by George | Dec 3, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
A Final Request
“And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.””
II Kings 13:19
Elisha is dying. His time is short. Joash the king came to visit him.
“Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”
II Kings 13:14
Joash is expressing his sorrow over the fact that Elisha, a mighty prophet of God, is sick and is about to die.
Elisha doesn’t focus on himself. He had not retired from being a prophet. Elisha knew that Syria was an enemy of Israel. He instructs Joash:
“And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them. ” Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped.”
II Kings 13:15-18
Why did Joash stop after only shooting 3 arrows? David Jeremiah suggests that Joash was not “all in” as far as his commitment is concerned.
You would think that he would have jumped at the chance to see his enemy finally defeated.
Elisha was furious. He told the king that he would only get to strike the enemy 3 times.
Elisha was dying.
This was Elisha’s final request of the king. His dying wish, if you will.
I’ve been a hospice Chaplain for many years.
In hospice, we minister to patients who are dying.
Whatever you do in life, think about this.
Do I use the “Joash” approach, or do I give my all to make their quality of life as good as I can? I may not be able to fulfill all their requests, but I can do something.
by George | Nov 30, 2020 | Community News
After the Storm…
“He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.”
Psalms 107:29-30
The effects of a tropical storm hit our area recently. A heavy downpour overnight, and strong winds gusting up to around 51 mph.
When the winds grew calmer, it became quiet and very peaceful.
In Psalm 107, the psalmist talks about those “who do business on great waters.” v.23
These could have been fishermen, or those hauling precious cargo to the next port. They saw first-hand the awesome power of God.
He said: “They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea.” v. 24-25
Can you imagine being in that ship, which is being tossed about because of the storm? The waves grew higher and higher.
The psalmist says: “They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.” v. 26-27
Can you relate? The storms of life rise up, their noise nearly deafening, and it seems hopeless.Our soul melts within us. We are at our wits end. What do we do?
Let’s do what the sailors did:
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!” v. 19-21
They made their request known to God, praying earnestly.
God answered their prayers, and brought healing.
Then, they thanked God!
When the storms of life are raging, remember to reach out to “the Master of the sea” for deliverance. Don’t forget to thank Him for the calmness after the storm!
by George | Nov 29, 2020 | Community News
Leftovers
“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”
Mark 8:19-21
Is there any turkey leftover in your refrigerator? How about stuffing? Cranberry sauce?
We tend to cook too much during the holidays. So, it’s a challenge to eat it all before it goes to waste.
The Bible records the story of the feeding of the 4,000 in Mark 8. There was a multitude of people gathered to listen to Jesus. Some of them came from far away.
“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.”
Mark 8:2
How were they going to feed them? They are no where near the marketplace.
His disciples asked how they could feed them. It seemed impossible. But, there’s nothing impossible with God!
So, Jesus takes the 7 loaves and a few fish, and miraculously feeds the 4,000+ people there!
He instructs His disciples to gather the leftovers so nothing would go to waste.
Do you ever wonder why there was food leftover? In this case, 7 big baskets and another time 12 big baskets when He fed the 5,000.
Some possibilities…
- The leftovers were for the disciples. Perhaps they fed others first before getting to eat. Jesus’ compassion was not only for the multitude, but also for His disciples, and… you and me.
- There was something symbolic in the numbers. 7 signifies completion or perfection. As an old hymn says, “Jesus doeth all things well.” 12 could signify the 12 tribes and or the 12 disciples. Each disciple had a basket to carry. Reminding them of the miracle they just witnessed.
- The leftovers remind us of the abundance of God’s grace. John 1:16 says in the New English Translation: “For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.”
But, in today’s reading, it seems that the disciples temporarily forgot that God would meet their needs. They had forgotten to take bread with them.
Sometimes we worry about what we need instead of asking God. We are quick to forget how He has supplied before.
Jesus asks: “How is it you do not understand?” Mark 8:21.
