Daily Bible Devotionals

“One of the wives of sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant, my husband, has died.  You know that your servant feared the Lord.  Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.’” 2 Kings 4:1 (HCSB)

The widow in this passage is only identified as “One of the wives of the sons of the prophets.”  (4:1)  However, her value to us resides not in how much space she occupies in Scripture…or in the amount of information we have about her…but rather in the single great lesson, she has to teach us.

Here is a woman who demonstrates, for all generations, the way to face surpassing demands when we find ourselves with only meager resources.  She shows us that the abounding resources of the Word of God become ours to the degree that we place our faith in them.  I am not advocating what is known as “prosperity” theology…where God acts as a benevolent “genie” every time one of his children rubs the Bible.  I am simply saying the Bible clearly promises that God’s Grace is sufficient for us, and we have peace in our hearts to the extent that we are willing to trust the Lord as He has revealed Himself in His Word, the Bible.

Today’s passage wastes no time introducing us to the surpassing demands this woman is facing.  Her husband died, leaving her with two sons and substantial debt.  Her creditor, a human iceberg, had decided that her sons would make a highly suitable payment for her debt, and he was soon to come and take them as his slaves.

While some of the terms of today’s story seem foreign, many in our midst are facing similar situations today.  Nobody is probably coming to arrest your family member or friend to put them into slavery, but we all know someone who has incurred financial trauma.  I have known many people on collision courses with bankruptcy and/or a home foreclosure.  These are good, God-fearing people who do all they know to honor the Lord, yet they find themselves in dire straights.  Their main questions are “Why?” and “What now?”

The woman in today’s passage was disillusioned by it all.  The perplexity she felt is evident in her plaintive cry to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died.  You know that your servant feared the Lord.” (4:1)  We would like to believe that serving God makes us exempt from the troubles of life, that God spares us such things because of our service; but it is not so.  We want this passage to encourage us that this woman and her husband served the Lord and lived happily ever after, but it does not.

Some would lead us to believe that there is a serious flaw in the faith and service of this woman and/or her husband.  They insist there is no need for the children of God ever to be ill or experience financial reversals.  But today’s passage finds no fault with the faithful service of this family.  Perhaps, her condition is like that of a man Jesus healed.  When the disciples asked whose sin brought about his condition, Jesus replied that the man was as he was “so the Works of God might be displayed.” (John 9:1-7)

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Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 2 Kings 3. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and harassed him, chanting, ‘Go up, baldy!  Go up, baldy!’  He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the children. From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel, and then he returned to Samaria.” 2 Kings 2:23-25 (HCSB)

The presence of miracles in the Bible inevitably leads people to one of two extremes.  On the one hand, some deny that the advantages of the Bible ever took place.  As far as they are concerned, God has left the World to operate completely based on natural laws.  Of course, this view attacks the very heart and soul of what it means to follow Jesus.  It denies the testimony of Scripture and the Bible’s message of redemption.  If there is no possibility of miracles, Jesus was not God in the flesh, and He did not arise from the grave.  If these miracles are not true, there is no eternal salvation.

The other extreme is to suggest that miracles should be common for believers, an ongoing experience.  (Just how the miraculous can be commonplace and still be miraculous is a bit of a puzzle!)  Those who hold this position fail to recognize that the miracles of the Bible are not spread evenly throughout Scripture.  

Biblical miracles are separated into clusters: 1) Under Moses when the Lord was delivering Israel from Egypt and establishing her as a nation; 2) During the ministries of Elijah and Elisha; 3) During the Babylonian captivity of the Jews; 4) During the ministry of Messiah Jesus and shortly after His ascension; 5) During the age of the Apostles; 6) The last days.

Each of these clusters occurred at a time of great crisis or transition, always for the good of God’s people as a whole, with the intent of furthering God’s plan of redemption.  Many so-called “miracles” today seem more in the nature of personal luxury from the perspective of making life more comfortable for certain individuals.  God sent Elijah and Elisha to stop the spiritual decline of Israel and draw her back to Him. God publicly confirmed their ministries by allowing them to perform miracles.

