Shoulder To Shoulder #1276 -- 1/31/22 ---- "Facing The Future With Fortitude (part Three -- See with Clarity, not Confusion)
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is a weekly letter of encouragement Bob has written since 1997, covering many topics selected to
motivate people to be strong students of the Word and courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a personal letter of
encouragement to you, written solely to help "lift up hands that hang down".
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." -- Albert Einstein
“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have -- a cheap Christianity which offends nobody,
and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, -- and is worth nothing.” – J. C. Ryle
Shoulder To Shoulder #1275 -- 1/24/22
Title: "Facing The Future With Fortitude (part Three -- See with Clarity, not Confusion)
My dear Friend and Fellow Kingdom Seeker:
Before we proceed, I want to ask that you pray for the situation in Ukraine. We have many friends both in Ukraine and in Russia. Some are expats who work there or Ukrainians who live there. We are trying to keep abreast of all the news, but sometimes it is difficult -- and sometimes we simply forget. But, here are the names -- an occasionally websites -- to some. Please pray for them, and check some of their ministries out if you will. It is a very serious situation just now.
> Audra and Oleg Vrzheshch. They are with Campus Crusade (now CRU). We met around 2006 and receive their update letters. For the latest, go to https://mailchi.mp/b634ddd30887/resolution-6015746?e=33743dde2d. Audra is American, Oleg is Ukrainian.
> Paul and Nastia Logan. Paul is American, Nastia is Ukrainian. Paul was the first person to welcome us to Ukraine in 2003. He is founder and director of Arise Ukraine, one of the most effective ministries for Christ in the country. Check it out at https://ariseukr.com/.
> Michael and Iryna Iurchuk. -- Michael (his adopted official Ukrainian name) is from the Middle East and Ira is Ukrainian. They head up the largest Farsi social media ministry in the world. I had the great honor of baptizing him and also performing their wedding ceremony. They now live in western Ukraine. If you would like more information, e-mail me at [email protected] and I will send you contact information. Part of their team is also in Kyiv, in Turkey, and in Germany. They run over 760,000 visits a month on social media outlets. Hundreds have come to Christ, new churches have been planted, and thousands of Bibles and Christian books have been printed and distributed. They also have a major translating service that translates into many, many languages.
> Joel and Irena Colon. -- Joel is American and Ira is Ukrainian. She was my translator when I taught at St. James Bible College. Joel helped us start the Spanish church in Kyiv. Together they speak in churches, hold training seminars, and direct a missionary and evangelist training center sending young men and women all across the former USSR to share the Gospel and plant churches. They also have a coffee and flower shop used as an outreach to people in their part of their city. Jo Ann and I encourage people to support their ministry through prayer and giving. E-mail me if you would like contact information.
> Charles and Ira Bell. Charles was part of the first church I pastored in Kyiv. He is American and Ira is Ukrainian, but both with dual citizenship. Charles teaches at Kyiv Christian Academy, a K-12 school with around 150 expat and international students. Ira currently has COVID, so their plans for possible evacuation are up in the air. You can learn about the school at https://kca.org.ua/. I can also give you Charles' contact information if you would like it.
I could also mention Christian counselors Dennis and Lydia Bowen who were part of our second church and helped establish a network of professional Christian counselors -- or Steve and Kristi Weber who directed the CBN studios in Kyiv and was instrumental in our Farsi ministry being broadcast on satellite television -- or Dan and Laurie Upchurch who direct a seminary in western Ukraine -- and dozens more ministries. And that doesn't count our friends, Oles, Helen, Ludmila, Zhenia, Mani, Daniel, etc. We simply cannot keep track of them all. PLEASE PRAY FOR UKRAINE!
Now, on to other things:
Here we are on the final day of January, and my mind is still trying to decide whether or not we truly celebrated Thanksgiving! This past Saturday Jo Ann and I celebrated our 63rd wedding anniversary. Where, o where, have all these years gone!!!! It has been 22 years since my Mother died, but I can still hear her say, "The more and more I do, the behinder and behinder I get." Perhaps that's your story, as well.
Yesterday was another wonderful day in the House of the Lord. While we haven't come close to the 200 mark this year -- what with so many of our folks still not back in town or not returning at all, we still had the highest attendance of the season, down just three from the previous Sunday. But, the worship time was wonderful, the praise team members were all back, we had first timers again, and God spoke succinctly from His Word. AND, -- our sound system didn't act up! It was a good day, God did some good things, and He remains a good God.
I was also encouraged last week by a longtime friend who served as my associate many years ago in Wisconsin. He thanked me for my "conversational" style of writing that he said made biblical truth to be more practical and relevant. He preferred it more than my "lecture" style of the preaching under which he sat "way back when". He ended with that all-too-familiar, "LOL". So, I did -- I Laughed Out Loud. But, I wondered, -- hmmmm . . . . . .
One of the greatest things to ever happen in my life took place 23,014 days ago, January 29th, 1959, when Jo Ann and I stood before our respective fathers and God and pledged ourselves to each other, "'til death do us part".
