lostnfoundiam

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Elisha’s close call

Elisha’s closecall

2 Kings 6:24-2Kings 7:20

The events of this passage record a siege of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom  Israel, by Ben Hadad of Aram.  They have bottled up Israel's army and prominent citizens and in   our passage, food is running out.

S read 2 Kings 6:24-26

Q Who is this king of the northern kingdom?

A Joram, King Ahab’s No 2 son.

S read 2 Kings 1:17

S read 2 Kings 3:1-3

Q Did Joram tear down the temple of Baal in Samaria erected by his father?

A No.

Back to the narrative.

S read 2 Kings 6:27

Q What God was Joram referring to?

A God of the golden calves set up by former King Jeroboam.

S read 1 kings 12:25-27

S read 1 Kings 12:28-30

Remember 2 Kings 3:3, that we previously read, that Joram worshipped there too.

S read 2 Kings 6:28-29

S read 2 Kings 6:30-33

Q Why had the King decided to punish Elisha for the women's cannibalism?

A Elisha in his duty as a prophet told the King and the nation that Cannibalism is one of the divine punishments of idolatry.

A prophet spoke the word of God as given to him

S read Deuteronomy 18:18-20

S read Ezekiel 2:3-5

The end of verse 5 is also important, a prophet lives by the word of God and distinguishes himself from those who rebel from God. Just as others should know you are a believer by your actions, a prophet should be known this way too. 

He/She should warn of coming Holy and Righteous judgement.

S read Ezekiel 3:17-21

The word of the Lord Elisha shared with the nation of Israel must have put a little fear in King Joram

S read Deuteronomy 28:52-54

S read Deuteronomy 28:55-57

Q Did these Prophecies cause King Joram to turn from the golden calves or shut down the temple of Baal?

A No.

The King didn't understand or didn’t want to understand that he previously could have repented and turned his nation away from these idolatries and prevented the horrors.  Elisha was just explaining the curse upon them because they practiced idolatry.  Israel, the northern jewish country had broken their covenant with God.

God would show grace to them by delivering them with a miracle.

S read 2 Kings 7:1

Elisha prophecies that food would be plentiful and affordable in a day.

S read 2 Kings 7:2

The Kings “right hand man”, probably Captan of his personal guard calls the prophecy nonsense.

S read 2 Kings 7:3-4

Notice there are 4 lepers.

Q Who in 2 kings 5 caught Leprosy because of his greed?

A Ghazi, Elisha’s servant.

Pastor Dr Tony Evans believes Ghazi is in this group of lepers.

S read 2 Kings 7:5-7

Q Did God take the noise of 4 shambling, sick men and ampliphy them into a mighty army?

Q 4 lepers transformed into the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse? 

S read Kings 7:8-9

The lepers are like a man finding a lost wallet full of money.  The money needs to be returned to or attempted to be returned to its owner even if that person doesn’t need it or doesn’t deserve it.  Dr Evans theorizes Ghazi is the leper who is overcome with honesty and care for fellow man starving in the city.

S read 2 Kings 7:10-12

S read 2 Kings 7:13-15

S read 2 Kings 7:16-17

S read 2 kings 7:18-20

Don’t stand in front of hungry people. When Elisha spoke the word of God he meant it and didn’t dispense grace as God does.Note in 2 Kings 8:4 Gehazi is talking to King Joram, a impossibility for leper, unless his disease was lifted by a graceful God who had just saved Samaria.

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First Baptist Church of East Moline

2352 7th St

East Moline Il 61244-2801