“It came to pass after this.” Note the words. Not for long does the enemy allow the people of God to enjoy quietness. His restless hatred watches every opportunity to stir up trouble for them. So it was in Elisha’s day, and so it is in our own time also. Still, 2 Kings 6:2424And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. (2 Kings 6:24) reads strangely after the remarkable story related in the preceding verses. We might almost have supposed that after the feeding of the Syrian host by Israel, for very shame they would not have attacked them again, and in that generation. But the human heart is incorrigible in its evil. The richest grace produces no effect upon it apart from new birth. This alone explains the worldwide revolt spoken of in Revelation 20:7-97And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Revelation 20:7‑9) as following our Lord’s thousand years reign. Even the marvelous blessing of that era of glory will not reconcile flesh to God.
But nothing happens without a cause. The Syrians’ new war against Israel was altogether evil. God was not taken into account in their mischievous plans. But, while this is true, there was also that in the condition of God’s people which called for discipline, and which could only be corrected by the stern ordeal of war. So we find the citizens of Samaria reduced to direst extremity, the awful need of the hour being vividly brought home to the king by the pitiful story of the woman who had been compelled to boil her son. How true is God’s Word, in its warnings as well as in its promises! In Leviticus 26 and also in Deuteronomy 28, the calamities which would result from disobedience were solemnly described to the people by Moses before they entered into the promised land at all; now in Jehoram’s reign we find them literally fulfilled.
We are now passing through a grave crisis ourselves. In these favored islands, whatever our inconveniences, losses, and sorrows, we are hardly able to realize what is taking place in lands more directly touched by the ravages of war. In the midst of all the suffering, experiencing weariness and painfulness, cold and nakedness, the people of God are found. Is it without a cause that affliction has thus fallen upon the Church as well as upon the world? What has our record been during many years of tranquility and prosperity? Half-heartedness, worldliness, and division. Are we learning the lessons of this terrible time! If men at large will not fear the rod, and Him who has appointed it, are we, the redeemed people of God, willing to hear? Have we yet humbled ourselves before God concerning our shortcomings and sins? Jehoram was not the worst of Israel’s kings. He wrought evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father and like his mother (2 Ki. 3:22And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. (2 Kings 3:2)). There was with him even a show of piety. He made use of Jehovah’s Name, and wore “sackcloth within upon his flesh.” But his heart was never right towards God. Accordingly, the fiery trial of war only served to bring out the terrible evil of his heart. Like the rocky ground hearers of Matthew 13:2121Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (Matthew 13:21), he could not face tribulation. Thus, when he heard the painful story of the woman and her son, he exclaimed, “God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha, the son of Shaphat, shall stand on him this day.” Instead of humbling himself before God in dust and ashes, and so drawing down mercy from on high, he lifted up his hand to strike. Who would he strike? God, if he could reach Him; but, as that was impossible, he would murder the man who represented Him.
“Why does not God stop the war!” is the irritable demand of our own time. “If there be a God, why does He allow all this sorrow!” That their own sins have made war inevitable, and that it might not be for their good for the cloud to be lifted too soon, does not seem to occur to the mass of our fellowmen. In their eyes God is a sort of public officer who should hasten to the rescue, asked or unasked, whenever men get into trouble. In their blindness they forget that instead He is a moral governor, whose claims they have set at naught, and whose very existence they have practically ignored. Men have sown to the wind, and they are now reaping the whirlwind. It could not have been otherwise. The road to deliverance lies along the line of repentance. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:2020Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20)). Behold the instrument of Jehoram’s wrath, with his master at his heels, proceeding to the home of the prophet. Unlike his predecessor, who fled at Jezebel’s threat, Elisha sat still in the house. When the would be murderer appeared, instead of a divine denunciation, lo! a wonderful announcement of divine grace was sounded forth. Elisha said, “Hear ye the word of Jehovah, Thus saith Jehovah, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria” (2 Ki. 7:11Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. (2 Kings 7:1)) Our minds travel to the cross of Calvary, and to all that followed that dark scene. As in Elisha’s day, so it was then; when man’s worst was fully told out, God brought forth His very best. Not judgement, but the gospel of the grace of God was the immediate result of the murder of the Lord Jesus. When Jehoram was about to slay Elisha, God declared His glad tidings concerning deliverance and plenty; when men had actually slain His beloved Son, God declared the glad tidings with which we are blessedly familiar in the gospel. Moreover, the city in which the dreadful deed was committed was to have the message first of all (Lk. 24:1717And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? (Luke 24:17)). Truly there is none so good and gracious as our God!