Windows of Heaven are Opened

O. T. #839  "Windows of Heaven are Opened"
Sept 28, 2016
2 Kings 7
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  Malachi 3:10

LET IT GLOW

Over and over Israel experienced miracles of God's provisions and protection. It was not worthless idols that did such things, but Almighty and Compassionate God. He did it in today's lesson.
When our resources are low and our doubts are high, remember God can open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings beyond our thinking.

Has God blessed you by opening the windows of heaven? They may not be monetary or material blessings, but spiritual ones.

Ben-hadad, king of Syria, sieged the Israeli city of Samaria. His army camped outside the gates, preventing trade. It resulted in a famine in the city, with some resorting to cannibalism and eating the heads of donkeys. When the king of Israel heard what was happening, he blamed Prophet Elisha and sent a messenger to cut off Elisha's head. f course Elisha knew this and hut the door so he could not enter. Then the king came and spoke with Elisha, asking, All this misery is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?

Did King Joram of Israel consider Elisha a puppet to manipulate for his wants?

Elisha shared the Lord's promise of a changed market in Samaria tomorrow-one piece of silver would purchase 5 quarts of flour and 10 quarts of barley. (They had previously paid 80 pieces of silver for a donkey's head for food and a cup of dove's dung for 5 pieces of silver.) Very hard times, wouldn't you agree?

The end of the siege of Samaria was coming the next day. Hang in there king and people, tomorrow is coming. Some how, some way, their Lord God would resolve this problem.
These are words which I need to hear the words. I have been praying for 19 years for a specific thing without any results. Maybe tomorrow it will come. Anyone with me?



LET IT GROW

What happened next? A doubting Thomas was in their midst. An officer of King Jehoram of Israel said to Elisha, That couldn't happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!
Elisha told the man that he would not be able to eat any of the captured food.

Whoa buddy! You don't know our God, Elisha's God, Israel's God, Jehovah and His power. Also, the Lord has these unusual ways of accomplishing His will. Look what happened the next day:

• Four men with leprosy were sitting at the city gates. They reasoned that they had nothing to loose by surrendering to the Syrian army, for death was coming by starvation inside, death by the enemy, or death by the disease. They had nothing to loose to do what they did.
• However, they were surprised when they arrived at the edge of the Syrian camp-no one was there!(At twilight)
• The Lord had caused the Syrians army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and galloping of horses and sounds of a great army approaching.
•  They concluded that the king of Israel had hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack them. So they ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.
• The lepers ate and drank to the fullness, carried off gold and silver and clothing, hiding it. Then they realized how selfish they had been. Keeping this good thing to themselves instead of sharing with their community and families in side the famine-stricken Samaria.
• This is a day of good new, and we aren't sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let's go back and tell the people at the palace. This is what they said to each other in verse 9.

So the lepers went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. Then the gatekeepers shouted the news to the people in the palace.

The doubters thought: it was a plot to capture the residents; (by the king) (verse 12)and they should send out scouts to investigate, if they die, not many die. (by king's officers) (verse 13)

What happened next?

• So the scouts for the king followed a trail of clothing and equipment which the Syrian army had left as they fled; then the scouts returned with the news and informed the king of Israel (verses 14-15)
• In the meantime, the Samarians rushed out and plundered the Syrian camp.
• The king appointed an officer to control traffic at the gate, but the rush of people, a riot, trampled him to death. (verse 17a)
• It happened exactly as Elisha had predicted. Prices were lowered and the doubter did not eat any of the food captured. (verse 17b-20)

Please Lord Jesus, give me faith to trust in Your Word completely.

LET IT GO

Ask and wait by faith in God to answer.

Give Him praise and honor when it happens.