on what to do which she obeyed to the letter, and now as she returns she is blessed once again by God.  See a pattern here men?  Following God’s lead, listening and acting in obedience, causes great results.  This woman was down and out, mourning the loss of a son, and yet when a godly man entered her life and asked her to do a few rather simple things, she did them wholeheartedly and completely.  God blessed her indeed for that obedience.  It really is a simple formula.  If we are obedient to God’s direction, we will succeed.  God is faithful to His words always, be they scriptural or delivered by one of His own.  Listen, act, obey and see what God will do.

2 Kings 7

Chapter seven of 2 Kings is another story of God’s power and faithfulness.  You may recall that Samaria had been under siege and people were starving to death.  The King had come to Elisha blaming him for their plight and ultimately God.  Elisha had given them the news that the food shortage would end tomorrow.  Well tomorrow is here.  There were four lepers that were starving and decided they were no worse off leaving the city and going out to the army of Aram than lying there dying.  When they went out they found that the army had abandoned the camp and left everything behind.  They go back and tell the king but he can’t believe his ears.  He sends a couple of his men out to check things out.  What they find is exactly what these lepers had said.  Plenty of food and other good stuff.  The city empties through the gates and eats and plunders the camp.  God had caused the city of Aram to hear the sound of many horses which caused them to believe that another huge army was coming to defeat them and they fled.  In reality, it was just God being faithful to His word through Elisha.  Remember the king’s servant who had doubted Elisha when he prophesied this would happen.  The king sent him to oversee the city gate and he was trampled to death as the people left to get the spoils.  Justice is served by God.  Guys – we need to remember that what God says happens and that any time we are not lined up with that – it is not a good thing.  He is faithful – ALWAYS!

2 Kings 6-7

The king of Aram has laid siege to the city of Samaria and the King of Israel and his people are in famine.  They have no food and they are beginning to sacrifice their kids to eat.  Can you imagine that?  Being so hungry you turn to cannibalism to survive?  Oh my goodness.  Things are bad for the children of Israel.  Remember that not so long before this Elisha had led the army of Aram into the middle of the city of Samaria as blind men, and rather than allow the army of Israel to kill them, he requires a feast to be prepared to share and then to let them go.  The king of Israel hasn’t forgotten that.  Now that things have gone bad he has ordered Elisha’s head be removed.  Of course Elisha knows that the “executioner” is on the way and he instructs his servant to “shut the door and lock it”.  The king shows up and says: “This trouble is directly from God…..I’m fed up with God”.  You been there?  Do you blame God for your problems?  We often react like that.  When things go well, it is because we did them.  When they don’t go as well – it must have been God.  Guys – not quite how it works.  In fact, it is far more likely to be just the opposite.  When life is good it is because God is blessing us.  When it isn’t – we may be on the path of correction or building character into our life.  Elisha tells the king that the drought will end tomorrow.  Good news indeed.  Of course the attendant to the king doubts and says “you expect us to believe that”?  Elisha says it will happen but because of the doubt “you will not eat as much as a handful”.  Don’t doubt God’s Word men.  What God says is true.  Believe it – live it – watch it happen.  It will every time!

