God is Our Hope

2nd Kings 4

I sometimes get scared when I start thinking about the trials that one must face in this life. The Bible talks about the problems we will face as believers (John 16:33- We will face tribulations). We will face persecution but we will also see the effects of sin, death and disease work in this life. I always seem to think, how will I react once I face a trial? Will it hurt? How painful will it be? Lord, do I really need to go through this? As it is easy to get caught up about these issues, I always need to remind myself that today has enough to worry about so I do not need to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).

In this chapter of 2nd Kings we see Elisha doing ministry but we need to no let this pass over the fact that God shown himself to the people effected by the trials.

Issue #1- A Debt so High the Children would be Taken

Elisha is walking and a woman cried out to Elisha and said, “My husband is dead and not the creditor is coming to take my children and sell them into slavery to pay off the debt that we owe.” What a desperate situation! I could not imagine what this would be like to first lose someone so close to you as your spouse and then finding out that your children will be taken away. This would have been like the world was crashing around you and you do not know what to do.

God showed himself by providing for this woman and her family in a very miraculous way. Elisha asked her if she had anything to sell to pay off the debt. She replied, “Only a little jar of oil.” That was enough, which would make no sense to anyone, but for God, it was plenty. They gathered extra jars and pots and this little jar of oil kept on producing more and more oil, enough to fill all the jars, pots, and vessels. It was enough for her to sell the oil and pay off her debts and live off the rest. Amazing! God provided in a desperate time.

Issue #2- We have been trying to have children for years but can’t

Elisha was walking to Shunem and a wealthy couple took interest in Elisha. Everytime he was in town they would provide for him food and shelter. They liked him so much that they built a little room for him on top of their house. Elisha asked what he could do for them and they just wanted a child. Elisha said, “At this time next year you will embrace a son.” 

I take this part a little to heart because my wife and I are expecting our first child in April. We were not really trying to have children for years like I know so many others are trying but the fact to know you are having a child brings so much joy to you. She may have not be as desperate as the first issue but it still was a burden she carried and God took that load and fixed it.

Issue #3- Why Would You Take My Son You Gave me

We read in verse 18-37 that some years passed and that family that could not have children did give birth to a son, just like God spoke through Elisha. He now is older and helping dad out in the field. He starts having some serious headaches and then dies. They probably had years and years of joy because of God bringing forth a son, but now it would all change. This woman who wanted a son so bad knew this was not the end even when all the signs looked like it was. She herself went to look for Elisha and knew he could do something because of how amazing God is.

We do not know how much time passed before the woman actually found Elisha, but we do know that Elisha came and asked for God’s help. God provided the hope in a desperate situation again. God is sovereign where he even holds life in his hands. This was nothing light for the Lord. 

Issue #4- So Desperate for Food that even if it is Poisonous You would still Eat it

We read in verses 38-44 that there was a very severe famine in the land and a group of prophets were trying to make a pot of stew. One prophet was trying to be “Emerald” and put some special plant in the pot which turned out to make the food poisonous. Now we may not look at this as a desperate situation like the previous issues but we need to understand people were hungry. I have never ever been in that situation where I have been so hungry that I had nothing to eat and when I did make something I could not eat it and then be upset because I would not eat it. Most of us would say, throw it out and make another one. They could not do that, there was barely any food in the land to begin with.

Elisha, the man God used during this time in Israel, threw flour in the pot and it was good for food. The food and lives were saved. God again showed himself in a desperate situation.

Do you have any desperate situations going on? Maybe you have not faced any of these or anything to bad yet but do you know who to go to for help? We need to know that God is in control of all things. He is in control of our daily lives. He is control of our desperate situations. We can look at Job or David or Paul or Peter or any of the apostles and they faced hard stuff but God still showed himself to them. God will show himself to you, he is our hope and light in darkness. May you see that now so it will be easier when it gets tough.