Prospering in Pandemonium
Prospering in Pandemonium || Day 1
II Kings 6:8-23 NKJV
"Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my Lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria. So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel."
The Prophetic vs. Pandemonium
God wants His children to prosper even in the most chaotic of times. Throughout God’s Word, when the enemy succeeds in bringing about pandemonium to a population, God sends a prophetic word. This word is meant to help His children overcome the enemy’s schemes and ultimately glorify Him.
In 2 Kings 6, Elisha and the people of Israel were at war with the king of Aram. This was a chaotic time of war, death, and suffering. Yet, through Elisha the prophet, God sent a powerful word that led His people to victory. The victory was not the Israelite army’s doing. It was God.
Just like the Israelites in 2 Kings 6, we too must be willing to hear God’s prophetic word and act upon it for His glory.
The same principle is displayed in 2 Chronicles 20:20. Jehoshaphat stands before the people of Judah amidst the Ammonite attack and declares to trust in the Lord to be established and believe in His prophets so that they may prosper.
Just as Jehoshaphat declared, God wants us to trust in Him and His Word so that we may be established and prosper. Not only for our own good but for His glory.
Finally, in Acts 27:21-25, Paul speaks to those he was shipwrecked with, a prophecy from an angel. Despite this being a pandemonium-filled time, God sent a word to Paul that he could hold on to. And sure enough, things happened just as Paul said they would.
Just like Paul, just like the people of Judah, and just like the Israelites, we need to stand strong in the face of pandemonium. We must hold onto the promises of God and trust in Him to fulfill them. And when He does, we must give Him the glory!
Further reading: Acts 27:21-25; 2 Chronicles 20:20