May 19 Daily Devotional

2 Kings 6–7

There was another war between Syria and Israel. Benhadad, king of Syria led his great army into the land and camped around the walls of Samaria. It was his intention to force the people to open the gates by cutting off the food supplies. So the food became very scarce inside the city walls. Large sums were paid for a handful of provisions. One day while king Jehoram was walking in the streets of the city he heard that the people were even killing and eating their own children. He was terrified: so he rent his clothes and dressed in sackcloth. He had the idea Elisha might be the cause of the famine. He had forgotten what the good prophet had done for him. It was his intention to kill him. When Elisha heard about this, he told his friends to stop the messenger sent by the king, and wait until the king himself would come. Soon he came, leaning upon the arm of an officer. Elisha spoke boldly to him, “Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel (about seventy cents), and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria.” The officer at the king’s side replied, “If the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?” Elisha said, “Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”

That very evening there were four hungry lepers at the entering of the gate of Samaria. They knew of the famine in the city, but knew also the danger they were in, if they would turn to the Syrians. They decided to go to the Syrians. They rose up in the twilight and came to the. camp, but no one was in sight. Every tent was empty. They went from one tent to the other, but not one Syrian was left. God had caused the Syrians to hear a strange noise, which sounded like a strong army coming upon them through the darkness. They said one to the other, “The king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” So they arose and fled, leaving their horses, asses, gold, silver, raiment and provisions in the camp. The lepers ate, drank, and hid some of the treasures. They said, “This day is a day of good tidings … therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.” So they came and told the porters what had happened; and the porters brought the message to the king.

On the next day Elisha’s word came true. The people gathered much food from the deserted tents. King Jehoram appointed the officer on whose arm he had leaned, to have charge of the provisions that were found and could be sold. But the officer could not control them; they trampled over him until he died. So the word of the Lord was fulfilled, “Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”