Strong Statements

If one looks at major miracles recorded in the Bible, Elisha is arguably the most active prophet without his own biblical book. In 2 Kings 6 - 7 he makes an axe float, reveals a fiery army of the Lord to his servant, and gives the enemy's war secrets to Israel's king without ever speaking with the enemy or leaving his home! In chapter seven he makes a very bold statement, indicating the end of a famine that will leave Samaria with plenty before the end of a 24-hour period. Of course, the king's servant doesn't believe that and makes another bold statement: "That couldn't happen even if the Lord opened the heavens!"

It seems to me that if Elisha, who performed the Lord's miracles and was never wrong, declared the end of a famine, one should believe him. I won't criticise the king's servant too harshly because I've been known to focus too much on what I see physically before. However, we can't miss the strongest statement of all here - the Lord's statement.

The king's servant had good (earthly) reason not to believe Elisha. The Arameans had laid siege to Samaria, blocking off the city from its food source. Things were so severe that people were eating their own children! The Arameans camped outside Samaria day after day, awaiting the time when the Israelites all starved to death or rushed from the city to be killed in desperation. There was no escape at all. A harvest to cure that type of famine may take a couple of years!

The Lord promised what He promised, though, and Elisha was determined that God was right. He told the doubting servant, "You won't eat of the food God will provide." God's statement had been made, but it only got stronger. That night, the same invisble fiery army of the Lord rushed through the Aramean camp, causing them all to flee in fear and to leave behind an enormous plunder (found, ironically enough, by unclean lepers instead of soldiers). The people came and took the plunder the next day. There was so much food that the famine was indeed over!

As for the doubting servant? He was trampled to death by the mob of people who rushed out of the city gate at the report of so much food.

(On a side note: It's interesting to me that the Lord didn't kill the Aramean army, but he let this doubter die. His mercy extended even to those who fought against His people, but the faithless servant lived no longer. Food for thought....)