God’s creation is miraculous!

IN CREATION we are surrounded with both that which is useful and that which is ornamental. The earth produces a pantheon of beauty and a display of God’s majesty. Consider spectacular Redwoods and the tiniest flowers along the roadside. Take in the endless rolling hills of grain and water-soaked vegetables for our human enjoyment and diet. The Creator has graciously provided things which charm our eyes and ears as well as supply our bodies with food and clothing. The same feature marks God's Word. 

IN SCRIPTURE we discover the miraculous even more fully. The Scriptures contain something more than dos and don’ts, doctrine and precept, the war between good and evil. Within God’s captured Word there are wonderful types of literature which display the wisdom of their Author and delight those who are able to trace the merging of the shadow into the substance and the mysteries of prophecies. The Word demonstrates the foreknowledge of the giver and administers confidence to those granted the privilege of sharing in the preparation for and pre-knowledge of their fulfillment.

THE WORD and prophecies form part of the internal evidence for the believer which the Bible furnishes as its divine inspiration. Prophecy reveals proof of a wisdom which immeasurably transcends that of the wisest of men and women. Nevertheless, we might be tempted to limit ourselves to turn to the doctrinal and preceptive portions of THE WORD in order to learn the way of salvation and the nature of that walk which is pleasing to God. We miss the beauty and the majesty—we miss the fun, the joy, the creativity and the spectacular amazement of what it feels like to be in the presence of the holy and magnificent, ultimate God Almighty.

Consider what a glorious sunset reveals about God.

A SUNSET is an exquisite sight, but it supplies no nourishment to someone who is starving. The perfumes experienced from an early morning garden walk among the roses may delight the senses, but they are a poor substitute for a good breakfast for a child in poverty. Only after the soul has fed upon the doctrine of Scripture can we put into practice its powerful precepts and truly be ready to enjoy the beauties of the types and explanations of the mysteries of God’s miraculous WORD and it’s power of prophecy among us as His people and for the lost and broken world. There is food and it is up to the LORD to supply. We are workers both in the vineyard and in the harvest. (Matthew 20 and Luke 10)

Elisha has done us a great service.

MIRACLES happened through a man who requested a double portion of what Elijah had received from God: a portion for himself and a potion for others. The great service Elisha delivered in the previous chapter of 2 Kings 3 for the three kings was due to Elisha’s commitment to God first and foremost. The three kings owed their lives and triumphs to Elisha’s directives. One would have expected that the next chapter should reveal what honors and what dignities were poured out on Elisha for his services to the three kings!

IMAGINE for a moment that Elisha should have been immediately been the Man of the Hour! Elisha would’ve gained a preferred position at court in three kingdoms or made prime-minister of at least one of the kingdoms. King Jehoshaphat of Judah should have taken him home with him and given Elisha a fantastic position with the corner office and placed him among the elite of Jerusalem. No, not for Elisha. He gave the three kings a victory, but no one remembered it. Even if he had preferred preferential treatment offered him, Elisha would have declined it. Elisha preferred the honor of being obedient and doing good in the sight of the LORD. Elisha’s role was the training of other prophets in the school of the prophets. Elisha remained great in the sight of the LORD. Meanwhile, his name was forgotten among the elites in the courts of kings. TODAY we still read about Elisha and the names of those kings was forgotten long ago.

Sometimes it’s the little things that have the greatest impact in our spiritual life.

A WIDOW of one of the prophets who was a disciple of Elisha approached him full of desolation. This event reveals much about Elisha’s disposition. Had Elisha been full of himself, Elisha would miss the miracle and the greater revelation of who God is—even to the lowest. We witness God’s greatness as we travel right along with Elisha from the pinnacle of power into the depth of despair.

SHE had been impoverished of her husband, left destitute, in debt and without the means of paying it. She was also faced with losing her sons to a life of slavery. Terrified and miserable, she approached Elisha and told him of her dire situation. Her husband may have died while Elisha was absent with the kings in their expedition against the Moabites. Elisha was most likely unacquainted with her troubles.

THE SITUATION confronting this poor widow was indeed a drastic one. Her husband as her human provider and protector was dead. She was in a vulnerable position. The widow had been left with a debt she could never repay. Imagine the heaviness of heart and the burden of guilt. Not only was she in immediate danger but both of her two sons faced being sold into slavery. Consider this—her future was stolen from her as her sons were seized and taken from her by the creditor who captured them to serve as slaves. 

Consider this: what if it is the Lord who brings us to the end of our own resources so that we might witness his majesty and glory?

Elisha asker her, "what can I do for you?" The same question Elijah asked Elisha before being taken to heaven. "What do you have?” asked Elisha. "I’ve got nothing.” the widow responded.

THIS MIRACLE has a remarkable revelation to all of us who identify as Christians. Aren’t we too like the poor widow? Have we been convinced lately just how destitute we truly are—we owe a debt we can never repay and our children are in danger of being sold into slavery if we don’t make decisions that correct our trajectory. This miracle in 2 Kings 4 is the outpouring of God’s immeasurable grace and glory. It is a manifestation of his provision and sustenance. The wealth of our Father is poured out with compassion, power and significance. Eternity, destiny, redemption, salvation, atonement and grace with immeasurable glory come pouring out not to be contained in jars but poured out over all creation.

We might errantly think of items that would elevate or improve our position in this life if we consider how we might answer the question: what can I do for you? This is cause to pause and consider our answer and pray: O, LORD, do not give us something selfish—a power, a healing, a special place in the Kingdom or a Kingdom luxury! Because we would never think to ask Him to give up His life for us and pay the debt we could never repay. We would forget to thank Him for setting us free from a life of slavery and saving our children and future generations from a slavery worse than death. Maybe today, we are grateful for Elisha and pray that we become an outpouring for this generation as we seek Him more fully and become like Him more ardently.

And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:6-7 NKJV

Pastor Jen