Easy? No. Awesome? Absolutely!!!. Our journey has taken us to 40 states and over 30 countries, has given us four wonderful daughters (and their hubbies), twelve awesome grandchildren, and 18 (we think) great grandchildren. Jo Ann's beauty has never changed, her love has never faltered, and her witness has never diminished. I used to wonder about people who said they loved their spouse more than they did the day they got married.
Now I understand -- and, yes, I do!
In today's letter I want to follow up on the second of those five principles by which we need to live in light of the "Shaking" about which I wrote two letters ago.
1. Live with Conviction, not compromise.
2. See with Clarity, not confusion.
3. Act with Courage, not tentativeness or fear.
4. Live with Consistency, not contradiction.
5. Minister with Compassion, not callousness.
Even though I've just barely started putting my thoughts together, I am overwhelmed by the avalanche of scriptures flooding my mind on the topic of vision -- of seeing things as they really are, and not just as they appear to be. I propose to you that, if we do not live with conviction, it is not possible to see things with clarity -- to see things the way God sees them.
So, let's plan to tackle that principle right after you consider . . .
THIS 'N' THAT:
+ Pray For Persecuted Christians in China: While there is much debate about whether or not U.S. Olympians should be participating in the 2022 games, one thing is beyond debate -- Christians in China are still being persecuted. Read this account -- https://etools.vomusa.org/a/vombm/viewasweb/vom_bulk_email_202201_26_web.html.
+ Free COVID Home Test Kits: If you have not heard yet, free COVID home test kits are available for U.S. citizens. Go to https://www.covidtests.gov/ to request four kits.
+ More Archaeological Finds in Shipwreck: Recent archaeological discovers amidst a shipwreck off the coast of ancient Caesarea reveal much information of biblical times, including a "good shepherd" ring and coins engraved with images of "the good shepherd" and harps. See https://patternsofevidence.com/2022/01/28/ancient-shipwreck-with-good-shepherd-ring-found/?utm_campaign=Thinker%20Update-%20Ancient%20Shipwreck%20with%20%E2%80%9CGood%20Shepherd%E2%80%9D%20Ring%20Found%20%28U2xETW%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Email%20List%20-%20120%20day%20engaged&_kx=Es6BOom38-pDLtwNu2YOYsfiLCC3pv6OK4wsYKHbKFU%3D.WEfJdA.
+ Afghanistan Is #1: Afghanistan has replaced North Korea as the most dangerous country in which a Christian can live. After the August 2021 takeover by the Taliban of Afghanistan, the country has overtaken North Korea as the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, according to the annual World Watch List of the NGO Open Doors International, out today. Go to https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2022/01/afghanistan-overtakes-n-korea-as-most-dangerous-place-to-live-as-a-christian/ to read the report in full.
Another report including an interview between David Curry and Tony Perkins is available at https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA22A42&f=WU22A15&utm_medium=email&utm_source=washingtonupdate&utm_campaign=wa22a42 .
+ Ukraine -- Continue Praying: There is an abundance of pontificating and opining regarding whether or not Russia will invade Ukraine, and what the reason really is. Some of it is absurd. However, there is clearly a real danger. If Russia invaded once (which they did), then they can do it again -- especially if there is little or no threat of repercussions outside of Ukraine. A week ago I received this note from my missionary friend, PL. Please read it and pray.
Good morning,
You are aware of the events taking place around Ukraine at the moment. Yesterday morning, as I read from II Chronicles 20. I was amazed at the similarities of the current situation here: four verses in particular...
"A great multitude is coming against you..." (vs. 2)
"Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah..." (v. 3)
"'O our God...we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.'" (vs. 12)
"..Thus says the Lord to you, 'Fear not, and be not dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's.'" (v. 15)
We ask you to join us in prayer today that the "battle (will be) God's"....that there will be no invasion...and, by His Spirit, the two countries will live in peace and mutual blessing in the days and years ahead. Thank you very much!
In Jesus' love,
PL, NL, and team
+ Baptists in Western Ukraine Prepare To Help: According to the President of Kyiv Theological Seminary, the Baptists in western Ukraine are making preparation to receive their brothers and sisters in eastern Ukraine if Russia invades. Go to https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/ukraine-baptists-prepare-for-possible-russian-invasion/?fbclid=IwAR13QlDqw5_4I1MKGlHM-BwkIHH7T-gguUCE35xeGUp-pnbYHYZMPzPYH4k.
