LOCKED, LATCHED, OR OPEN--DOORS (2 Kings 6-7)

The words that jumped out at me today struck me by their poetic extravagance. I'm not sure where I'll go with this, but we'll find out together.

Israel was in the middle of a 7 year famine (and still rebelling against God, but no surprise there). Unlike the dramatic showdown at Mt. Carmel between Elijah and Baal's prophets, Elisha casually walks up to the palace one day. The king was talking to Elisha at the end of chapter 6: "This trouble is directly from God! I'm fed up with God."

So perhaps chapter 7 is part of the same confrontation, or perhaps not. But one thing is clear: there was no love lost between the king and the prophet.

It does feel like poetic justice that Elisha's response to the king (I hate God!) was to announce, "The famine is over. Tomorrow one handful of meal or two handfuls of grain will cost a shekel."

The king's advisor scorned him. (any more than Ahab believed the drought was over when Elijah announced it.)  Here is the phrase that caught my attention: "You expect us to believe that? Trapdoors opening in the sky and food falling out?"

Maybe he should have studied Israel's history better. Because God did exactly that during the Wilderness Wanderings, providing quail until everyone was sick of meat. And manna showed up each morning like dew.

I'm arrested by the visual imagery of his complaint. A trapdoor in the sky and food falling out.  Can you picture it? The closest I can come to imagining it makes me laugh.

Do I need to point out that Elisha's prophecy came true?

Look at the juxtaposition of the two chapters. The king says, "I hate God!"

God responds--not with a dire warning, but with compassion and concern and love. "I'm stopping the famine."

The king's advisor, like the second thief crucified with Christ, made fun of God doing the impossible.  The king himself? He at least enjoyed telling tall tales of Elisha the prophet. Alas, he didn't repent, but he gave God's spokesperson a grudging respect.

Today I have been greatly discouraged. A door that  hoped would open wide for my writing instead only opened a crack. I have been mourning/ranging/crying about it all day.

Perhaps that's why I need this message tonight. When God moves, things can happen instantaneously. If God so chooses, the trapdoor that now remains latched although cracked, can swing wide open. Tomorrow.

If it does - praise God.

If it doesn't - still praise God. And realize that God is causing that the famine with that publisher for His own reasons.

MONEY MANAGEMENT (2 Kings 4)

I would rather not touch today's topic. Not because it's too difficult; but because it's an area I have struggled with.

DEBT

Tucked into the middle of all kinds of miracles that proved Elisha had a double portion of Elijah's spirit we find the story of the widow of one of the guild of the prophets.

Debt Indenture

Ah, but this prophet had a bad habit. He died broke, in debt, unprepared. The debt was so great that the debtor was going to claim her two sons as slaves.

This might not have been so bad for the boys, providing the slave owner followed the law. They would be released after six years. They couldn't be mistreated. They would have worked, but they would have been provided for.

But the poor woman--and her sons--faced with losing both husband father, mother and home, all in a matter of days.  My heart goes out to her. A tragedy beyond comprehension.

All because the father didn't manage his financial affairs properly.  Ouch. Neither have I.

Looking at the father's debt, Elisha's final words to the widow take on new meaning:

Sell the oil. Make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what is left. (2 Kings 4:7, MSG)

Collect your resources. Pay your debts first. Then come up with a plan on how to live on the remainder of the money. Unstated is the implication: don't get into debt again.

I can't change the past. But I can try to learn to live on what is left.

I have several measure struggle areas. Money is one of them. We all have have areas like that.

And I suspect that money management is a problem area for a lot more people than me.

Provide for my family after my death--first of all--financially. 

The same principle applies in other areas as well. Think on it. What can you do to better prepare your family for your death or illness?

Let's do it before it's too late.