Right Not to Remain Silent - 2 Kings 6:1 - 8:29

Christians have the right not to remain silent on any occasion when God has expressed his love and care for His people, especially when it is a personal experience. My experience tells me that we Baptist are reluctant to show our appreciation at times when our applause, a heart felt amen, or a personal testimony would be a profound witness for God. Our New Testament Commission is to “Go, and teach others” about God’s love for people. It is not only our right, but also our obligation to express our personal God-related experiences and individual dependency upon the Lord and Savior that we worship.

God has always expressed his individual and personal love and care, and used different ways to intervene in the lives of his people. Many times his blessings come in disguise, hidden from those who do not know Him personally, and even at times, the recipient does not realize the significance, or even the presence, of his actions. Many do not know about the promise Christ made in Romans 8: 28; and some know what it says, but are unable to relate this passage to what is happening in their own lives. Please remember that “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

From the day Christ started his worldly ministry along the banks of the Jordan, he used a plan of intervention in the lives of people he met; he called the disciples, invited the lost to believe, healed the sick, and raised the dead. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever; therefore He is in the same business today. Some of the time when Christ intervenes in our lives today, it is not only obvious to the recipient, but also to others that are present who can recognize His intervening presence. At other times the recipient knows that God is present and working, but for him to tell others, or openly show his approval and happiness, is very difficult for fear of what others will think. Miracles still happen! And any Christian who has experienced a miracle from God not only has the right to tell others of his experience, but is obligated to speak out for the cause of Christ.

I can recall numerous times in my life when I am absolutely sure that Jesus has worked things out for my good. However, since I could not prove this to someone who may have a doubting mind, I have remained silent. This is not so any more, and I can proudly give examples of God’s intervention. In October of 1947, I sustained a back injury that required what was then a new procedure in back surgery. I was in the Kennedy Hospital, in Memphis for six months and five days in traction, surgery, re-hab, and physical therapy. I know, the skeptic will ask, ‘how could this possibly be for your good?” I now know that God called me to be a teacher and this was his way to have me give up a lucrative business and start to college, and that is why I chose education as a profession. Actually God chose my profession for me!

In our lesson today, there are what would appears to be ‘unbelievable miracles’ sent by God through Elijah and Elisha, that worked for good to the recipients of that day and as a witness to the observers. However, I truly believe that they were recorded in God’s word as lessons meant to strengthen the faith of 21^st century Christians and also grow faith in unbelievers. In 2 Kings 2: 9, Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s faith and spiritual power; and it was granted. Elisha performed twice as many miracles during his life. Floating a steel ax head is just one of these.

The house where Elisha and his company of prophets lived was too small, and the prophets volunteered to cut the timber and build a larger one. They had to borrow the tools to work with, and while one was cutting a tree near the Jordan River, the ax head disengaged and dropped into the river. The prophet cried out “Oh my Lord, it was borrowed” for he was worried about how he could return the ax. God, through Elisha and a limb of wood caused the ax to float and it was retrieved. Unbelievable, you say? Then how can man make a ship float when it is built from hundreds of tons of steel? How can man make a submarine made of steel, both sink and float?

The real lesson behind this story lies in the fact that there was a famine in the land [they happened often] and during difficult times people borrows a cup of oil, a bag of meal or some other necessity, and it was to be returned or replaced. It was the honest and important thing to do. This prophet was very concerned in that he would not be able to return the borrowed ax. God met a great need allowing him to return the ax. I can remember during the Great Depression when my parents had to borrow, a cup of flower, meal, salt or sugar, and the same amount or a little more was always returned with gratitude. Be ware: it could happen again, if the economy does not turn around soon. If you borrow anything, make sure you return it, as soon as possible—if it is a car; be sure you fill the tank to replace his gas you used.

The army of King Ben-Hadad of Aram besieged Samaria, cut off all supplies and the people were starving to death inside the walls. Times were so bad they had started practicing cannibalism. The price of smuggled food was so high no one could afford to buy; the head of an ass, the most undesirable part of the most undesirable animal sold for 80 shekels, or about $50 dollars. The king of Israel blamed Elisha for the famine and proposed a remedy—that was that the head of Elisha be taken from his shoulders even though beheading was against Jewish law. God protected Elisha by giving him a vision of how food would come soon.

In chapter seven, verse one, Elisha announced that God would come to their rescue. “About this time tomorrow, a seah’ of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” The King and his officers doubted, and said it could not happen—but it did. How? It came through a miracle that most people do not understand. Here are my thoughts, using the Word. The fulfillment of this prediction is found in the incident of the lepers which you can read in the bible record.

Four leprous men stood at the city’s gate in a dilemma as they were facing death. They knew the people inside the city were out of food, and even if they could gain admittance they would surely die from starvation. If they stayed outside, with no help they would die. So they decided to go over to the enemy’s camp [Ben-Hadad’s soldiers] as a last resort; it was their only chance and they thought it was a slim one at that.

During the previous night, God had arranged for a mighty wind to blow. It made the sound of a rushing army that awakened the soldiers in the camp, and they were startled and ran for their lives. They left all their food, bedding, and other needs behind in the camp. When the four leprous men arrived at the camp, there were no soldiers to hinder them from walking in unharmed. They were very surprised, and began immediately to eat and take care of their other needs. After acquiring plenty for the time, they decided to loot the place and hide the stolen food and supplies for their own use in the future, just in case the army would return.

God’s spirit intervened [the leprous men realized their selfishness and that they were doing wrong] and they decided to take extra food back to the gate of Samaria and share it and the good news with the starving people inside who did not realize that the enemy army had vanished. When the starving inhabitants learned about the available food, they also went and confiscated food and the famine was broken, food sold cheap just as the prophet had predicted.

To me, this lesson of this incident is illustrative of the condition of the sinner today. Spiritually starved souls, when convicted of their sin, will ask: “Why sit we here until we die?” Their present condition and position means eternal death. They have no other choice but to go to the great provider, redeemer, and seek spiritual food.

This lesson is for the redeemed who have just found the spiritual food needed for the soul of man. They should be anxious to go and share the good news with others that are on spiritual starvation, thus obeying the Great Commission that tells us to go preach, teach and baptize the lost.

I keep repeating; you must believe God’s word to be total truth. The bible is by writers who were men, yes; but ever word was inspired by The Holy Spirit [God], and is meant for our good. God appeared, unseen by man, but most assuredly in his spiritual person, two specific times in this lesson. The steel ax head floated! And the mighty rushing wind that sounded like an army of soldiers appeared at the right time to frighten Ben-Hadad’s army causing them to leave camp and all the food and supplies that the starving people inside the city walls needed for survival.

God sent his Son, who died on the cross to pay your sin debt, the price for your sins; and all it will take for you to be saved is a little faith—the size of a mustard seed. The leprous men had only a little faith, but it saved them and the whole city that believed their good news.