QUOTES FOR THE WEEK:
> "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." -- Ezra the prophet (Psalm 119:18)
> "Clarity of thought is needed to avoid confusion, in decision making, in cherishing beautiful moments, in avoiding crisis." -- Unknown
> ""Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves." -- Blaise Pascal
> "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.: -- Ezra the prophet (Psalm 119:105)
> "There is a thin line between clarity and confusion. Once you can identify that loop point, our thoughts start to flow in a perfect direction." -- Anon
> And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -- Jesus (John 8:32)
> "To fear the Lord is to see him for who he truly is, and live life differently as a result." -- #WisdomHunters
> "Decluttering of the mind is the first step to gain clarity. Decluttering is removing what you don't need in your life. . . . People in this world go through an emotional roller-coaster sometime or other. Clarity of thoughts helps to achieve stability in life and helps in risk-taking decisions." -- Author Unknown
MORE THAN THE EYE CAN SEE: -- "open his eyes that he might see":
Already I find that this topic is far more than I can ever cover adequately, even if I wrote about it daily for a year or more. There is so much more than meets the eye. When I started considering this topic last week, two stories from the Old Testament immediately came to mind -- Isaiah and his experience in the temple (Isa 6),
and Elisha and his encounter with the Syrian army with his servant (II Kings 6 and 7).In both cases, there were things behind the scenes -- better yet, beyond the clouds -- that both Isaiah and Elisha's servant needed to see. For now, at least, consider the experience with Elisha, his servant, and the Syrian army Though the story is a bit long, it is important that we read at least the first part in chapter six:
8. Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, "In such and such a place shall be my camp."
9. The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there." 10. The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice.
11. Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12. One of his servants said, "No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
13. So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him." And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan."
14. He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15. Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
16. So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
17. Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18. When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19. Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he brought them to Samaria.
2Ki 6:20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21. Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?" 22. He answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."
23. So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
As we continue looking at those five principles I said are essential if we are to face the current and oncoming "shaking", we need to "See With Clarity, NOT Confusion". To do that, we must . . .
UNDERSTAND YOUR ENEMY: -- "The King of Aram":
+ The King: -- One of the first things that comes to my mind as I read this story, is about the head of the invasion -- "the king of Aram". So, just who is Aram? Later, in verse 24, he is actually identified by name -- "Ben-Hadad". "Ben" is the Hebrew word for "son of". In other words, that particular king was the son of someone named "Hadad". The word, "Hadad" by itself is translated as "fierce". So, the self-proclaimed "Ben-Hadad" was known as "The son of [someone who was very] fierce".
It may surprise you that "Hadad" actually doesn't refer to a human being, but rather to one of the gods of the Arameans -- namely, the god of storm and thunder. "Hadad", it turns out, was, as a matter of fact, the primary god of the Arameans. If you look at an ancient map, you will find that this is part of the larger territory where the Garden of Eden is reported to have been, and the area from which Abraham (then Abram) and his family came when they migrated some 5,000 miles to the land God then promised to him and his descendants.
+ The Real Cause: -- Whatever we can learn, then, from this experience with Elisha and his servant, is that he was dealing with a man who saw himself as the embodiment of the Aramean pagan god of "storm and thunder" -- that is, a god of fierce and violent destruction. We can also safely conclude that, just as in Elisha's day, most battles in the human sphere that can be seen with the naked eye are actually being choreographed in the hidden spiritual world of idolatry, pagan gods, and demonic forces under the overriding control of Satan himself. I don't know of a single human struggle -- whether personal, corporate, national, or international in scope -- that is not being influenced in some way by elements of the spiritual world.
If you do not understand that, then when you go through the "shakings" that impact your life, you are likely to turn to mere human resources and solutions for your victory. And, you will not find it there. If you are to fight battles that originate in the spiritual realm, you must of necessity go to the spiritual realm for your victor. And, He is there. Truly, as in Elisha's day,
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
+ The Arameans -- That, then, brings us to the Arameans themselves. Just who are the Arameans? The Hebrew people had quite a long history of conflict with them. They were an ancient Semitic tribal coalition that lived in the region of Aram. The territory included northeastern Israel, present-day Syria, and western Iraq along the Euphrates River eastward to the Tigris River. Their native language was Aramaic. This coalition included numerous tribes and were a dominant force in the 11th to 8th Centuries BC. They lived in "high country", and the root meaning of the word "Aram" is "heights". Much of what we know as "The Fertile Crescent" was included in the lands of the Arameans.
The root name, Aram, was nonetheless a real person after whom his descendants took his name. According to Gen 10:22, he was the fifth son of Shem, making him one of Noah's grandsons. However, in Gen 22:21 he is identified as the "son of Kemuel" and the grandson of Nahor. It is likely that this may be a different Aram, or it may be that the common practice of skipping ancestors for the sake of brevity came into play here. It was also the name of an Israelite in other scriptures.
The oldest city of the Arameans was Aram-naharaim. Naharaim means, "the land within the bend of the [Euphrates] River" ( Gen 24:10). Padanaram (Padan-Aram) is mentioned multiple times in Genesis. Strong's Concordance defines it as, "Field, a plateau, table land of Aram". It was the region in which the cities of Rezeph, Carcamesh and Haran were located. Haran is where Abram went after he left Ur at age 70.
It was also the hometown of Isaac's wife, Rebekah, daughter to Bethuel of Padanaram IGen 24:10; 25:20). Jacob’s father-in-law, Laban, was an Aramean (Gen 31:10). In fact, in Deut 26:5 the Bible called Jacob “a wandering Aramean” because his mother and grandfather were both Arameans. In the KJV, most of the time the Arameans are referred to as "the Syrians" and the land itself as "Assyria". So, when you see the word "Assyria" in the Bible, it's referring to Aramea or some portion of it. Therefore, due to Abraham's move from there to Canaan, there was both a historical and genealogical link to the Hebrew people.
