IT'S FROM GOD - OUT OF FEAR

DAY 245
FAITH FILE: ELISHA
SCRIPTURES: 2 KINGS 6:33

And while he was still talking with them, there was the messenger, coming down to him; and then the king said, “Surely this calamity is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

We often go through very tough life situations that can have us convinced God is at fault for all of it. In our text today, this king felt the same way. He had to watch his people go through so much hunger that they could barely eat. The height of it was the barbaric recount of a woman who came to seek judgment for the injustice of her neighbor who hid her son when it was time to eat him. These women agreed to eat their children one after the other and after they ate one the other woman hid her son. The king couldn’t take it. He tore his clothes and decided to take out his anger on Prophet Elisha and on God. You are here, you are a prophet of God. We’re going through all of this mess. Where is God? Why should I trust God? Why should I believe in God when my people are suffering? And let’s not even forget that this suffering was because they had been surrounded by an enemy nation.

The king’s expression was human but it was not of faith. The thing is the Bible tells us that God does not tempt us with evil. He is not the source of evil. He can step away when we begin to disobey and live a life that is contrary to His will and when He steps away the enemy has an opportunity to come in. That was what was happening with the Israelites. They had not lived in consistent obedience to God. They would trust him today, tomorrow they would fail and their enemies were upon them because they did not live a life that was devoted to God. When we disobey God we give the enemy room and that always works against us. The king forgot that their actions brought consequences.

Your Fault… Maybe?

Ain’t it funny how forgetful we get? We were bold enough to sin and then blame God when it comes back to bite us. We have been taught so much in church that our actions have no consequence in God but it does. He doesn’t let us get what we deserve, the punishment is always less than the crime but there is a consequence to disobedience and we cannot blame God when it comes. But, we should not allow the enemy to use it to guilt us.

Even in these moments when we are living in the consequence of disobedience we must not forget the Goodness of God like this king did. Instead, we should seek His mercy and grace. That’s what a courageous person would do, rather than blame God. And even when you are having tough days that are just a consequence of living, remember that God still loves you. He cares about you in those difficult times. He’s still with you. Look at Israel, even in their unfaithful ways and all the issues they faced concerning it, God couldn’t abandon them. He won’t abandon you. Do not be afraid.

Shalom.