God's Deliverance

Introduction

A. Most of us do not know anything about hunger. Real hunger. Not the “I’m starving” of teen years, but real hunger. For those who fast depending on the length of the fast, you may know something about being hungry. But even that hunger is not what I’m talking about. Most of us don’t know real hunger—the kind that comes from not knowing when you will eat next; the kind that is so deep that one will consider eating things out of dumpsters. That kind of hunger is unknown to us. Several years ago I spoke to a man who was a prisoner of war during World War II. Food was scarce. A piece of hard, stale bread and some watered down soup was the only meal. When the Allies set them free, he told me that the soldiers kept them in their barracks. They would not allow them to come out and be free. Why? Because they needed to be slowly strengthened through good nutrition. He told me about two men who escaped from their barracks. The pangs of hunger were so great that they threw themselves on a pile of rhubarb and literally ate themselves to death. We know nothing of that kind of hunger.

B. At the end of 2 Kings 6 and all of chapter 7, such a situation exists. Samaria is under siege. Israel is dying from starvation. They are so hungry, that some are eating their own children to survive. Terrible situation. And it is in this situation that God acts on behalf of his people—the very ones who have sinned against him. God graciously saves his people one more time because of his intense and deep love and grace. The people do not deserve his kindness, but God acts for them anyway. This story is about God’s favor being poured out on a people who were undeserving. It is our story.

The Story

A. Israel is in trouble again with the nation to the north, Aram. Famine sets in. 6:25 demonstrates how bad it is. A donkey’s head can’t have too much meat on it. About a ½ pint of seeds isn’t enough to feed one much less a whole family. The king is asked for relief. He hears of children being killed and eaten just to survive. The king is frustrated and angered by the ordeal. So he does something very logical—he puts out a Wanted Dead Poster on Elisha. The king holds Elisha responsible for the problems in Israel. Perhaps Elisha had already warned the king about what God was going to do because of Israel’s sin. Perhaps Elisha had told the king how to remedy the situation and he refused. Whatever the situation, the king believes Elisha is responsible for the trouble in Israel. This is similar to Ahab’s belief that Elijah was responsible for the drought in Israel back in 1 Kings 18.

B. When the king comes trying to kill Elisha, Elisha tells the future. The very next day, bounty will abound in Israel. God is going to relinquish. The general who accompanies the king scoffs at such an idea (7:1). Elisha tells the general that he will see it but not be able to participate in it. Outside the city gates are four men with leprosy. Life is tough for them. They decide to take their chances with the Aramean army. If they stay close to the city, they will die from starvation. If they go to the Aramean army, they might get food and if not then they will die anyway and it is better to die quickly rather then slowly.

C. That night they enter the Aramean campground. What they find is beyond belief. No one is there. They enter a tent, eat, drink, and plunder. They go to another tent and do the same thing. Finally, they tell the city what has happened. The king believes it to be a trick. Remember he already knows what Elisha told him, but he is ignoring that. Verse 13, five are selected to go out and spy out the camp. It is reported that the Arameans have fled. In 7:6–7, the Bible tells us why the Arameans left their camp. The city plunders the entire camp and just as Elisha had said the food and supplies are practically given away because there is so much. Notice in 7:17, the general is killed by the people who are trying to leave the city to get to the plunder. Again just as Elisha had said it would happen.

Lessons

A. First, from 6:27 and 31 we notice the reaction of Israel’s king. The king of Israel sought to blame others. In verse 27, he blames God. Then in verse 31 he blames Elisha. He refuses to accept responsibility for the sin in his life and in the lives of the people. We are responsible for the consequences of our sin. No one else can be blamed. ILL. “Responsibility: Accepting.” Like the king, when difficulties come into our lives we should take a look at ourselves first before we begin to blame others. Try as we might to blame others, we are responsible for the consequences of our sin.

B. Second, God acts on our behalf without our effort. What did Israel do to receive this miracle from God? Notice verse 30. The king has sackcloth on under his royal robes. The purpose of sackcloth was twofold: sorrow or social protest. Sorrow for sin would require the wearing of sackcloth. However, here in 2 Kings 6 it appears to be for social protest. Things are out of balance. Famine, war are imminent. The king wears sackcloth to express his outrage. The fact that the king blames God for the events and then desires to kill Elisha tells me that he is not sorrowful. This obstinate attitude doesn’t keep God from acting on Israel’s behalf. Why would God do this. Grace, mercy, love. These are his people. He wants to help them. But isn’t this true of God with us? Doesn’t he act on our behalf even when things are out of balance by our own hand? The grace of God extends to his people. Undeserving as we are, God still wants to help us. ILL. “Grace: Uniqueness.” Grace is uniquely a Christian concept and it comes only from the God who extends grace to all. But like Israel with an empty camp, God’s grace benefits only when we reach out and seize it.

C. Third, faithlessness means we lose out on the blessings of God. Israel did nothing to reap the benefit of God’s grace and mercy except seize it. But when the general who stood beside the king denied the power of God, then he lost out on the blessings of God. To deny the power of God is to deny God’s grace for your life. That may seem obvious, but our language betrays us. Why are we surprised when God does something great? “Nothing can change him.” “Can you believe what happened?” Trampled to death the next day, the general saw the bounty and grace of God. He saw the good God had in store for his people. He saw God’s grace; yet, he was not able to enjoy it. Why? Because of his faithlessness. This to me is a powerful lesson. It reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. It reminds us that God can act on our behalf and will act although it may be in ways we never dreamed of or imagined. If the Lord opens the floodgates of heaven, the unimaginable happens. Our lack of faith will not keep God from acting although it will keep us from enjoying the benefits he wants to pour out on us. May we be faithful people ready to see the grace of God at work. Invitation.

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