(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Kings 7:3-20)

In today’s Scripture, four leprous men sat at the entrance of the gate of Samaria facing an impossible situation. If they remained where they were, they would die. If they entered the city during the severe famine, they would die. If they went over to the Arameans, they might also die, but at least there was a chance that the Arameans would spare their lives.

So they chose the only option that offered even the slightest hope. Little did they know that the Lord would use these four unlikely men to witness His miraculous deliverance and bring the good news to the king of Israel.

6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” 7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life.

When the four men reported what they had found, the king suspected it was an Aramean trap designed to lure Israel out of the city. Yet one of his servants reasoned that they had little to lose by sending scouts to investigate. After all, if they stayed where they were, they would perish anyway.

The scouts discovered that everything the four leprous men had reported was true. The Arameans had fled in panic, leaving behind their tents, food, silver, gold, and supplies. Israel went out and plundered the camp.

In this way, Elisha’s prophecy from the previous day was fulfilled exactly as the Lord had spoken,

“Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”

In contrast, the royal officer who had mocked God’s promise, saying, “If the Lord Himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” saw the fulfillment with his own eyes but was trampled by the crowd and died before he could enjoy it.

Yes, such a thing could happen, because the Lord can indeed open the windows of heaven. The Lord delights in doing what seems impossible, to show that He is God over all creation.

It is also worth noticing that both the four leprous men and the king’s servant acted out of desperation. Yet instead of remaining frozen by hopelessness, they chose to go out and see. The men moved despite their circumstances, and in doing so became witnesses to what the Lord had already accomplished.

Brothers and sisters, what is the Lord capable of? Can He open the windows of heaven and heal this land? Can He deliver His people and bring salvation to a lost and broken generation? Could such a thing be? The answer from Scripture, is yes. The question is whether we are willing to go out to see and witness what the Lord has done.

In our darkest hours, let us not remain where we are, allowing fear, despair, or the certainty of death to paralyze us. Instead, let us step forward in faith. What do we have to lose? Let us go out to see and witness what the Lord has done, for our God is still the God who does the impossible.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Kings 7