Daily Reading: 2 Kings 8
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. (2 Kings 8.1-2)
Devotional Thought: 2 Kings 7 stands in stark contrast to the previous chapter. In chapter 6, the King was told not to surrender to the Arameans. Samaria was under siege and it was taking too long so the King wanted to behead Elisha. Elisha ended up being right and the king ended up being schooled by some lepers. In chapter eight, however, we hear from the Shunamite woman. When Elisha told her to leave because of the drought, she left. When she came back seven years later she was received into the kingdom and given back her land. So what can we learn from this?
I would venture to say that when God speaks to you, you should listen. At this time in the Old Testament, God is choosing to speak through Elisha. The Hebrew word for prophet is "nabi" which literally means "mouthpiece". Elisha was God's mouthpiece and what he said could be trusted. Today, we as Christians have God's Word and His Holy Spirit that are his "mouthpiece". We can rely on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to give us direction in this life.
Let's not be foolish like the King of Israel. Instead let's be like the Shunamite woman. Like the slogan for Nike. Just do it! When the Holy Spirit calls you to holiness and a deeper walk in Christ, Just do it! When God asks you to share your faith Just Do it! The life of obedience that is lived to honor Christ will never be a disappointment. The King of Israel was stubborn and did not listen to wise counsel. On the other hand, everything Elisha asked of the Shunamite widow, she Just Did It! and her obedience became a witness to others. Just do it!
Cheryl Young
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word and your Spirit. Help me to listen when you speak, to obey what I hear, and to rest in your wisdom and grace. Amen
Psalm of the Day: 14.4-7
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?
5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
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