Immediately after the Lord took Elijah, He established Elijah’s prophetic office with two miracles: HEALING the waters at Jericho and CURSING a group of rebellious boys.  The first miracle illustrated the nature of true salvation.  Accursed Jericho repented, sought the Lord’s mercy, and obtained it.

The second miracle shows how (formerly blessed) Bethel incurred judgment upon itself by turning away from the Lord to worship idols.  It could be that Elijah had begun his ministry by taking a vow to the Lord, hence shaving his head.  The boys, therefore, were mocking Elijah’s piety, perhaps provoking him so they could see him perform some kind of “sign.”  (Matthew 12:39)  Note: There is no indication that any of the boys were killed, only mauled.  A hard lesson, indeed.

"But the Angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, ‘Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?"'"2 Kings 1:3 (NKJV)

Years ago, I was watching television when an announcer broke into regular programming to announce that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.  I was glad to know that man’s days of terror were over.  In the hours that followed, worldwide news outlets broadcast jubilant celebrations spanning several continents.  An evil man was no longer terrorizing the World.  But after the celebrations quieted, the sobering reality set in: terror itself was not dead.  We were merely one less terrorist out of hundreds of thousands.  Bin Laden’s evil organization was multi-layered and sophisticated.

Second Kings begins on a positive note: Ahab is dead!  “Ahabs” always die – that is good news.  The bad news is that “Ahab Jr.” follows him.  Ahaziah is a chip off the old, dead block.  Welcome to Gangland, 852 BC.  

Who knows exactly how it happened?  Ahaziah fell from the second floor when some screenwork gave way.  Apparently, a serious injury was incurred since his inquiry implies he was uncertain of recovery.  Israel’s king in Samaria believes his hope for years to come resides in a temple forty-five miles away in Philistia.

“But the Angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite….”  God does not nap when apostasy is afoot.  Messiah, Himself (the Angel of the Lord) intervenes.  Elijah’s question to Ahaziah’s messengers is both question and judgment.  Just like that, Ahaziah is confronted with the “intolerant” God of Israel!

Some people get upset at the idea of a God Who, in His wild, untamed holiness, would sentence a man to death simply for exercising his sincere religious preferences in a critical hour of his life.  God is not the tolerant sort of God people crave, Who can co-exist with false religion.  Our post-modern culture would prefer the mythology of the ancient Near East, where gods and goddesses were permissive and casual and never insisted on exclusive loyalty.  None of those deities thought it was a mortal sin, should one of their devotees be ecumenical in his devotion.

But in the Bible, we meet YHWH and keep being reminded of His first commandment.  (Exodus 20:3)  That notion does not change in the New Testament.  Jesus goes around insisting folks must smash idols if they would follow as disciples (Mark 10:21-22).  He is as obnoxious as YHWH!  Who does He think He is…?

People are like tea bags.  You never really know what’s inside until they are in hot water!  Thus, Ahaziah‘s idolatry is revealed.  But what of yourself?  When the water gets hot, do you run to the arms of the World or stand firm on God’s Word?

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“The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, ‘Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king.  So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.’  But Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says to me.’” 1 Kings 22:13-14 (HCSB)

Micaiah has just nailed something that neither Ahab nor his messenger understands.  Look back at Ahab’s words in verse 8 and the messengers in verse 13.  What do both assume about God’s Word?  They assume the prophet controls (or can control) the Word of the Lord.  Ahab implies that Micaiah could speak a kinder, gentler Word.  The messenger assumes Micaiah could agree with the company of (false) prophets if he only would.  They do not understand Micaiah’s conviction or his position.  (And they are obviously ignorant of the story of Balaam.) He is bound by the Word of God.  Hence, God’s Word is a constant; it cannot be manipulated by kings, messengers, or slick false prophets.  Sure, people can speak lies and claim the Lord’s inspiration, but they’ll ultimately be weighed by the TRUTH of His Word, and their preaching discovered to be flawed by His true standard.

