Week 12 of Word Wednesday is upon us!
II Kings 13:21 (NIV)–Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
No one would argue that Elisha was an amazing prophet, a mighty man of God. The Spirit of God rested on him so mightily that even after his death, God still worked through him. See, there was nothing particularly special about Elisha’s bones. He was just a man. The power came from God and God alone. Do you know what I think God is saying here? Even death can’t stop the work God does, and death doesn’t necessarily mean the end of God’s work through us.
My Aunt Shirley was in her mid-forties when she died of cancer. I spent years angry with God because He chose not to save her. To this day, I struggle with it, but that’s another story for another day. See, God showed me something. My aunt died with amazing grace (which was–no pun intended–her favorite song). She hated to leave her husband and her son, but she knew exactly where she was going and who she was going to see when she got there. She honestly looked forward to seeing Jesus.
Her death was not an end. It’s been nearly fifteen years, and I still hear people speak of her relationship with Jesus, of the joy and strength and peace she carried until her final breath. I hear people talk about how she inspired them to draw closer to him. I know of at least one person who gave their life to Christ because of her example. God used her in life, and He uses her still in death. Her death was not an end of her life, but the beginning of a legacy. Folks, God doesn’t waste anything. Think about it.
Care to share your favorite verse from II Kings? Would love to hear from you in the comments below or in a link to your blog. Looking forward to hearing from you!
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
2 Kings 22 through the beginning of 23 really struck me this morning. This chapter discusses The Book of Law being found. When King Josiah heard the words written in the book he tore his robes. He inquired about what would happen to his people and Judah because of what was written in the book. Basically, he was told that disaster and destruction would still be brought on them because of the way their fathers behaved, but the Lord told him “Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declared the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”
Then, in the beginning of chapter 23, Josiah renews the covenant in the presence of the Lord.
I think this struck me so much because of where this world seems to be going lately. I watch the news with an awful feeling in my gut every night. God is blatantly pushed aside. God is not allowed to be in schools or any other government function. It seems that everyone but Christians can have the freedom to practice their religion in the workplace or at school. There were so many times in this book that it said “___did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.” Without getting political, I really think that this line would be read of so many in our world right now (not just those in high places). But what I found so amazing in this section was that once Josiah was made aware of the Law of Moses, he wept and tore his robes. He prayed to the Lord and he renewed the covenant. It wasn’t too late, and it still isn’t. He made sure that others were made aware of the law and began practicing it. I think this is so relevant to us today. How many of us just sit by while the world keeps moving toward its own destruction. We know the truth and it’s our responsibility to share it with others.
Jodie says
AMEN!!!! Awesome, Dawn! If the church–meaning everyone who believes in Jesus Christ–would pull together and really start praying, really start standing up for right instead of sitting back and complaining, think what we could do. I think we are seeing God start to move, starting to call His people. Now, we just need to answer.
Jen says
The verses I chose as my favorite were II Kings 4:3-4, from the story about the widow’s oil.
Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
The part that struck me was when he told her to ask for more than a few. I know there are so many times in my own life where I believe in the power of God, but I tend to put him in a box because I can’t comprehend the magnitude of it. I’ll pray for little things because I know without a doubt that he can work in that situation… but BIG things are harder to wrap my head around.
I think Elisha knew this about the woman. In her mind, even a few jars of oil would help to relieve some of her financial stress, but God had plans to bless her in a much bigger way. How often do we hold God back when He tries to bless OUR lives, simply because we refuse to think big enough, certain that a few jars will be plenty?
Jodie says
What interests me here is she received in proportion to her faith. If she had asked for three jars, God would have filled three jars. If she had asked for a thousand jars, God would have filled a thousand jars. He let her choose the blessing.
I’m the opposite of you, by the way. It is easier for me to pray for “big” things than for “small” things. Not quite sure why that is…