Faith In Elisha

Synopsis     2Kings 7:17-24     8/19/2019 

Elisha had predicted that the siege of Samaria and the accompanying famine would be over in a day. But the king’s adjutant mocked Elisha and blasphemed God. Accordingly, it was further prophesied that he would see the phenomena of cheap grain but “not taste of it”.  

When the people realized that the Arameans had fled without their possessions, they rushed the gate. They all went out to plunder the Aramean camp. As they did, they trampled the king’s adjutant who had blasphemed. He died in the gate having seen the reduced grain prices in the marketplace.  

Later, Elisha met with the Shunamite woman. He warned her that a severe famine was coming to all the land of Israel. And he told her to flee to a land away from Israel for seven years until the famine ended.  

Faith in Elisha  

The woman from Shunam had faith in Elisha. Her confidence was in Elisha’s ability to know the words of God. So, if he said it was time to go, then she was going to go.  

Her actions revealed her belief. And her belief was that Elisha had the ability to hear from God.  

Faith and Relationship 

Faith is about relationship. And more specifically, the way Christians understand it, faith is the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of the one, true God. And further, it is the belief that through His intercession, we are saved and restored into a relationship with God.

What’s more, Christian faith is a belief that God is both personable and relatable. And it is the belief that God cares and even loves those whom He has created.  

So, God is a person who knows and loves other persons.  

That’s the claim.  

Treating God like a person is faith. Accordingly, speaking to Him like a person is an act of faith.

And, meeting with Him as I would with any other earthly person is an evidence of my faith.

God has shepherded me into this particular moment of time for some greater purpose. Responding to the possibilities of my life from this vantage is living my life in faith. 

“But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Heb 11:6