LEARNING DAILY

2 Kings 3:16-17, And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see the wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink’”

Pastor Jonathon Moore, Lead pastor at NorthRock Church, described what seemed to be an impossible situation for the people of Israel. The king of Moab rebelled against Israel. The king of Israel requested the king of Judah (remember Israel was now divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah) to come to his aid. As the armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom (who also join this alliance) journeyed to fight against Moab, they traveled for seven days and found there was no water for the men nor the animal.  The situation looked difficult. They consulted the prophet Elisha and God gave them directions.

Verse 18 explains that what looked like a difficult or impossible situation was “a simple matter in the sight of the Lord”.  He told Elisha to tell the kings to have the soldiers dig ditches and then He would deliver the Moabites into their hand. “God said to get a shovel and did ditches. The answer was not to stand back and watch God work. Get a shovel and prepare for what God was going to do” (Pastor Moore). These were soldiers being told to do something that was not natural to their training. Pastor continued, “it was not very spiritual to dig a ditch, but it was preparation for God to do the supernatural – to fill the ditches with water.”

Pastor quoted Kathryn Kuhlman, “I believe in miracles because I believe in God”. “God cannot be separated from the miraculous” (Pastor Moore). Too many want prayer but when it is answered want to explain the answer by natural means. Stop it! Pastor reminded us that God has a supply for everything we need; He never runs out of anything! He is sufficient for every need you and I have!” In the passage above, God’s people were in a great need. Believers today often face great needs even when trying to walk the narrow way the best they know how. God told the armies to get a shovel. They did, they dug, and God filled the ditches with water for them and their animal!

Pastor Moore was speaking to Believers today to be obedient to God’s Word in order to see God work in our lives, “to see God work as the result of our obedience”. Being in agreement with what God says – to dig, to be obedient even if it seems ridiculous! Believers are to “align themselves with what God’s Word says to do in order to experience God’s miracles in your life” (Pastor Moore). May I add that obedience does not just bring the miraculous, it changes your attitude, your outlook on life every day.

What do you need to be obedient to? What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do. Obviously, you do not need to dig a ditch. Perhaps it is to read/study/meditate on God’s Word every day. Maybe you need to spend more time in prayer. What about being obedient to giving a tithe to your church. Perhaps being faithful to attending your church. Pastor suggested letting go of anger or bitterness in your life. Whatever God is placing on your heart right now about obedience, test Him by being obedient and see how it changes your life! That’s a good word!