+ Connecting The Dots" -- Are you putting any pieces together yet? Are you connecting the dots? It is important to understand the connection between the present and the past if you are to arm yourself for the future. The Arameans are people from the ancient world of the Mesopotamian culture. For the most part they lived between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers as I mentioned earlier. Nimrod, the great grandson to Noah through Cush (his father) and Ham (his grandfather), was the founder of Babylon, Nineveh, and numerous other cities. He was a God hater and a "headhunter" who recruited powerful second-in-command men to follow him and carry out his agenda of being all-powerful.
It isn't that Ben-Hadad -- at least this one who was probably Ben-Hadad II or Ben-Hadad III -- and Nimrod actually knew each other, but he certainly came out of that entire culture that practiced idolatry, God-hating, war, violence, and human slavery in the sense that they forced obedience and conformity upon whatever surrounding culture they dominated. As I have repeatedly stated, I believe that the description in Genesis 11 of the construction of Babylon (later known as Babel) is the first example of what today would be called Socialism or Marxism.
That culture back then is much like our world today in many places -- a country ruled by one or more tyrants, being forced into conformity to the system and the "sameness" of uniformity, and all held together and fueled by the "mortar" of godless materialism. Look at the text in Genesis 11 again: --
1. Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3. They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4. They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
Remember my earlier commentaries on this ----
Do something -- "...let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly"
Have something -- "...let us build for ourselves a city and a tower..."
Be somebody -- "...make a name for ourselves..."
The text goes on to tell us they agreed to do it (conformity), they used bricks (uniformity), and they used bitumen (petroleum/oil/tar) for mortar ( = "matter" = "material" = "materialism") to hold it all together. It sure sounds like Socialism to me -- a dictator setting and enforcing the social order through underlings, demanding conformity and uniformity, using a form of slavery to keep everyone in line, and making certain everyone is equal through equity of economics that necessitates "taking from the rich and giving to the poor". Does this sound at all a little familiar to you? -- maybe a little too familiar?
So, in that history does tend to repeat itself, we find that the philosophy of Nimrod raised its ugly head among the Hebrews when the Arameans were faced by Elisha and his servant -- and what we face in our world today. That was the enemy of Elisha's day, and it appears that it is ours today.
The concept of Ben-Hadad had actually shown its ugly head many times before Elisha confronted it. Abraham came out of it in Ur and Haran, its agenda spread to other places like Egypt, Moses led Abraham's descendants out of it in Egypt, and the Israelites constantly fought it in their own land for centuries. The end result was that when it spread to Rome, it then overwhelmed the Jewish people through the Roman Empire -- and the Jewish people were again taken away captive to foreign lands, never again to return for nearly 2,000 years. When Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD, Israel was a "stranger in a foreign land" -- that is until 1948.
The similarities between then and now are sobering -- stunning -- and highly alarming. This is why it is so important that you understand your enemy. What we are facing today -- not just the United States, but almost all free nations -- is the repetition of Ben-Hadad's repeated attacks. Only this time, it is global, and not just one country. Ben-Hadad has showed up here -- and there -- and there -- and . . . .
Now that we know a bit about Aram (Ben-Hadad), you need to . . .
UNDERSTAND YOUR ENGAGEMENT: -- "was warring":
This is such a little phrase, but it tells us something important -- "was warring". This tells me two things, as also does the historical record -- both biblical and secular. First, it was a current event; and second, it was an ongoing condition. This was both an immediate situation, but also an extended environment that was not new to Israel. They had been here before. For example, . . .
Throughout its history Israel has been caught between three major adversarial forces -- the Philistines to the west, the Moabites and Ammonites to the south and immediate east, and the Arameans to the northeast and distant east. Today these are now all Arab nations -- and most are still in adversarial relationships to the Israel of today.
As you surely must know, I love ancient history and often succumb to the temptation to bore others with what I find. In this case, I'll try to provide just a brief sketch.
> During King David's reign, the Arameans overran the inhabitants of the Orontes valley, which is the west central area of Aramean land, and settled as far south as Damascus and Beth-Rehob on the southern edge of Mt. Hermon (II Sam 8:3–8; 10:6–19). Mt. Hermon is in far northern Israel, just over 90 miles from Jerusalem.
> During the period of the prophet Samuel, King David defeated them, and they were forced to pay tribute to him (II Sam 8:5–6). Later the Arameans made a coalition with the Ammonites to attack Israel (II Sam 10), the Israelites overcame them again. The Ammonites lived in what is today Jordan east of the Jordan River and south of the Aramean territory.
> During Solomon's golden age when he was at his peak of power, his kingdom ruled all the neighboring kingdoms, including the Arameans and the land of the Philistines to the west, even as far as the border of Egypt. All of them were subdued and brought tribute to him (I Kings 4:21).