The true prophet of God is incorruptible.  Whatever Word the Lord gives a prophet is what the prophet must speak.  The prophet is not at liberty to massage, shape, or bend (let alone pervert) that Word.  The Word of the Lord must be passed-on as given.  The true prophet of God is in bondage to the un-coercible Word of God.  The Word of the Lord is free; the servant of the Lord is bound to it - not the other way around.  The “Ahabs” of this World simply cannot comprehend the sovereign nature of God’s Word.

You may say, “So what?  What do the requirements and limitations of a prophet have to do with me?”  Consider the words of Paul:

“Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 (HCSB)

There is a somewhat famous and controversial “celebrity” pastor whose ministry slogan is “Love wins!”  I believe God’s Love wins.  But man’s love must be subservient to prophecy.  Love can only be truly defined through the lens of God’s Word, as revealed by God’s Spirit.  That’s what prophecy is!  And we are ALL to seek prophecy, which means it can be obtained by all of us.  No, I am not talking about predicting the future or writing new books of the Bible.  I am talking about petitioning the Lord to reveal His Scripture to us so that we may know what He requires of us, so we can live in a way that honors Him.  It also carries the intent that He is revealing His truth to us so that we can share it with others, no matter how unpopular His revelation may be.

The pressure to compromise God’s Word in our culture is immense.  That is why we are seeking God’s Word as a community, so we will not be alone in the knowledge of His revelation.  Rather, we should be a people determined to be separate and holy unto Him!

“Then his (Ahab’s) wife Jezebel said to him, ‘Now exercise your royal power over Israel.  Get up, eat some food, and be happy.  For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.  She sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.  In the letters, she wrote: Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people.  Then seat two wicked men opposite him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 1 Kings 21:7-10 (HCSB)

God’s people must expect to suffer injustice in this world.  I am not advocating that we be “doormats” and let people run all over us, but we will be wise to anticipate injustice and defend ourselves against its onset.

Today’s passage is a true picture of what the people of God can expect.  It is as if the writer is saying, “Now, THIS is the sort of treatment believers can expect from the rulers of this World.”

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12 (HCSB)

‍It is difficult for believers in Jesus (living in Western culture) to grasp suffering because we are constantly pummeled by other propaganda.  For instance, one televangelist has written: “He promises to heal ALL – everyone, any, and whatsoever, everything – all our diseases!  That means not even a headache, sinus problem, not even a toothache – nothing!  No sickness should come your way.”

If God yearns to pamper us with perfect health, why does a loaded court condemn His servant and stone him to death outside Jezreel?  I am not advocating pessimism, but let’s look at life realistically.  The Bible’s portrayal of believers’ lot in this world is so refreshing precisely because of its sober realism.  It is realism that is missing from much “Christian” telecasting and “pulpiteering” because the suffering of the cross (and the exhortation to take it up and carry it as He commands us to follow Him) has been deleted from their so-called gospel messages.

Yes, there will be injustice on earth, but we serve the Judge of all judges.  So, while we may suffer earthly injustice, God’s justice will prevail!

“Then the man of God approached and said the king of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: Because the Arameans have said: Yahweh is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys, I will hand over this great army to you.  Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”  1 Kings 20:28 (HCSB)

It is easy to smirk at the pagan Arameans, who think God’s power doesn’t extend to plains and valleys.  But most of us have entertained similar thoughts.  Paganism is not only alive and well in the World; it also lives within the Church!  Our paganism may be more refined (hence, less obvious), yet no different in principle.  Sometimes Syrian theology appears in a “deist” approach to God.

Benjamin Franklin once wrote to George Whitefield: “I rather suspect, from certain circumstances, that though the general government of the universe is well administered, our particular little affairs are perhaps below notice, and left to take the chance of human prudence or imprudence, as either may happen to be uppermost.”

