God's Work in the Details

The ministry of Elisha took place in the northern kingdom in the midst of great spiritual decadence. Even so, the mercy of God was manifest to the nation through his ministry and miracles.

Chapter 6 opened with the relocation of the 'school of the prophets' to a larger and more suitable camp. During this move, Elisha performed another miracle as God worked in the 'little details.'

Another was the view Elisha's servant was given of the angelic army surrounding what had appeared at first to be an overwhelming army of the Arameans. How much greater are the forces 'for us' (the children of God) than any of those forces 'against us,' then and now as God always makes for a majority.

As judgment on Israel's idolatry and rebellion, a great famine came upon the land. Great hunger and desperation drove the people even to cannabalism. Even so, there was no repentance by the king or the nation as a whole. Instead the king lashed out at Elisha, the prophet of the God whom he was rebelling against. But God, being great in mercy and faithful to His promises yet provided through another miracle.

Lessons include:

1. We should trust God in the everyday details of life.
2. We must walk by faith, not by sight.
3. The resources of our God are always adequate.
4. The wicked blame the righteous for their adversity.
5. Faith believes what it cannot see, what it does not understand.
6. Unbelief cannot experience the blessings of God.
7. God's word always comes to pass.