> However, under the wicked and idolatrous reign of King Ahab, things changed. Because Israel turned away from God, the kingdom was divided, and the Lord repeatedly used the Arameans to bring judgment on Israel. When Ahab -- clearly the most wicked king in all of Israel's history -- married Jezebel, he became the first Israelite king in the Bible who allied himself to heathenism through marriage.
Jezebel was a pagan princess of a man from Tyre named Eth-baal, who was a priest of the god Astarte (also called by the name Eastre). The impact on Israel by Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, was horrific. Their hatred for God was so intense that even the prophet Elijah fled in fear following the humiliation of the prophets of Baal by calling down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel (I Kings 18 and 19). Following Elijah's flight and restoration, one of his protege's, Elisha, succeeded him and then had to contend with Ahab and his idolatry. This led to the time of our story here.
Ahab asked the prophet Micaiah whether or not he should go against Ben-Hadad and his Aramean hordes. Contrary to Ahab's many other so-called prophets who told him to go ahead and attack, Micaiah said he would merely tell Ahab what God would tell him to report. Micaiah then said that if Ahab attacked, he would be utterly defeated, and he would be killed. In a rage because Micaiah had told Ahab that demonic powers had influenced all of his prophets to say complimentary things to him, and because Micaiah prophesied that Ahab would lose and would be killed, Ahab had him imprisoned.
But, it happened just as Micaiah had prophesied. Ahab eventually lost the war against the Arameans (Syrians) he died exactly as the prophet Micaiah had predicted, and as Elijah had predicted earlier. This drama is spelled out in detail in II Chron 18 and is fascinating reading.
Yet, because of Israel's ongoing apostasy and rebellion against the laws of God, God withdrew His protective hand and her enemies continually afflicted and oppressed the nation. In the occasion we are examining here, we see that the Arameans invaded Israel (II Kings 6:8) and laid a siege on its main city – Samaria (II Kings 6:24).
Elisha went on to prophesy that the Arameans would slaughter God's people (II Kings 8:12), and just as he had predicted, the Arameans attacked King Joram of Israel (II Kings 8:28) and King Joash of Judah (II Chron 24:23–25), wounding both kings. Finally, the Arameans joined the Chaldeans, the Moabites and the Ammonites to bring about the collapse of Jerusalem (II Kings 24:2).
Today the offspring of the Arameans continue to do battle with Israel, surrounded today as they were then -- the Arameans to the north, the Ammonites to the east, the Moabites to the south, the Philistines within their land, -- and the sea to the west. And they also war against all who revere and support God's people.
But, more importantly behind the scenes hidden in the clouds and the orbs of planets, there is an army that is still "warring" with Christians and with all nations. It has not changed -- and will not change until Christ's return. One century may lead to another, one political system may be replaced by another, and one nation may be followed by another, but the lesson is simple:
Our battle is an ongoing one, and just as God did some shaking on Israel because of her idolatry and disregard for God and His laws, He will continue to shake us. As the writer of Hebrews unequivocally declared, . . .
12:26. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." 27. This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29. for our God is a consuming fire.
But, in the middle of the inevitable, there is still hope. There is still the opportunity for joy in the journey and hope to be found in the hot coals of God's judgment. It is time to . . .
UNDERSTAND THE PROPHET: -- ". . . then Elisha said . . . then Elisha prayed . . ."
Well, you know me and details! My long-held conviction is that one cannot fully benefit from a passage of scripture apart from the background of the occasion and the setting of surrounding scripture. For example, you will never grasp the real impact of John 3:16 unless you consider the man with whom Jesus was having the conversation, and the setting in which Jesus' life-changing statement was made. So it is with Elisha.
Elisha didn't ask for the job of being the successor of such a famous, feared, and revered man as Elijah, but he got it. Elisha was a farmer and grew up in and around Dothan. He was born just a few miles away in Abel-Meholah. Doubtless he probably saw or at least heard about Elijah confronting the priests of Baal. Certainly he would have experienced Ahab's and Jezebel's reign of terror and wickedness.
It is possible that Elisha may have been one of Elijah's protege's, because when Elijah's tunic fell on Elisha, he asked Elijah for double the power and authority that Elijah had (See I Kings 19:19-ff). After Elisha told his family about what happened and prepared a great feast to celebrate, he then followed Elijah who discipled him until God took Elijah into heaven in a chariot of fire.
In similar manner, Elisha then had a group of men whom he mentored. Even the house where Elisha lived in Dothan where this story took place indicates that he discipled and taught others. Instead of being a house with only one entrance and one main room, the one archaeologists believe shows evidence that it was Elisha's home built by his disciples (See II Kings 6:1-7) because it has two main rooms with two entrances.
If you read the biblical record of Elisha's life, it becomes evident that his influence was vast, and was perhaps the most traveled prophet in the entire Old Testament. It covered almost all of Israel from the southern tip beyond Jericho to as far north as Damascus in Syria.
