Entrapment. But we have His peace (John 14:27).
Often things in this life get a bit confusing. Good times seem to take wrong turns in the middle of a field for no reasons at all. You find yourself looking around and wondering how you got stuck in the field filled with mud puddles. Yeap, life can get dirty and quickly.
Imagine sitting in your home or some gathering room like a pub hall. People are gathered for a time of information sharing, decision making, and maybe a surprise or two! The times are good and the times are bad. The mood is lighthearted and the mood is somber. All eyes point to the man of the hour. He was the reason all had gathered this evening and for some food and drink.
On a stool leaning on the table with his elbows, this man found himself discussing the steps needed for his town to address the dire situation they were in. Threats were coming. News of the venom of the king was being carried by the steps of another. The whispers were louder than the conversation in the room. But often that is how God works.
Leaning in a bit further, Elisha heard the whispers of the Lord preparing him for what was about to be announced at his door. The king of Samaria had stumbled upon a treacherous scene and he blamed the LORD’s Seer. He swore and pledged that the prophet would not sleep well this night and called into action his terrible thoughts…
But what if? Yes, what if this messenger is true? What if you are dead by tomorrow? What if a cup of flour and barley magically appear and are sold for a couple pennies? What if heaven’s windows open? ‘What if’ opens the door for doubt, not possibility. It often drowns out the seed of faith. Faith is as Hebrews tells us. Faith is the substance of things hoped for (11: 1)…”
God doesn’t deal in the realm of if’s. He deals with the what is, after all He is the I am (Exodus 3: 14). That is who HE is. So if God says it, ‘what if’s’ no longer matter, because God is preparing you for ‘what is.’
In Elisha’s time, Israel had fallen in a bad way. Check out II Kings 6 & 7 as much of this story comes from there. They had forgotten the God of their fathers and turned to the pagan idols of neighboring nations and ignored any rebuke or call of repentance from the prophets. Well, Elisha was the heir to Elijah and he was in town. This caused many of the leaders to pack into his chambers to hear the latest of the Lord. And so Elisha shared.
He spoke the what is to them. He told them of the king’s messenger coming to share that Elisha was doomed. He told them of spectacles that would happen in a moment. A suddenly if you will. “Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of one flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria (II Kings 7: 1).”
Yes, boldly he told the elders as the king’s messengers were held at bay. Even when one of the leaders threw in the “what if”, or rather, “only if” as Elisha finished speaking what the Lord had been showing him. He spoke the ‘what is’ and it was so. God is in the business of ‘what is’. The Lord is, in earnest, planning a better path and life for you without question. Jeremiah tells us this, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (29:11).” Matthew puts it in similar terms, “…for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (6:32-33).”
Amazing how God has planned out the path in front of you and me. You can find more in Proverbs about paths of the Lord too. But for now, let’s get back on point! The path of God is for you to walk and uncover. Seek Him first and you will find it. The ancient Israelites had a hard time doing this. They were fractured from Judah. Lost without the LORD GOD of their fathers. And they were sinking in the mud puddles in the field. The ‘if’ became to killer of ‘is’.
But even still God had a plan back. For the old tribes of Israel it was Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. You see, when we get lost and can’t find our way, we have a gift that Jesus asked the Father to send to us, His Spirit. Yes, we have the Spirit of Jesus that leads us into all truth (John 16: 13). He corrects, guides, and teaches us of the things He knows and sees. And when we turn to God with all we are we find the path is before us. The what if’s stop when the what is show’s up!
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. So today when something comes along to derail you, don’t slam yourself for being distracted or getting caught up in the things of life. Stop when you see it and turn again. You’ll find the what is… so much better! Elisha provided God’s ‘what is’ for all of Samaria even went they weren’t worthy of it! We never are!
Exodus 3: 14 KJV “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM…”
II Kings 7: 1 KJV “Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of one flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.”
Jeremiah 29: 11 KJV “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Matthew 6: 32-33 KJV “…for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
John 14: 27 KJV “Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 16: 13 KJV “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth….”
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