Scripture: ‘“For I the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,’ declares the Lord GOD.”’ Ezekiel 12:25
If you're unsure of what's next about a specific area in your life, as I am, here's an encouraging reminder for the week: while we can't always predict precisely how God will move, we can trust that He works in miraculous ways that defy our logic and surpass our limits.
Our study today sheds light on three key insights about how God moves beyond our limits.
God uses unpopular means to bring about a good thing to us.
God's restoration occurs regardless of our doubts, and our faith determines if we will personally experience that restoration.
Sometimes, restoration unfolds in phases.
Let's dig deeper into the account from 2 Kings 7.
The city of Samaria (Northern Israel) was under siege and suffering from famine. Ben-hadad II of Syria had surrounded Samaria, leading to extreme starvation and desperation. Food prices soared, and the situation was so dire that cannibalism was the norm.
In his frustration, King Joram of Samaria ordered the execution of the prophet Elisha. However, God had other plans. He revealed to Elisha that the siege would be lifted, and food would be plentiful the next day.
Understandably, the king's officer found this hard to believe. After all, Israel's capital had been under siege for three long years—restoring a broken city in just 24 hours seemed not only impossible but laughable. Elisha warned him that while he would see the abundance, he wouldn't get to enjoy it.
“Elisha replied, ‘Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.’ The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, ‘That couldn't happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!’ But Elisha replied, ‘You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won't be able to eat any of it!’” 2 Kings 7: 1-2
God's miraculous intervention came in phrases.
First through four lepers at the city gate. They decided to surrender to the Syrians because they had nothing to lose.
"Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. ‘Why should we sit here waiting to die?’ they asked each other. ‘We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway." So, at twilight, they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there!’" 2 Kings 7: 3-4
God had already set the stage for this miracle. Long before the lepers could move, He caused the Syrians to hear the sounds of a mighty army. Panic-stricken, the Syrians fled, abandoning their camp filled with food, valuables, and supplies.
The lepers, ostracized and desperate, stumbled upon this abandoned camp. Finding it overflowing with provisions, they quickly reported back to the city.
Skeptical at first, King Joram sent scouts to verify the lepers' story. When the scouts confirmed the Syrians' retreat, the people of Samaria rushed out to plunder the camp.
Everything happened exactly as Elisha had prophesied.
Food prices plummeted, bringing relief to a city in the grip of famine.
Even the officer who had doubted Elisha's words saw the abundance but was trampled in a rush, tragically missing out on the blessing.
“The officer had said to the man of God, ‘Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?’ The man of God had replied, ‘You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!’ And that is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.” 2 Kings 7: 19-20
Here's what we can take this week: God will come through for us. Our part is to manage our doubts rather than worrying about the ‘how’.
If He can overturn an entire economy and end famine in an instant, imagine what can He do to situations that raise our anxiety levels?
Our Challenge
Today, I choose to surrender my doubts to God. Like the officer who doubted and missed out on the blessing, I don't want my unbelief to rob me of experiencing God's goodness.
When unbelief shows her head, I will meet her with scripture.
When unbelief whispers, "This is too good to be true," I'll respond in faith, "My logic does not limit God." - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)
When unbelief insists, "There's only one way this can work," I'll declare in faith, "God has a thousand ways to come through." - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20)
When unbelief suggests, "God may help, but it won't be enough," I'll affirm in faith, "God gives abundantly." - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
And if you struggle with meeting doubt with scripture or surrendering her to God, honesty with God is a powerful step.
God isn't intimidated by our doubts—He's not turned away by them. He understands exactly where they come from and approaches them with compassion.
For example, Jesus gently addressed Thomas's doubts about His resurrection by showing him His wounds (John 20:27). That same gentle compassion is ours when we bring our doubts to Him.
And here’s the thing - when we move past our doubts and trust God, we often discover He exceeds our expectations. God's blessings go beyond just meeting our needs—they extend into abundance.
- Dentrecia B.
Our Reflection
How does the story of the lepers stumbling upon the abandoned Syrian camp challenge your perspective on how God might use unconventional ways to meet your needs?
During the siege of Samaria, the king faced intense desperation and was driven to consider drastic measures against Elisha. Where in your own life have you felt overwhelmed and made desperate, tough choices because of doubt or limited resources?
Elisha remained incredibly calm despite the king's threat. How can you draw from his example to remain composed during your challenges? What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate or nurture calm in your lives?