2 Kings 6

Last time you will recall we saw the Aramaens preparing to go after Elisha to capture him for knowing their every move as they try to make war with the people of Israel.  Bad decision on their part, but very interesting story for us to learn from.  The king of Aram put together “an impressive fighting force” and dispatches them to surround the city where Elisha was.  When one of Elisha’s servants woke in the morning, he discovered that the city was surrounded and rushed to Elisha in despair.  Catch Elisha’s response here guys: “Don’t worry about it – there are more on our side than on their side”.  Hello Elisha.  The city is surrounded by a mighty fighting force and you don’t have much apparent army to respond with.  Really out of touch with reality isn’t he?  Not at all.  Elisha “prayed” and asked God to “open their eyes so they can see”.  There it is again – that word PRAY.  We see it over and over men in the lives of those who moved history.  It is the secret sauce in how the men of God moved things.  When God revealed His response to the situation – the circumstances looked very differently.  “The whole mountainside was full of horses and chariots of fire” – can you imagine it.  These servants of Elisha are scared to death because there is no way to fight the enemy.  Yet once God reveals Himself – they see clearly that He is overwhelmingly in control.  I believe we are in that exact same scenario.  God has so many resources surrounding us every moment of every day if we only open our eyes.  How?  By praying for God to help do that – to reveal His presence and power.  It touches us constantly guys.  We just miss it because we are not looking.  It isn’t how we think as guys.  We want to take credit for the stuff we do.  Baloney – we don’t accomplish anything ourselves.  God does it all.  The rest of the story is even more amazing.  The enemy attacks and again God acts.  Elisha strikes them  blind.  How?  He “PRAYED”.  He never lifted a sword in defense.  It doesn’t even say he moved.  He simply took it to God and left it in His hands.  God responds and the entire Aramean army goes blind.  Elisha leads them to the city of Samaria and once there restores their site.  Of course the King of Israel smells a great big slaughter.  Enemy army surrounded on his turf by his people – let’s wipe them out.  Elisha says no.  Instead he tells the king to prepare a feast to share with them and to let them go.  Scripture tells us they left and did not bother the people of Israel any more.  The amazing thing about this story is that God never used the might he revealed all around the city.  He could have released the unbelievable “mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire” but He didn’t.  His goal was not to destroy the enemy but to bring them to a place they could repent and change their ways.  God simply intervened by causing them to go blind and then using the circumstances to cause a change in their attitudes and actions going forward.  So there were several miracles that day.  God revealed the truth and reality of His awesome power, but He also used an entirely different means to accomplish His end goal.  What an awesome God we serve guys.  That goodness we are on His side.  Now we need to develop spiritual eyes so we can see what He has surrounded us with.  I know we will all be amazed when we see it. 

2 Kings 6

In 2 Kings 6, we find a somewhat typical problem surface.  The guild of prophets have run out of room.  They came to Elisha one day and said “this place where we’re living…is getting cramped – we have no elbow room”.  Things had gotten a bit tight for everyone.  They needed some room.  They volunteer to “go down to the Jordan…get a log…build a roomier place”.  Sounds reasonable doesn’t it.  They identify a problem and just want to fix it.  Elisha agrees and they convince him to go with them down to the river where they “started chopping down trees”.  They were getting after it.  Then one of them had a problem.  “His axhead flew off and sank in the river….and it was borrowed”.  Not only had they lost use of an ax but it was a borrowed tool as well.  Seems like an overwhelming problem doesn’t it?  Not to Elisha.  “He cut off a branch and tossed it at the spot…the axhead floated up…the man reached out and took it”.  How is that for addressing a problem?  Elisha saw an issue and responded.  He helped his fellow workers get back at it and continue to be productive.  Yes – it was a miracle, but I think we can learn a lesson on leadership here.  Elisha didn’t feel bothered when someone came to him needed help with a problem.  He assessed the situation and acted.  He jumped in and helped resolve the situation so work could continue.  Sometimes I react differently when a situation like this presents itself.  I feel like it isn’t my job – that they should just figure it out themselves – rather than simply help evaluate and remediate the situation.  When people ask for help we need to be able to discern whether we should get involved and help them or they need to work through the problem on their own.  There is a time for both.  The key is discernment and sometimes we need to just help them move past the roadblock.  I feel that one of my major roles as a leader in my company is to remove things that keep my team from progressing.  That is what Elisha does here – he takes away the situation so they can continue to build.  He also shows being completely connected with God’s power when he is able to warn the king of Israel that the people of Aram were planning an ambush.  God enlightened Elisha who warns the king and they avoid the potential disaster.  He is identified by the enemy and next time we will find out what happens when the king comes after him.