In introducing the life of Elisha, the Jewish Virtual Library website states, "We know next to nothing about Elisha's early life until sometime around the year 856 BC, when he was probably in his twenties. He appears to have come from a wealthy land owning family, if the number of oxen they had for ploughing is anything to go by ( 1 Kings 19:19 ). When the prophet Elijah arrived suddenly his response to his call was immediate."
I wish I had time and space to detail things about Elisha, but instead let me refer you to this website where you will find a quite interesting description of his life, his miracles, and his impact on his culture. Check out -- https://watchjerusalem.co.il/74-elisha-the-prophet-the-legend-the-history. Another excellent source is https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/elisha.
To summarize Elisha's role in this story, at least for now consider . . .
1) His call -- I Kings 19:19-21. It seems that Elijah tested Elisha by simply walking past him, threw his mantle over Elisha, and kept walking. In turn, Elisha knew immediately what had happened, chased Elijah down and told him he was coming. It was a "from a farmer to a prophet" in an instant, and he answered the call.
2) His heart -- II Kings 2:1-15. I try try to imagine what it was like as Elisha clung to Elijah through days of conflict by Ben-Hadad all the way to the moment Elijah readied himself to meet his God. Regardless of all the times Elijah told him to "stay put" and not go with him, Elisha refused. That certainly had to impress Elijah, confirming what God had shown him that day on Elisha's farm. When Elijah asked him what he wanted, he said he wanted a "double portion of your spirit be upon me." (2:9). More than anything in life, Elisha wanted the insight, courage, and staying power that Elijah had, but twice as much.
3) His Insight -- II Kings 5:15-27. Throughout his entire ministry Elisha was given deep spiritual insight that surpassed all human knowledge. He knew things nobody knew -- even when the king tore his own clothing in fear and despair (II Kings 5). His insight was extraordinary into the hearts of people of all kinds -- the widow of Nain, the Shumanite woman, the Syrian commander Naaman, etc. -- even the sin his servant Gehazi committed. Elisha had a pattern of seeing what others did not, could not, and/or would not see.
4) His power in prayer and intercession -- II Kings 6:17-18. Time and time again Elisha sought the presence of God in prayer when confronted by an issue with which he had to deal. He prayed that drought would come, and it did. He prayed that rain would come, and it did. On this occasion he prayed that Gehazi's eyes would be opened to see spiritual reality, and they were. He prayed that Ben-Hadad's eyes wold be blinded, and they were. He then prayed that they would be opened, and they were. The secret to Elisha's effectiveness as a prophet was his personal walk with God in prayer.
5) His consistent persistent steadfastness -- II Kings 2:1-13:20. Throughout his entire life, whether under siege from an enemy, threatened by those who hated him, popularized by those who loved him, whether in times of duress or times of peace, it seems that no prophet in Israel's history was more persistent in his call, consistent in his life, and steadfast in his determination than Elisha.
So, it is no wonder that such a man could see into the spiritual realm of the heavenlies, see what he saw, and then interceded for another that God would let that person see as well. Clearly it wasn't Gahizi's spiritual condition that enabled him to see; It was Elisha's condition. After all, Gehazi struggled with disobedience -- he did precisely what Elisha instructed him not to do; he struggled with honesty because he lied to both Naaman and Elisha; he struggled with unbelief -- he didn't think God would come through; and he battled with fear -- he was convinced the battle was lost even before it had begun.
UNDERSTAND YOUR EYE PROBLEMS: -- "...open his eyes that he may see.":
Most of us are familiar with the various eye diseases that plague us -- being nearsighted, farsighted, astigmatism, macular degeneration, retinopathy, glaucoma, etc. Most of the time we will do whatever is necessary in order to either cure the disease, correct the problem, -- or at least compensate for the condition so we can live normally.
Sadly, we don't do the same with our spiritual vision. When Ben-Hadad showed up at Elisha's hometown, Gehazi was not in the least prepared. But Elisha was. The narrative here is so adrenaline pumping and spine tingling. . . .
Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12. One of his servants said, "No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
13. So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him." And it was told him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14. He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15. Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
16. So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
17. Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."
Ben-Hadad had a pattern of making repeated incursions into Israel trying to defeat Israel's king, but whenever he brought in his forces and set up camp, somehow the king of Israel would find out and would be there with his own army to repel Ben-Hadad. This made Ben-Hadad furious. He insisted that there had to be a "mole" in his ranks who was tipping Israel's king off. But, his underlings told him that it was actually Elisha who was told by God, and Elisha was then notifying the king of Israel. I'm sure Ben-Hadad often scratched his head in wonder over how in the world Elisha from far away could tell where he was -- or where he planned to be.
When Ben-Hadad asked where Elisha was, they told him he was in Dothan, so he and his vast army headed there. During the night he surrounded the city, intent on capturing Elisha. Dothan was located in the hill country of the district of Samaria, about 60 miles north of Jerusalem.
