Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 13, Psalm 28
While King Joash was ruling over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu was inaugurated king over Israel. He continued the evil practices that Jeroboam had begun, so the Lord allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat the Israelites time and time again. Jehoahaz recognized his need for the Lord’s help and cried out for God to rescue Israel from the Arameans. God showed mercy on His people once again and they experienced a season of peace.
God was faithful, but this did not stop the Israelites from continuing in their sin. Jehoash succeeded his father as king, following his example of leading from a place of evil instead of following the commands of the Lord. Before Elisha died, King Jehoash visited him and their interaction is full of great application for us today:
When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried. – 2 Kings 13:14
It was significant that Jehoash would leave the palace and enter the home of Elisha. Recognizing all that Elisha had done for the nation of Israel, the king grieved the loss that would soon be felt by all. In respect, he repeated the same words Elisha had said when Elijah was suddenly carried away to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:12). Just like Elisha had been distressed by Elijah’s departure, Jehoash was conveying his own concern that Elisha would soon be gone.
Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands.
Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”
Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” – 2 Kings 13:15-19
HOW OFTEN DO I UNDERESTIMATE GOD?
This passage convicts me every time I read it. I look back and see patterns in my prayer life of asking for help during a difficult situation without asking God to remove the trial altogether. I ask Him to help me endure the pain without asking for complete healing; I ask God to get me through a situation without asking Him to show up in miraculous ways. We serve a BIG God who invites us to pray for Him to move in BIG ways, but our small faith often limits our experience of His power.
Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! – 2 Kings 13:20-21
This is how BIG our God is! We serve a God who is able to raise the dead, yet we struggle to believe that He can remove our infirmities. We know what the Lord is capable of but we lack the faith to ask Him to move on our behalf. God wants to heal our relationships, to restore our health, and to provide for all of our needs — can you feel Him moving?
DON’T LET THE SIZE OF YOUR FAITH LIMIT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF HIS GREAT POWER!
In the spring of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Elevation Worship’s song Rattle reminded all of us that what we see as impossible has never stopped God. Thousands of people decided they were ready to live again — that God was NOT going to run out of miracles before He did something magnificent for His people. We sang out this declaration in determination to let God do something BIG in our lives:
My God is able to save and deliver and heal / And restore anything that He wants to / Just ask the man who was thrown / On the bones of Elisha / If there’s anything that He can’t do / Just ask the stone that was rolled / At the tomb in the garden / What happens when God says to move / I feel him moving it now / I feel Him doing it now /I feel Him doing it now / Do it now, do it now [Songwriters: Brandon Lake / Chris Brown / Steven Furtick; RATTLE! (Morning & Evening) lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing, Essential Music Publishing]
This is a song about Elisha’s bones, which means Elisha was no longer alive. Elisha died and was buried, providing an opportunity for God to do something magnificent in the lives of those who were grieving the death of their loved one. In their attempt to hide to flee from their enemy, they saw their friend resurrected from the dead. In a story that included death, we find the power of God revealed.
WHAT ARE YOU ASKING GOD TO DO FOR YOU TODAY?
I pray you have the faith to ask BIG during this season of your life. Step out of the grave and start believing that God has a miracle waiting for you. Shoot arrows into the ground that reflect what you believe God wants to do in your life. If the healing you ask God for ends up being an eternal healing, I pray He is able to use “your bones” to greatly impact the lives of others and increase their faith in Him.