Word of the Day - for hard economic times and overwhelming distress

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the
Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour
be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel,
in the gate of Samaria. -- 2 Kings 7 verse 1 (Kings James Bible)

Hard economic times happen for a variety of

reasons.

However long the condition may last,

staying focused on

the

faithfulness

of God and His

Word is critical for all

involved, as it was in Elisha’s

day. The famine at that

time was so great and

seemingly out of control

that

people panicked to

the point of doubting God. So much

so, that when

Prophet

pronounced to the

King's

messenger that

at a set

time, the famine would be over,

it was received

with mockery and disbelief. Consumed

overwhelming

distress

the messenger could not

see

beyond the

moment. What he did not know

and could

not see, was

news of God’s great

deliverance was

coming from an

outside source

Unfortunately, due to

the

messenger’s

unbelief,

God did not allow him to

participate in the

recovery.

Time

is an important element and a key

component

when God is exercising our faith.

Though time may be

far spent, hold on to His

Word trusting in His ability to

deliver by any means

of His choosing.

May God’s Word be your sustaining source of hope at all times.

-- Sharon Johnson

Word of the Day ... Time

For further study and inspiration:

Background Note: The famine was so great causing extreme
conditions that prompted overwhelming sorrow and doubt. -
Review 2 Kings 6 verses 24-33.

2 Kings 7 verses 1-20.

Note: Deliverance pronounced, despite unbelief.

1. Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus

saith the

Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure

of fine flour be

sold for a shekel, and two measures of

barley for a shekel, in the

gate of Samaria.

2. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered

the

man

of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make

windows

heaven, might this thing be? And he said,

Behold, thou shalt

see it

with thine eyes, but shalt not eat

thereof.

Note: God uses outcasts to discover what He has done.
Note: After they participate in the recovery themselves, they
deliver the news to the king’s household.

3. And there were four leprous men at the entering in of

the gate:

and they said one to another, Why sit we here

until we die?

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 sit still here, we

die also.

Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host

of the Syrians: if

they save us alive, we shall live; and if they

kill us, we shall but

die.

5. And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of

the

Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost

part of the

camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a

noise

of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of

a great host:

and they said one to another, Lo, the king of

Israel hath hired

against us the kings of the Hittites, and

the kings of the

Egyptians, to come upon us.

7. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left

their

tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the

camp as it was,

and fled for their life.

8. And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of

the

camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink,

and carried

thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went

and hid it; and

came again, and entered into another tent,

and carried thence

also, and went and hid it.

9. Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day

is a

day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry

till the

morning light, some mischief will come upon us:

now therefore

come, that we may go and tell the king's

household.

Note: The king sends out messengers to confirm report.

10. So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and

they

told them, saying, We came to the camp of the

Syrians, and,

behold, there was no man there, neither

voice of man, but horses

tied, and asses tied, and the

tents as they were.

11. And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's

house

within.

12. And the king arose in the night, and said unto his

servants, I

will now shew you what the Syrians have done

to us. They know

that we be hungry; therefore are they

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.

13. And one of his servants answered and said, Let some

take, I

pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are

left in the city,

(behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel

that are left in it:

behold, I say, they are even as all the

multitude of the Israelites

that are consumed:) and let us

send and see.

14. They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king

sent

after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

15. And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the

way was

full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians

had cast away in

their haste. And the messengers

returned, and told the king.

Note: Provisions provided on time as promised.
Note: The one who sarcastically doubted God saw it too but
others trampled upon him as they stampeded to recover all.

16. And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the

Syrians.

So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel,

and two

measures of barley for a shekel, according to the

word of the

Lord.

17. And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he

leaned to

have the charge of the gate: and the people trode

upon him in the

gate, and he died, as the man of God had