The ax miracle and the seige of Samaria

II Kings Chapter 6

One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him the place where they meet was too small and they suggested going down to the Jordan River where there were plenty of logs to build a new place. They arrived at the Jordan and began cutting logs, but one of them was chopping and the head of his ax fell into the river. He was upset because it was a borrowed ax. Elisha asked him to show the area where the ax head fell in. Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water and the ax head rose to the surface and floated. Then the man reached out and grabbed it.

The king of Aram was at war and would confer with his officers to determine where to mobilize his forces and at what place. But immediately Elisha would warn the king of Israel when the Aramean were mobilizing their troops in the same place. Then the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by Elisha, warning all the people there to be on their guard. This happened several times.

The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers and demanded to know if there was a traitor in his group who had been informing the king of Israel of his plans. But one of the officers explained that Elisha the prophet in Israel tells the king of Israel the words spoken even in the privacy of Aram's bedroom.

So Aram commanded his troops to go find Elisha and seize him. Soon a report came back that Elisha was in Dothan, so Aram sent a great army and many chariots to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early, he saw the troops, horses and chariots and he was afraid.

Elisha told his servant not to be afraid, because there were more on their own side than on the other. Then Elisha prayed for God to let his servant see and when his servant opened his eyes, he saw the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. And as the Aramean army advanced toward them, Elisha prayed that the Lord would make them blind, and the Lord did as Elisha asked. Then Elisha went out and told the soldiers that they had come to the wrong city and he would lead them to the man they were looking for. And he led them to Samaria, where Elisha prayed to the Lord to open their eyes and let them see. And the soldiers discovered they were in Samaria.

The king of Israel saw the soldiers and shouted to Elisha and asked if he should kill them. But Elisha said no, because they were prisoners of war. He advised they should be given food and drink and sent home to their king. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

Sometime later, King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army and besieged Samaria. As a result there was a great famine in the city and prices were over-inflated. One day as the king of Israel walked along the wall of the city, a woman called for him to please help her. But he responded to her that if the Lord didn't help, what good was he? The woman replied that another woman proposed that they eat her son one day and the other woman's son the next day. So they cooked her son and ate him, but the next day when they were to kill the other woman's son, she had hidden him.

When the king heard this tale,he tore his clothes in despair and wore sackcloth next to his skin and he vowed to execute Elisha. Elisha was sitting in his house at a meeting with the leaders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha told the leaders that a murderer had sent a man to kill him. So when this murderer arrived, they should shut the door and keep him out and his master would soon follow him. While Elisha was saying this, the messenger arrived and the king said that it was the Lord who brought them this trouble and so why should he wait any longer for the Lord?

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Why did the king blame Elisha for the famine and troubles of the siege? Some possible reasons: 1. Some say that Elisha must have told the king to trust God for deliverance. He did this and the situation seemed hopeless.2. For years there was a conflict between the kings and prophets. The prophets were often predictors of doom because of the king's evil, so the kings saw them as troublemakers. 3. The king may have remembered when Elijah helped bring and end to a famine.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Elisha's servant was no longer afraid when he saw God's migty heavenly army. Faith reveals that God is doing more for his people than we can ever realize. In today's world, when you face difficulties that seem insurmountable, remember the spiritual resources are there even if you can't see them. Use your faith and let God show you his resources.

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.