READ: 2 Kings 7-8
Verses
chosen for meditation: 2 Kings 7:8-9
8 And when these lepers
came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they
carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came
back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid
them.
9 Then they said to one
another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are
silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now
therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.”
REFLECT
In
this chapter, the food shortage was so bad that people resorted to cannibalism
of their own children and consuming dung. Inflation was off the charts, with
necessities ridiculously priced (A portion of dove’s dung costs 5 shekels of
silver!). In such a hopeless time, God’s promise of deliverance came, via
Elisha: “Tomorrow”, things will be back to normal, with plenty of food at
regular prices (2 Kings 7:1).
Hearers
of this message could hardly believe the words, as there was no indication with
what’s going on around them, that such a thing was possible. Even Elisha knew
little how this miracle would come to pass. However, faith is “the conviction
of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Through this time, the siege (also the
cause of the famine) from the Syrian army was ongoing. One night, God caused
the Syrian army to hear things that weren’t there, that they fled their camp in
fear and in such haste that they left all their resources behind (even their
horses and donkeys).
Meanwhile,
in came four lepers. They were forced to stay out of the city walls due to
their disease. Their situation was so dire that they would rather risk being at
the mercy of the Syrian army for a small chance of survival. Hence, they went
to the camp, only to find it abandoned. So, they enjoyed themselves, eating,
drinking and even hid some of the loot. Conscience-stricken, they then realised
they should not hog these, and should share the good news with others, so that
they may not starve. Not being able to enter the city, their method of
communication was primitive, though effective, which was basically shouting
across the gates. This human chain of shouting the good news led to the royal
palace. The people eventually plundered the camp, and God’s good news
concerning food availability and prices was fulfilled (2 Kings 7:16).
It's
heartwarming to know that even in the bigger agenda of God exercising judgement
on the whole dynasty, his compassion for the poor shows in his methods, and his
reliability backed by the fulfilment of his words. In this case, he allowed
four lepers to enjoy blessings they never had, and made use of the same lepers,
the most unqualified of them all by society’s standards, to fulfil his will.
RELATE
What
happened to the lepers provides a good picture of us as recipients of God’s grace
and salvation, then seeing the need to spread this good news to those still in
the dark. The fact that the lepers being first to experience the ‘good news’
shows that God’s love is so wide that it covers all, and that the least esteemed
is being looked after, and can be empowered to be a bridge to the salvation of
others. This is encouraging, especially for those who may feel unworthy and
undeserving of God’s love only to find in accounts like these, that we are all
precious in God’s eyes.
I
recently shared an account of women and children being sold off to a life of
prostitution, the vile atrocities they suffered and how they felt filthy and
unloved. In their misery, they found Jesus and learnt of grace which covers
even them. They were then powered by the desire to share about Jesus to fellow
sufferers in the sex trade, so that others know of this hope in a broken world,
that can be found in Jesus.
When
it comes to evangelism, many of us feel fear and inadequacy. Granted, I
have the same fears, often giving the excuse that I do not have the
evangelistic gift like some others do. Yet the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is not just a call from Jesus to his disciples, but to all
Christians. We are all equipped by the Spirit to share the good news. Along the
way, as part of learning “how to do church”, we come out with things like spiritual
gifts tests and aligning people to their gifts. They are useful, yes, yet if
not utilised appropriately, we can be limited by the results of these exercises
and think only to serve God in areas we are comfortable in. So, if I don’t get
assigned evangelism as one of my top 5 spiritual gifts, do I then not have a
duty to minister in that way? The lepers and prostitutes would likely fail in
the evangelism category of any spiritual gifting test, yet with God’s power,
they became the most effective spreader of good news.
I
still do not have the courage to just go out there to share. We are to manage
such things carefully and with sensitivity also. As I was thinking how to
overcome this fear and in what situations I can spread the good news, I was
reminded of 1 Peter 3:15, which urges us to be prepared, such that when people
see the hope that Christians have in adversity, they’ll be curious and start
asking. At that point, are we ready to make a case for faith in Christ? I
believe many are like me, feeling no natural tendency for evangelism, coupled
with social anxieties and fear over lack of knowledge. For those identifying
with similar barriers, can we at least get ourselves prepared for such a time when
people ask, so we can respond rather than escape? We may not be proactive
(yet), but God may send people to us. When I saw how I could share the good
news this way, praying and waiting for the day some of my close friends or family open up
and ask about my faith, I was also more motivated to learn God’s word so that I
can respond better.
Learning
from the lepers and prostitutes, they did not let such barriers stop them. Let’s
not leave sharing of the good news only to pastors or knowledgeable experts.
Let’s own our faith, be steeped in the word, and be ready to make a case for
Christ.
REST
Father, thank you for your love and always looking
out for even the lowest of us. Thank you for Jesus, in offering us salvation
through his ultimate grace act. May the Spirit empower and give us courage to
share this good news of Jesus’ grace, so that others may come to know you and
be saved. In Jesus’ name I pray of this, Amen.
Chris
Chong
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