- May 15, 2005
- 545
- 72
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Democrat
Do you remember what it was like as a baby, helpless, lying there, pretty much just waiting? (Even if you don't remember, you probably have cared for little ones and know they are pretty helpless for the first few months.)
We waited to be picked up. Waited to be fed. Waited to be dressed and given a better or different view of our small world. But most of us, as adults, are pretty self-sufficient. We can get ourselves up, dressed, fed. We can do for ourselves instead of waiting helplessly to be done for. We are no longer helpless!
Paul spoke of this when he said that when he was a child he acted childishly, but now as an adult, he has put away the childish activities. (1 Cor. 13:11)
But most of us still seem to be waiting. Waiting on God. Waiting on heaven. Waiting on guidance. Waiting on directions. Waiting to be picked up. Still waiting for someone to change our position so we have a better view of the world.
Elisha lived a long time ago and without salvation. Jesus hadn’t yet come to redeem the world, and He hadn’t risen to heaven to send His Spirit back to live with people. So everyone in the Old Testament lived without the light of salvation as we have it now. You’d think they would be sitting around helplessly, waiting on God, right?
But Elisha wasn’t waiting on God or Jesus or direction. He had faith, and he acted on it. In fact, he acted so often that the king of Syria was losing his war against God’s people, Israel. (2 Kings 6:11–23, ESV)
Suspecting treason, he called his servants in and questioned them. They told him Israel had a secret weapon: Elisha the prophet. Elisha, it seemed, knew things the Syrian king discussed even in private and always warned Israel. Syria’s king was angry and called out his army to go find Elisha. And “… he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.” [6:14]
When Elisha’s servant went out early the next morning he saw that they were completely surrounded by the Syrian army and ran to tell Elisha, saying, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” [6:15]
But Elisha, as usual, wasn’t afraid, and he didn’t run. He knew he had God on his side, and God wouldn’t let him lose. In other words, he had faith. He answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” [6:16]
The servant was probably very confused; Elisha had people with him? Who were they and where were they?
Elisha then took charge of the enemy army and led them captive into Israel’s city of Samaria, asked God to restore their sight, and had Israel’s king feed them before releasing them to return to their homes.
A happy ending to a completely amazing story just full of courage, wisdom and mercy, but what really got my attention was what Elisha did, in verse 17.
He obviously had insight into God’s plans to keep him safe. He knew he had God’s angels and chariots of fire – all of heaven, in fact – on his side. So what did he do? Did he wait to see what God was going to do? Did he just sit back and wait to see what would happen? No!
Elisha thought about it, asked for God's help, and then acted to carry out a plan to not only defeat the enemy but to do it without shedding blood. He handed the entire enemy army over to the King of Israel without war, without fighting, without injury to either side.
Isn’t that amazing? Elisha ACTED. He took responsibility, knowing he couldn’t lose with God on his side.
God’s on our side, too. God has given us everything we need to defeat our enemies and stay in peace. He’s given us the ability to affect change in this world. Anyone can talk about the circumstances – we are God’s children, called to pray for change, align our words with His, and act to enforce goodness in this world. We are light. We are His ambassadors, His agents, His disciples, called to act on His behalf.
So Instead of sitting around helplessly, waiting for God to do something, I believe we should instead obey Him by (1) praying for Him to come into the situation, (2) speak His words in faith, and (3) do good, believing that good does indeed overcome evil.
Jesus said,
We aren’t helpless or hopeless. All of heaven is on our side!
We waited to be picked up. Waited to be fed. Waited to be dressed and given a better or different view of our small world. But most of us, as adults, are pretty self-sufficient. We can get ourselves up, dressed, fed. We can do for ourselves instead of waiting helplessly to be done for. We are no longer helpless!
Paul spoke of this when he said that when he was a child he acted childishly, but now as an adult, he has put away the childish activities. (1 Cor. 13:11)
But most of us still seem to be waiting. Waiting on God. Waiting on heaven. Waiting on guidance. Waiting on directions. Waiting to be picked up. Still waiting for someone to change our position so we have a better view of the world.
Elisha lived a long time ago and without salvation. Jesus hadn’t yet come to redeem the world, and He hadn’t risen to heaven to send His Spirit back to live with people. So everyone in the Old Testament lived without the light of salvation as we have it now. You’d think they would be sitting around helplessly, waiting on God, right?
But Elisha wasn’t waiting on God or Jesus or direction. He had faith, and he acted on it. In fact, he acted so often that the king of Syria was losing his war against God’s people, Israel. (2 Kings 6:11–23, ESV)
Suspecting treason, he called his servants in and questioned them. They told him Israel had a secret weapon: Elisha the prophet. Elisha, it seemed, knew things the Syrian king discussed even in private and always warned Israel. Syria’s king was angry and called out his army to go find Elisha. And “… he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.” [6:14]
When Elisha’s servant went out early the next morning he saw that they were completely surrounded by the Syrian army and ran to tell Elisha, saying, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” [6:15]
But Elisha, as usual, wasn’t afraid, and he didn’t run. He knew he had God on his side, and God wouldn’t let him lose. In other words, he had faith. He answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” [6:16]
The servant was probably very confused; Elisha had people with him? Who were they and where were they?
Elisha then took charge of the enemy army and led them captive into Israel’s city of Samaria, asked God to restore their sight, and had Israel’s king feed them before releasing them to return to their homes.
A happy ending to a completely amazing story just full of courage, wisdom and mercy, but what really got my attention was what Elisha did, in verse 17.
He obviously had insight into God’s plans to keep him safe. He knew he had God’s angels and chariots of fire – all of heaven, in fact – on his side. So what did he do? Did he wait to see what God was going to do? Did he just sit back and wait to see what would happen? No!
Elisha thought about it, asked for God's help, and then acted to carry out a plan to not only defeat the enemy but to do it without shedding blood. He handed the entire enemy army over to the King of Israel without war, without fighting, without injury to either side.
Isn’t that amazing? Elisha ACTED. He took responsibility, knowing he couldn’t lose with God on his side.
God’s on our side, too. God has given us everything we need to defeat our enemies and stay in peace. He’s given us the ability to affect change in this world. Anyone can talk about the circumstances – we are God’s children, called to pray for change, align our words with His, and act to enforce goodness in this world. We are light. We are His ambassadors, His agents, His disciples, called to act on His behalf.
So Instead of sitting around helplessly, waiting for God to do something, I believe we should instead obey Him by (1) praying for Him to come into the situation, (2) speak His words in faith, and (3) do good, believing that good does indeed overcome evil.
Jesus said,
Of course, we must know God’s Word in order to speak His words in faith. And faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so reading, hearing, and speaking the Word is the first step to knowing what to ask for when we pray. Get out the Book. Read it. Speak it. Meditate upon it. Pray about it. And then ACT on it!
We aren’t helpless or hopeless. All of heaven is on our side!
