OCTOBER 9, 2 Kings 3:8-13

Confident of victory, the three kings set off with their armies to attack Moab. They planned to spring a surprise on the Moabites by attacking them from behind. But, the surprise was on them instead! After a seven- day march through the desert of Edom, they could not find any water for both men and cattle. Without water, they would perish.

In despair, Jehoram the king of Israel started to blame God. Isn’t he strange? He had been worshipping idols. Yet, when faced with a problem, he condemned the Lord! Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah acted differently.

Though he was foolishly helping an idol worshipper, he still feared God. Knowing that God would be their only hope, he sought to hear the advice of a prophet of God for only God could get them out of trouble. When the three kings met Elisha, he showed no respect for Jehoram. He did not want to have anything to do with him. He told him to go get help from his parents’ prophets instead i.e. the prophets of Baal.

Elisha was actually giving Jehoram a good scolding. It was God who gave him the courage to rebuke the king. We know idols can do nothing and false prophets have no power. So, let us ask ourselves: Am I like Jehoshaphat or Jehoram? Do I pray to the God of the Bible or to other gods? We may not literally pray to other “gods”, but in our thinking and behaviour, do we show that we do not rely on God? Jehoshaphat looked to God for help in times of trouble. May we choose to be wise like him.

Fill in the blanks with these words: Lord, idols, pray, Israel, Judah

1. Elisha rebuked the king of __________ .

2. The king was rebuked for worshipping __________ and blaming God when things went wrong.

3. We must praise God always. When we face a problem, let us first __________ - and wait on the Lord.

4. All things will work together for good to those who look to the __________ .

Thought: We must pray only to the true and living God of the Bible.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, teach me to always be in prayer, whether I do anything major or not. Prayer is to seek Your will, and that I must always do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.