A Wonderful Window.

A WINDOW is described as “an opening for the admission of light.”
In the present day, when houses are built with many windows, we are likely to be ignorant of the fact that windows have not always been so plentiful. There have been days in this country when a tax was imposed upon every window, and hence at that time people learned to do with as few windows as possible. In other words, men accustomed themselves to darkness. This is not a difficult matter, but neither is it wholesome.
To the thoughtful mind, a subject such as the above opens up a long vista. So long, that it reaches back into past centuries, and extends into times not yet named.
He who knows all things and can make no mistakes declared “men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:1919And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)). There is no bias in this judgment. It is the weighed conclusion of Him who cannot err. Is it not, then, incumbent upon us to seek the light?
There had been a terrible famine in the land of Israel. It was the direct result of Israel’s sin. Both people and king had departed from God, and turned to idols. By His servant Jeremiah (see ch. 24:10), God declared that He sent the famine, as well as the sword and pestilence, to punish those who rebelled against Him.
Owing to the famine the sufferings of the people were very great, and to add to their trials and afflictions, they were surrounded with cruel enemies. Their condition was dark indeed. So dark that it must have seemed almost impossible for outward surroundings to grow darker.
At this time God sent His prophet, Elisha, to declare that relief was at hand. This statement was not made in a corner where no one could hear it, but it was publicly made before the king and court, as well as in the audience of the people.
One of these, who heard the statement, was a personal attendant upon the king. He was evidently a thorough man of the world, and as such a cynic, with the gift of saying “smart” things. One can almost picture the man, he has so many counterparts in the present day.
The fact of there being a personal God, who regards His people, was something that had never entered into the heart of this nobleman. So when he heard that relief was promised he gave vent to his unbelief by saying, “Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be.” The prophet’s prompt reply was, “Behold, thou shalt see it [that is, the fine flour for the rich and the barley for the poor] with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”
These words need to be taken in connection with the declaration of the Lord Jesus: “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:1919And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)).
This was a very evil deed of the nobleman, to contradict the solemn word of God. The days were dark; light-in the welcome prophecy of quickly coming relief-was given on the authority of God, and yet this man declared God’s word untrue and impossible of fulfillment. He rejected God. He chose darkness rather than light, and thus proved his ways and his heart to be evil.
We can read the whole chapter (2 Kings 7) for ourselves, and we shall find it most profitable so to do.
The concluding verses show how perfectly God’s promise was fulfilled. The people had the bread, but in the great crush the nobleman was overborne, and the crowd passed over his body so that he was trodden to death. He had seen the fine flour and the barley offered at the price named by the prophet, but he had been unable to partake of it. Solemn warning to us all!
Now let us look closely at these facts as through a window.
There was no need for the Lord to make “windows in heaven,” as the unbelieving lord suggested. They are there already. We read of God opening the windows of heaven (see Gen. 7:1111In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11)), but on that occasion it was to let down His judgments. He now promises us that He will open the windows of heaven to pour out blessings upon men, if they will but return unto Him confessing their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus (see Mal. 3:1010Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)).
God does not call upon men for mere outward tithes now, but He calls upon those who believe on His name to “present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12:11I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)).
The nobleman was condemned because He refused God’s offer of mercy, and mocked at His promise. What do we?
God offers the Lord Jesus―who is “the Bread of Life” (John 6:4848I am that bread of life. (John 6:48))―to men, that they may believe in Him, and whosoever believes on Him has everlasting life (see John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)). This offer is made freely― “without money and without price” (Ise. 55:1). How do we receive it?
Do we say, “We cannot believe that salvation is so free as that,” and therefore reject the blessing, or do we with thankful hearts cry out, “Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief”? (Mark 9:2424And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24)).
The Lord give you to be in deep earnest about these eternal realities.
P. I. B.