2 Kings 3:1-12 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Kings 3:1-12. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Kings 3:1–3 (NIV)
1 Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
2 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 Baal that his father had made.
3 Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
On verses 1-3: Joram becomes king of Israel and gets rid of the sacred stone of Baal (v2b), which his father Ahab and mother Jezebel had used to worship the idol Baal. But Joram still “clung to the sins of Jeroboam” (v3), suggesting that Joram continues to worship the idols that Jeroboam had set up. As such, “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (v2a).
What can we learn from this? Partial idolatry is still idolatry. When you stand before God, God will not accept you or reject you based on how you compared to your parents or your peers, but on how you compared to God’s perfect and holy standards. Even if you think you are much better than your parents or your peers, the fact is that we are not blameless in God’s sight until there is no sin or idolatry in our lives at all. That’s why we need Jesus, the only one who lived a perfect and blameless life before God and who sacrificed that life to pay for our sins. Only the blood of Jesus can pay for our sins.
2 Kings 3:4-11 (NIV)
4 Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to supply the king of Israel with a hundred thousand lambs and with the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
5 But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6 So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel.
7 He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go with you,” he replied. “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8 “By what route shall we attack?” he asked. “Through the Desert of Edom,” he answered.
9 So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them.
10 “What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the LORD called us three kings together only to hand us over to Moab?”
11 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?”…”
On verses 4-11: Mesha king of Moab refuses to pay the 100,000 rams and 100,000 lambs he owes Joram king of Israel. So Joram king of Israel, together with Jehoshaphat king of Judah and the king of Edom, launches an attack against Mesha king of Moab. Evidently without consulting the Lord, Joram king of Israel leads all three kings in a roundabout, confused route when they run out of water. Joram then blames the Lord for their plight: “The LORD has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.” (v10) However, Jehoshaphat does not panic and suggests that they consult a prophet of the Lord for guidance (v11).
Have you ever done what Joram king of Israel did? i.e. without consulting God, you unilaterally decide that you’re going to do something, and then when things don’t work out or you run out of resources, you blame God for your mistake? That’s what Joram did. When you’re in a bind, don’t blame God like Joram, but consult God like Jehoshaphat.
2 Kings 3:11b-12 (NIV)
11 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
12 Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
On verses 11b-12: When Jehoshaphat king of Judah asks if there is a prophet of the Lord they can consult, one of King Joram’s officials says, “Elisha is here. He used to pour water on Elijah’s hands.” (v11) Recognizing Elisha, Jehoshaphat says, “The word of the Lord is with him” and so the three kings (Jehoshaphat, Joram and the king of Edom) go to consult Elisha.
What can we learn from this?
1. See problems as an opportunity to draw near to God and experience His power.
2. If you will serve God and people humbly, God will lift you up in the end. Elisha started his ministry as a servant to Elijah. He went from pouring water on Elijah’s hands to eventually becoming a great prophet himself, armed with the word of God and whom kings would consult. Humility leads to exaltation.
3. Elisha was known for two things: serving others humbly and demonstrating God’s Word to others through his life. May you be known for those same two things as well by how you live.
Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to pay the price for all of my idolatry and to cleanse me from my sins. When I’m in a bind, may I not blame You like Joram, but consult You like Jehoshaphat. And may I be someone who is known for humbly, faithfully and consistently serving others, and someone who shows others Your Word through my actions, words and example. Thank You that in due time You will lift up those who humble themselves before You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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