Dothan was an ancient city that archaeologists claim was built around 3,000 BC, and went through centuries of growth, attacks, and rebuilding. It was near the place where Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit and then sold him into slavery to a caravan of Ishmaelites enroute to Egypt. Elisha's disciples had built him a house there -- remember the story of the floating axe head that came off the handle while they were cutting trees? That's the place.
Beginning in 1953 when excavations were first begun by J. P. Free and his wife, multiple layers of civilized occupation and development covering a period of over 3,000 years were subsequently uncovered and categorized into periods of time or "era's". The evidence shows that Dothan began about 5000 years ago (3000 b.c.), and, though destroyed and rebuilt many times, was a thriving town in every main period of Biblical and Near Eastern history from 3000 b.c. through NT times. Even today there is a modern village of about ten houses on the lower slopes of the mound. Details regarding its respective time periods can be found in an article by the man who did much of the excavating himself. Check it out at https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Dothan.
At the time of this story which took place around the middle of the 9th Century BC, Dothan was a thriving metropolis. While we don't know for certain, its history proximity, and events that took place, we can make a fairly good "guesstimate" that it was populated by several thousand people. And, we do know from archaeological digs that there was a sizeable heavily reinforced administrative building, and that the walls surrounding the city were thick and fairly high. We also can know that it was a well-developed city because of those two things, plus it also had a dual sewage system rather than the usual single system. Finally, the fact that Ben-Had brought an enormous military force to surround it tells us it was a significant place. Verse 14 reads, "He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city."
An article on the Biblegateway.com websites described it like this: -- "A heavy city wall surrounded the city in this period, still surviving to a height of sixteen ft. after it was uncovered. It prob. was twenty-five ft. high in Biblical times. It measured eleven ft. thick at the base and nine ft. thick in the upper surviving part."
So, if you were in Dothan that morning and looked out into the plains surrounding the city, it's highly likely you'd have had some eye problems as well. I'm sure I would have -- and would have probably had the same reaction: -- "What shall we do!!!??? What shall we do!!!??? What shall we do!!!???"
That's what happens when we don't see things the same way God does. We are either far sighted into the future and miss the immediate situation at hand, or near-sighted and can't see God's ultimate purpose in our struggle, or we have some kind of astigmatism that distorts our focus. Or, it may be that we have a long term degenerative disease that over time has destroyed our ability to any longer see the center issues, or even have detached spiritual retinas that see absolutely nothing of God's hand in what He is allowing us to face.
UNDERSTAND GOD'S PROMISE: -- "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
Far too often we see only that which is in the physical, material, visible world. The difference between what Elisha and Gehazi initially saw is profound. Gehazi saw things as they appeared to be, but Elisha saw things as they truly were. In trying to close this letter, I want to address two issues ---- God's Unseen Presence, and God's Unconditional Promises. First, . . .
+ Insights into God's Unseen Presence:
There are five things we must remember about our unseen God, especially when we are facing struggles, challenges, and needs that are entirely beyond our control.
> First, God is present, even though unseen. Just because you do not see evidence of God's presence doesn't mean He is not. If you are a Christian, then just because you don't hear Him speak doesn't mean He is not listening attentively and watching deliberately. This assurance is what enables us to live by faith, and not by sight.
The writer of Hebrews stated it well. I love the Amplified Translation here -- "NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." To use an analogy, faith is like night vision equipment that enables us to see, live, and fight in the world of spiritual darkness just as real night vision equipment enable military troops to fight in the dark and to see what would otherwise be unseen.
> Second, God's unseen presence is always spiritual before it is visible -- and even if it is never visible. Whatever else this story
demonstrates, it vividly reminds us that reality is far more than just the physical, and that there's more to reality than the material world that can be perceived with our five senses. There is something going on in a "fourth dimension" type of world that human sensors simply cannot detect apart from faith.
There is a "supra-reality" of the spiritual world. I am always intrigued by how people can believe in spirituality and in the existence and presence of spirits, and yet not detect God's presence in their lives on a daily basis. We are told, again using the Amplified Translation, ""As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving." (Col 2:6-7)
The Bible tells us that God is Spirit. We see His evidence all around us, but we don't see Him physically or visibly. Just because Gehazi couldn't see that God and His own personal army were there absolutely does NOT mean they were nowhere to be found. Just because is nowhere to be seen, that doesn't mean He is nowhere to be found.
The Apostle Paul understood this seeming contradiction of viewing things, and warned the Corinthian Christians of making the same mistake Gehazi made. Rather, he declared, . . .
"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
2Co 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Cor 4:17-18)
I want you to catch the full implication of Paul's statement, so read it again, this time in the Amplified Translation: --
" For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."
> Third, our ability to see the unseen spiritual reality comes only from God, and not from man. You see, Gehazi couldn't see what Elisha saw until God actually opened his eyes to see. That is true for you and me as well. This means that we must make certain our spiritual eyes are healthy and not sleeping, wandering off, or distracted by "things".
God must first open our eyes to the reality of who He is and how we can know Him. Until God saves us, "by grace through faith" (Eph 2:8-9), and we learn to "walk by faith" (II Cor 5:7). just as we had received Him, we will remain spiritually blind and cut off from Him. We have to constantly remember, . . .
