Are you Fascinated or a Follower?
Devotion In Motion
2 Kings 8:1-4
Elisha was a good guy to have as a friend… Cook up a stew with poisonous herbs? Elisha can make it fit for consumption. Lose a borrowed ax-head in the river? Elisha can retrieve it. The dermatologist finds a leprous spot? Elisha will tell you to go wash. Need info on the movements of your enemy? Elisha can eavesdrop on what he’s saying to his wife in his own bedroom – he’s into divine surveillance. Find yourself surrounded by troublesome circumstances? Are you afraid and alone? Elisha can open your eyes to the angelic army that protects God’s people. And he can blind the eyes of those who would desire to do you harm. Elisha was a great guy to call your friend…
Which gives us a great picture of the benefits of having good and godly friends… A Christian friend can neutralize the poison of this world – help us retrieve losses – heal sore spots – provide divine insight. It’s been said, “A faithful friend doubles our joys and divides our sorrows.” And the Shunammite woman would certainly testify that her friendship with Elisha had done just that – it enhanced her joys in life, and relieved her sorrows.
Years earlier this woman and her husband had befriended Elisha. Whenever he passed-by they invited him to dinner. Eventually, they fixed up a guest room in their home just for him. He stayed at their house when he was in the area. And as a token of his gratitude Elisha prayed that she would have a son… God granted his request… But years later when that son became ill and died, Elisha again proved to be a good friend. He raised the young boy from the dead.
Now in chapter 8, Elisha again looks out after his old friend and her son. He divulges to her some strategic information he obtains from God… “Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.”
So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years. “It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land.”
Apparently, the Israelite officials thought she was gone forever. In her absence, they had confiscated her property and possessions. Now that she’s back she wants to resume her former life and prepares for her appeal… Verse 4 “Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God…” Gehazi was Elisha’s former servant before he was fired for his greediness. He convinced Naaman for payment after Elisha had healed him of his leprosy. The king of Israel is talking to Gehazi “saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.” This must’ve been an interesting conversation. King Jehoram and Gehazi are sitting around jawing, rapping, and hanging out. The King wants to hear about the miracles of Elisha.
He’s amazed at God’s power. Understand this was merely entertainment… The king spent a nice evening admiring Elisha’s special effects. Here was the king’s downfall. He enjoyed hearing and watching Elisha’s miracles, but could care less about Elisha’s message. Jehoram, the son of Ahab, should’ve repented of Israel’s idolatry. Which brings up an interesting point… apparently, Elisha had many admirers, but few followers. This could also have been said about Jesus. There were those who marveled at his miracles, but wanted no part of the way of life He taught.
Remember in Luke 23 when King Herod tried Jesus we’re told “he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.” But when Jesus didn’t perform to his satisfaction Herod “treated him with contempt and mocked Him… and sent Him back to Pilate.” Herod may’ve been a spectator, he was even fascinated by Jesus but he was far from a follower.
And you know what? This is the case for many people today. Jesus is a fascination, a hobby – they watch television specials that speculate about Him. They hear about him at Easter, at Thanksgiving and at Christmas and they marvel at his majesty and the miracles he performed. But all they are, are admirers – because they’ve never embraced Him as Lord and God. And until each of us does the same and embrace Jesus for who he really is and the message of Grace and Truth he came to bring.
All we can ever be, are people who are fascinated in what he can do instead of what he did and who he is. And to understand that Great Mystery all you have to do is look to Calvary and to the empty tomb.
Timothy wrote in
1 Timothy 3:16
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh,Justified in the Spirit,Seen by angels,Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
Amen
Victor Tafoya
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