SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 13
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” [Luke 20:37-38]
Jesus reminds us that God has always been the God of life and resurrection, not the God of misery and death.
God is present to every generation, working to rescue people from the “wages of sin”, that is, the curse of death.
Jesus’ own purpose was to proclaim and accomplish life over death, and He succeeds.
Today’s reading reminds us that God has always had this in mind.
But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence. [2 Kings 13:23]
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is also eager to bless Israel with life even though they are rebelling against Him.
He does not want to destroy them or banish them from His presence.
Through Elisha, He offers hope for victory; even after Elisha dies God uses him to show king Jehoash that He is a resurrecting God.
If only His people will believe this, and will seek Him for mercy and life.
When Jehoahaz does do this, the Lord rescues him [2 Kings 13:4].
The incident with the arrows with Jehoash contrasts God’s complete desire to help His people with the half-hearted desire of His people to participate with God in this.
This passage reminds us of HOW MUCH God is eager and ready to bless and help us with life and joy and peace… and HOW LITTLE His people often seem to receive it.
Are we more interested in this life, than in God’s LIFE, full life, eternal life?
Are we half-hearted in a dependence and confidence in the Lord, only crying out to Him when we are in trouble (often when we face death).
God is prepared to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, but we need to ask and imagine, we need to seek and to trust.
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for putting only three arrows into my relationship with You. I want to give them all for You, just as You give Your all for me!
As the leader goes, so go the people. The Lord God continually says to the people – Do this and Live – and yet the people gpo their own way, not fully believing the word of the Lord. Just as the people of Israel did not believe that the Lord God would give them the promised land so too, the king did not fully believe and act upon the word of the Lord. Do I?
Although I spend time in the Word each day, How am I all for Jesus? Although I start the day saying ‘Today God Is First’, is it true in all my acting, doing, decisions, words I speak? God gave His peeple many new chances and I must use those opportunities to give Him my all.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise.