Spread the Good News!

Israel was in the throes of an epic famine. (2 Kings 6-7) Grievous conditions brought the worst out the people. An adage says, “One knows what is within by what comes out when bumped,” and Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) The Bible record mentions that at least one woman cannibalized her own child. In desperation, Israelis ate ass’ heads. If a shekel is valued at $10, an ass’ head, the least desirable and least meaty part of an unclean animal, was worth $800 in today’s dollars. People were so desperate, they gathered bird dung for food.

The stakes were international in scope. The Arameans had laid siege and cut off the food supply. Israel’s king had the public stage. Elisha was home, secluded from the public. The king had a politician’s “bully pulpit,” the prophet had the “word of the Lord.” The king made symbolic gestures of humility and repentance, wearing sackcloth beneath his robes and making a colorful public display on Samaria’s city wall. But, he was bumped, and the overflow spurted out! He needed a scapegoat, so he chose the prophet, a person of dissimilar power and influence. The Prophet Elisha was to be executed, immediately.

The story continues, “The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Don’t you see how this murderer is sending someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him. And ‹the king› said, “This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” And then, Elisha daringly prophesied, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: 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 officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!”

The story continues (7:3ff) with God’s miraculous intervention. God sent a heavy dose of irrational fear upon the Arameans. The army scattered fearing phantom armies, and left everything behind. The “floodgates of the heavens” actually opened and there was enough of everything for all the people!

Lessons for us to apply are found in a subplot. Lesson one, God alone can right the wrongs of nations. No political activism could have delivered Israel. The kings phony humility and blame game ought to reinforce our dependence on the living God. Power is ultimately with the Lord alone!

Lesson two, share the good news, God will have His way! Four lepers were starving with the reset of their countrymen. In desperation, they risked their lives by approaching the Aramean army camp and were the first to learn of God’s phantom army victory. They ate, pilfered a few silver and gold items and selected a few items for their wardrobe. And then they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.” We have good news! God’s devices for delivering His people are ingenious, consistent, and cannot be frustrated. Scheming to oust one politician and placing hope in another are a futile and frustrating exercise. But, calling sincerely on the Lord is satisfying because He has plans and power that result in deliverance.

Let us do what is right today. The most effective thing we can do is spread good news! Point to the Lord’s deliverance and tell our story. The Gospel song says –
’Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung;
’Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;
’Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”
Refrain:
He is able to deliver thee,
He is able to deliver thee;
Though by sin oppressed, go to Him for rest;
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”

’Tis the grandest theme in the earth or main;
’Tis the grandest theme for a mortal strain;
’Tis the grandest theme, tell the world again,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”

’Tis the grandest theme, let the tidings roll,
To the guilty heart, to the sinful soul;
Look to God in faith, He will make thee whole,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”