2 Kings chapter 3 reminds me how easily we end up in a “dry” place when we don’t walk with God on a daily basis. Many people try to live their lives neutral towards God. They do not want to be against God, but they also do not want to be considered too “religious”. The Chapter begins, “Joram (Sometimes called Jehoram) son of Ahab became king of Israel… He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of… Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam… he did not turn away from them“. Immediately we see a man that seems to do things for outward appearances only. We learn that “after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel“. This political king was smart enough to engage Judah into the conflict. “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?“. The king of Judah’s response is decisive, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses“. Isn’t it refreshing when someone gives a direct answer?
Next we read that the king of Israel also enlisted the army of the nation of Edom and his naive plan of attack involved a “roundabout march of seven days” through the southern desert. And the armies found themselves with “no more water for themselves or for the animals with them“. The king of Judah insisted that they finally inquire of the Lord and they found the prophet Elisha. His response is filled with sarcasm. Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother“. Elisha continued, if it were not for the presence of the godly king of Judah, “I would not look at you or even notice you“. I am reminded of Revelation 3:16, where the Lord rebukes the church in Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot… So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth“. Apparently a lukewarm commitment does not taste very good to God.
Our gracious God does not turn His back on those that seek Him with sincerity. He spoke through the prophet, “Make this valley full of ditches… You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink… He will also hand Moab over to you”. This is an amazing picture. Essentially God says; I will fill up every ditch you dig. The more ditches you dig, the more water you will have. Sadly, many people that have a shallow relationship with God do not take the time to dig ditches. It takes time to go to church, it takes time to pray, it takes time to read God’s Word, it takes time to develop relationships with people, it is hard to step out in faith and trust God’s promises. It begins by simply asking. In John 7:37, Jesus says, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him“. And we read how God kept His Word, “The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water“. The chapter ends with a refreshed Israel defeating Moab. God desires to fill you with His Holy Spirit to overflowing today and refresh you to overcome the battle at hand. What are you waiting for?