For all intents and purposes, Franklin was an “Aramean.”  What Franklin was saying is that God governs the big show but doesn’t get Himself dirty in the minor details of our lives.  It’s the god-of-the-hills-but-not-of-the-valleys argument all over again.  It says that God operates in the broad strokes of the universe but don’t expect Him to micro-manage.  Have you ever heard “believers” put forth this idea?  It is pagan in that it limits both God’s desire and His jurisdiction.

Sometimes we operate on the reverse heresy: The god-of-the-valleys-and-not-the-mountains.  We have a god of personal need, but not on a global scale.  We become so transfixed on God’s help for our little dilemmas and Aunt Sue’s gall bladder surgery that we lose the God of Psalm 24.

“The Earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.”  Psalm 24:1-2 (HCSB)

Syrian theology simply says there are some areas beyond the reach of the Lord’s arm.  And we can easily slip into this mentality, contrary to our expressed beliefs.  We may catch ourselves assuming that God is at work in religious things but not in routine things.  Or some have a worldly past that has left multiple scars; they are such victims of their experiences that they believe they cannot change or be delivered.  God is the God of the Hills, Valleys - and everywhere else!!  In today’s chapter, He sends messages to (and works His plan through) Ahab, Ben-hadad, Aram, and Israel.  All are undeserving recipients.  All this so that people will recognize that He, alone, is Lord!

No person is so bad that they cannot have God’s grace.  And nobody is so good that they don’t need it.  He is the God of both mountains AND valleys.  The Lord can (and does) work His will through all sorts of people and circumstances.  All that so that we will recognize and worship Him as Lord!

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“Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat as he was plowing.  Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team.  Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.  Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, ‘Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then, I will follow you.’  ‘Go on back,’ he replied, ‘for what have I done to you?’  So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them.  With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meal and gave it to the people, and they ate.  Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.”  1 Kings 19:19-21 (HCSB)

Howard Hamer had just taken off in his homemade plane from the airfield in Chiloquin, a high desert town in Oregon.  Almost immediately, the plane lost power, and Hamer decided to attempt a landing on the local 97 highway.  Filiberto Corona Ambriz was minding his own business this particular Thursday.  He was driving a flatbed truck north on 97.  Unknowingly, he drove his flatbed truck under Hamer’s plane at the very moment the latter was trying to land on the highway.  The two never saw each other, had never met until there was a bump, and a loud bang!  The Propeller caught on the truck’s sleeper, and the plane’s nose remained there while the tail dropped down on the flatbed trailer.  The “landing” was successful, and neither man was injured.

I bet that usually doesn’t happen to most truck drivers!  Mr. Ambriz did not say, “You know, I bet while I’m driving north on 97 today, some plane will use my flatbed as an aircraft carrier.  He was simply doing what truckers normally do, and, literally, out of the blue, a plane landed on his truck.

This is precisely how Elisha must have remembered this day.  He was simply doing what farm boys must regularly do, in his case, plowing his father’s field.  How could he have guessed that Elijah the Tishbite would come walking across the field and throw his mantle on him?  Elisha knew what that meant, but he hardly anticipated it when he awoke that morning.  

Others have been so surprised: Moses while tending to his father-in-law’s flocks.  (Exodus 3:1-2) Matthew was in the middle of collecting taxes (Matthew 9:9).  I know that was MY story.  The day I bowed my heart to Jesus, I didn’t wake up and say, “You know, after breakfast and a vigorous workout, I think I might just surrender my life to Jesus and follow Him all of my days!”  I didn’t have any idea what awaited me later that day.  But God did.

The kingdom of God is not a seat-of-your-pants operation.  The Lord disclosed His decision concerning Elisha at Horeb (v. 16).  So, what appeared sudden to Elisha (and to us) was already settled with God.  Yes, Elisha had a decision to make concerning God’s call.  Scripture does not indicate that God directly influenced Elisha’s decision (even when sending Elijah), but the point is God KNEW!  Suddenness is the wrapping paper in which opportunity often arrives, giving us a chance to choose what God already knows because He knows us, and He knows the future as if it were the past.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of 1 Kings 18. Click the links below to watch or listen now!