Reflection series: 2 Kings Chapter 6

 2 Kings 6: 17-18

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

This is the time when Elisha was dealing with the enemies of Israel which are Aremeans. Elisha prayed to God to open the eyes of and his servant saw with his spiritual eyes that the hills are full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Then Elisha prayed once again to blind the enemies and the Lord blinded the enemies. 

1. We shall not pray for the enemies downfall. Elisha only prayed for their blindness but not ask God that they shall be killed. Most of the time, when watch on tv showing the news about killing and unreasonable terrors of violence, we sometimes wish for these bad people their death. While it is understandable, it is only God who has the right to judge.

2. We ask the Lord’s wisdom on what to pray and how to pray to make sure that the Lord want’s us to pray what we are praying to Him. 

3. We ought to pray our enemies that their eyes shall be opened so they will also came to know the Lord. Only God is capable of turning away from thei evil ways. 

Reflection series: 2 Kings Chapter 5

 2 Kings 5:25-27

Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.

Gehazi was a servant of Elisha who lied to Naaman about receiving rewards after Elisha healed him from his leprosy. Elisha knew that his servant Gehazi took 2 talents from Naaman even though Gehazi tried to keep it away from his knowledge. Gehazi from rebuked by Elisha telling him that it is not the right time and it was inappropriate to receive a reward at their current situation. As a result of his sin, the Lord inflicted Naaman’s leprosy to him and his descendants forever. Ministers like them carry great responsibility and the reason of severe punishment is the witnessing. Since Naaman was an unbeliever, Gehazi’s witnessing for the Lord got destroyed by his greed. 

1. Sometimes, we do not realize that our hearts are already covetous and our actions and witnssing were compromised. We need to keep our hearts in check so we won’t be swayed and get distracted by our desire to accumulate material things.

2. We ministers carry a huge responsibility of becoming a salt and light to the unbelievers. We always ask the Lord for wisdom how we should behave or treat unbelievers most especially if they are aware that we are Christians. Whether we like it or not, our behaviors and speech are being carefully observed. 

Reflection series: 2 Kings Chapter 4

 2 Kings Chapter 4: 38-41

Death in the Pot

38 Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these prophets.”

39 One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine and picked as many of its gourds as his garment could hold. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. 40 The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.

41 Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He put it into the pot and said, “Serve it to the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot. 

No matter how tough and how desperate we feel in our situation, God will always find a way.  If he can make rivers in the dessert and if He can dried up the sea just like what He did in Jordan river so the Israelites would reach, nothin is impossible with God. There is always a solution no matter how tough the problem is.

Application:

1. In this time of pandemic, we put our trust in the Lord. We focus on HIm and not on our problems. We fix our eyes on Jesus and not on what is happening with the world. 

2. No matter how difficult the situation is, we humble ourselves to God and cry for help. The Lord is our Helper who gives us wisdom and strength to overcome life's difficult challenges. 

Reflection series: 2 Kings Chapter 3

2 Kings 2:2-3

 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

A sin is a sin. No matter how big or how small it is, it brings the same result which is death. Joram son of Ahab chose to sin against God which causes his followers to sin and did not repent from it. It is his willful decision to enjoy the sin and continue to tolerate the Israelites to do the same. 

Application: 

1. A sin is a sin period. As a child of God, we need to be conscious of every sin that clings our life whether it is an evil thought, a negative emotion, or words that we utter that we think does not please God. 

2. We ask the Lord to search our heart just like the prayer of David in Psalm 139:23-24. "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. We do not tolerate any kind of sins to linger in our thoughts and actions. 

3. We always ask the help of the Lord to pursue the path of righteousness so we can lead other people with integrity.  We ask the Lord's grace and wisdom that we do not became lenient on any sin so we will not became other's down fall. 

24 See if there is  offensive way in mand lead me in the way everlasting.