""I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).
> Next, God's unseen presence is sovereign and supreme and the source of ultimate security. Think about this ---- while Elisha, Gehazi, and the city of Dothan were surrounded by Ben-Hadad and his Syrian army, Ben-Hadad and his army were actually surrounded by the army of God. And remember, ---- the spiritual is ALWAYS more real than the physical. When God is in control of your life, you are never outnumbered ---- NEVER!!!
Whenever you find yourself in a position when you are depending on human analysis and explanation, when you are depending on the world's assets to resolve the issues you face, or when you are depending on godless resources, do NOT let yourself be trapped into thinking that your ultimate security is ever in anything in this physical, material world. The best it will ever do is offer a limited security that is certain to fail you in some way at some time. Our ultimate security always has been, still is, and always will be in something -- SomeONE -- who cannot fail. God, and God alone is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. He is the only one who is everywhere all the time, knows everything about everything, and is all powerful everywhere all the time.
John reminded His congregation of that, saying, . . .
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (I John 4:4)
-- To Elisha's servant it looked hopeless, and, indeed, from a purely physical, material
perspective it was hopeless. But Elisha never looked at life that way. Elisha always saw the presence of God
in every picture, and Elisha knew that you and God always make a majority.
> Finally, God's unseen presence is revealed to our inner being through His Word and through prayer. In a way, prayer is walking into an enormous library of truth or a classroom where truth is taught and can be learned. When we walk in, we ask whatever is on our minds or is bothering us. Then we sit down and listen as the embodiment to truth explains, instructs, and assures us of what we need to know and understand for the given topic about which we inquired. Prayer is the discussion, and reading God's Word is the learning. In prayer we talk. In the Word we listen.
In this story, Gehazi asked -- no, he implored. He implored in sheer terror, no less. Then Elisha made one simple statement that was Gehazi's moment of education and revelation.
"Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
". . . the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
It was Elisha's prayer that opened Gehazi's eyes so he could see the unseen presence of God. It was prayer that brought blindness to the Syrian army, and it was prayer that brought divine intervention to Dothan, Elisha, and Gehazi. One writer whose name I don't remember wrote, . . .
"It's always prayer that connects us to God's unseen presence. It's always prayer that opens our eyes to behold the marvelous glories of our God. It's always prayer that moves the mighty hand of our God. It's always prayer that makes a way where there is no way. Because that's the way that God has ordained to work."
FINALLY:
This morning as I was finishing this letter, I couldn't help but think about what "Seeing with Clarity, not confusion" is really all about. Gehazi saw, to be sure. But his "seeing" was confused. He wasn't seeing clearly. I was reminded that being able to see and being able to see clearly are different. The difference is clarity.
Two thoughts came to mind -- thoughts I dare only introduce at this point:
First, was James' counsel that if we lacked wisdom, then ask. Solomon, years before Elisha was born, asked God for wisdom so he could rule wisely and justly over Israel. James reminded us of that great gift of wisdom --
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8).
The second thought pertained to an oft-used word in the Bible -- "Behold!" In both Hebrew and Greek, it means "See!" In the NASB the word is used over 1,200 times. But, the thing that caught my attention is that it is often used as a word of "wonder" -- NOT a word about wondering, but rather a word about "WOW!". It's a word that means "LOOK! Look -- and SEE -- and UNDERSTAND -- and be AMAZED.
This, I think, is what it means to see -- to truly see -- to truly see with clarity so that there is no uncertainty or confusion.
In that seeing with clarity and not confusion is essential if we are to "Face the Future with Fortitude", then you and I must be about the business of fine-tuning our spiritual senses -- our spiritual eyesight -- to see those "Wondrous things" that God and God alone can do.
"It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger; Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble; Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars; Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea; Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number." (Job 9:5-10)
The Psalmist wrote similarly, . . .
"O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him." (Ps 98:1)
Then he prays the same prayer for himself that Elisha prayed for Gehazi. . . .
"Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law." (Ps 119:118)
I cannot state strongly enough the severity of the "shaking" that has just begun. I am by no means a fatalist, but I am certainly a person who believes God's Word is true from start to finish, and that we have entered the first stages of a "shaking" that will accomplish absolutely everything the writer of Hebrews stated. "Everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that which cannot be shaken will remain."
"'YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.' This expression, 'Yet once more,' denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:26-29)
That being the case, we must -- absolutely must . . .
1. Live with Conviction, not compromise.
2. See with Clarity, not confusion.
3. Act with Courage, not tentativeness or fear.
4. Live with Consistency, not contradiction.
5. Minister with Compassion, not callousness.
We'll discuss courage next time. Until then, I remain . . .
In His Bond, By His Grace, and for His Kingdom,
Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." -- Dr. Luke (Acts 17:11)
"A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope." -- Charles F. McKoy
Life Unlimited Ministries
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Copyright January, 2022
"If Jesus had preached the same message that many ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified." -- Leonard Ravenhill
"The time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon
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