23 AUGUST

DOUBTS CAN LEAD TO DESTRUCTION

“The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!”

(2 Kings 7:2)

The famine in Samaria had been very severe, just like the hardship in many parts of the world today. Just as the Israelites were killing and eating their children, we have heard sordid stories in Nigeria about parents selling some of their children to use the money to take care of the other children.

In the verses preceding our text, the king had cried out to the man of God for God’s intervention and Elisha had declared that God’s miraculous intervention would come by the same time the next day. Then, unbelief reared its ruinous head! “By this time tomorrow? Impossible!” declared the personal attendant of the king, in utter disdain. He saw only the hopelessness of the situation. He had no faith in God and doubted His word. He paid with his life, for as Elisha said, he did not live to eat of the food. He was trampled on and died in the ensuing rush.

Thank God for this dispensation of grace when people are not instantly destroyed for disobedience but are given time for repentance. However, shall we continue to take God’s grace for granted? Are we, as leaders, praying with heartfelt cries for God’s intervention in our nation, the way the king did?

God can use anything and anyone to achieve His purpose. The lepers obeyed the voice of God within them and God used them to discover the loot in the enemy camp, which they had abandoned and fled. Just as the Lord said, there was abundance of food in Samaria in 24 hours.

Is God calling you to bring deliverance to someone or your people at this time? 

ACTION: Is there anything you want God to do, or any assignment God is calling you to carry out? Banish your doubts and fears, and trust God to intervene for you.

PRAYER: Lord, please, help me to have faith in your plans and purposes, as well as your miraculous interventions, in my situations.