2 Kings-11
Resurrecting Hope: A Devotional Study on 2 Kings 11
Introduction
2 Kings 11 shines the spotlight on a clay jug that was once filled with oil, gone empty, and has now been transformed into a marvel of divine intervention. The story of Elijah's prophetic ministry and Ahab's wicked reign is one that interweaves darkness and despair with hope and transformation. As we delve into 2 Kings 11, let's explore the profound truths and spiritual insights embedded in this underrated passage.
Section 1: The Setting
The scene in 2 Kings 11 is set during the reign of Ahab, the seventh king of Israel. Ahab's wickedness had reached an all-time high. His wife, Jezebel, worshipped Baal, the Canaanite god of storm and fertility. Her influence had turned the people away from the Lord, and Elijah's prophetic ministry was on the line.
Section 2: The Burnout
Elijah had been running for his life, and the prophet had reached his burnout point. Elijah's burnout came at a crucial juncture in this chapter. He was quenched, tired, and fatigued by years of ministry and persecution. Elijah's despair is evident in his outburst in verse 14, “What have I done wrong, what is my sin? ... You are seeking my life to take it away.”
Section 3: The Divine Intervention
Elijah's burnout was soon replaced by a divine intervention. The story of Elijah's encounter with a widow falls under this section. The widow, who was “greatly in debt” to Ahab's administration, had exhausted herself in trying to provide for her family. She had never known a feast day, and yet, she believed the Lord (see verses 12-14). Her obedient faith in God's provision changed her barren circumstance.
In the same vein, Elijah's situation could not have been more barren. But, Elijah too decided to believe God for provision. He asked the widow to gather sticks, and the Lord performed another miracle. After 36 years of drought, the Lord answered Elijah's prayer as the snow and rain fell (see verses 15-17).
Section 4: The Hope
Elijah's resurrected hope presented a new vista to the widow. From a barren circumstance, such as her empty clay jug, hope transformed an unproductive and lifeless circumstance into a fruitful and productive circumstance. The divine intervention of God's provision gave the widow enough flour and oil for a year.
The hope that the Lord resurrected in the widow and Elijah presented a cause for celebration and reflection. The deeper message in 2 Kings 11 is that no circumstance is eternal or beyond redemption. God's divine intervention can bring out the best in the most barren and lifeless circumstances.
Section 5: The Application
The resounding message of 2 Kings 11 is for us. Despite the darkness that plagues our world, our burnouts, and our despaired circumstances, the Lord's provision can give us hope. When we believe God, and act in obedience to His leading, we can expect the miraculous to jostle our lives.
The Lord's provision during Elijah and the widow's circumstances presents a cause for us to celebrate. Elijah's prayer, wherein the widow's circumstance was shifted from hopelessness to fertility, calls us to believe that the Lord's provision can turn even our unproductive circumstances into fruitful ones.
Conclusion:
As we conclude this devotional journey through 2 Kings 11, let's stand in awe of the Lord's divine intervention. No circumstance is beyond His reach. The message in 2 Kings 11 is that the Lord's provision, when we believe in God, can transform lifeless circumstances into miraculous ones. May we carry the hope embedded in the story of Elijah and the widow into our daily lives, that our circumstances might be transformed by the Lord's provision.