Grace through the great and the lowly
Grace through the great andthelowly by lcl
2Ki 7:3 And four men, lepers, were at the gate entrance. And they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die?
2Ki 7:4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we still sit here, we also shall die. And now come and let us fall to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall live. And if they kill us, we shall only die.
2Ki 7:5 And they rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. And when they had come to the outermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, no man was there!
2Ki 7:6 For Jehovah had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, the noise of a great army. And they said to one another, Lo, the king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians against us, to come on us.
2Ki 7:7 And they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents and their horses and their asses, the camp, as it was, and fled for their life.
2Ki 7:8 And when these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried silver and gold and clothing from there, and went and hid it. And they came again and entered into another tent and carried from there, and went and hid it.
2Ki 7:9 And they said to one another, We are not doing right. This day isa day of good news, and we hold our peace. If we stay until the morning light, some punishment will come on us. And now come, so that we may go and tell the king’s household.
2Ki 7:10 And they came and called to the porter of the city. And they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, no man was there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. 2Ki 7:11 And he called the porters. And they told it to the king’s house inside.
2Ki 7:12 And the king arose in the night and said to his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry, and they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive and get into the city.
2Ki 7:13 And one of his servants answered and said, Please let some take five of the horses which remain, which are left in the city; behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed. And we will send and see.
2Ki 7:14 And they took two chariots with horses. And the king sent after the army of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
2Ki 7:15 And they went after them to Jordan. And, lo, all the way was full of clothing and vessels which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.
2Ki 7:16 And the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. And it happened, a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the Word of Jehovah.
And so it was that the king and the whole city were starving for they feared a non-existent Syrian army. Four lepers, who were outcasts, were the only ones reasoning about their plight. They devised a plan of courageous action that took them to the camp of the enemy. They found that God had delivered them from danger and that the enemy had fled. Consequently, they reaped great reward and returned to tell the kings lowly porters the good news. Only then did the king take action and thought incorrectly that this was a trap. He still feared and did not go to find out the truth. It was the kings servant who really had a plan.
Clearly, we should not cower in fear but reason how to be delivered from the enemy. Then, be open to God’s actions of grace. More often than not, God reveals wisdom to the lowly that seek Him. Do not be discouraged that you are going through hard times or are looked down upon by those more lofty than you. God is not a respecter of the powerful, but only the hearts of those who seek Him. Thus, it is ironic that, in this story, it was God and the outcasts and the lowly that saved the city while the king was of little use. The lepers coul not even approach the king to tell the good news, but had to inform hisservants.
After having prayed do not continue to fear what satan has brought, but be open to what God is doing to give relief. Satan may have already have fled. Do not fear, but confirm your salvation. Then give thanks for what God has given and done.