“…And the man of God was angry with him, and said, ‘You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it. But now you will strike Syria only three times.” 2 Kings 13:19
During the 6th and 7th centuries before Christ, there were many kings which rose in both the kingdom of Judah and that of Israel. During this time period there were many military conflicts with their enemies, one of which was Syria. Some of these situations are mentioned specifically in Scripture, along with the names of the kings of Judah and Israel, and those of the enemies of Israel. In this ever shifting of wars and conflicts, the rise of good and bad kings, and their reigns, the hand of God is revealed to us. This is primarily seen in His dealings through His prophets of that time, in particular Elijah and Elisha. God was always seeking through these men, and other men of God, to call the nations of Judah and Israel back to Himself. Judah would respond to some extent, but in Israel, the northern kingdom, faith would become very thin, and weak. It would be on the occasion of the sickness that would lead to Elisha’s death, that the king of Israel, Joash would come and weep over him, lamenting not only Elisha’s soon to arrive death, but the situation with respect to Israel’s enemies, the Syrians. It is at this moment that God through Elisha sought to awaken in the heart of the king a victorious faith, one based solely upon the word of God, as communicated to him by Elisha.
Elisha would tell the king to take a bow and some arrows. After putting his hand on the bow, Elisha put his hand on the king’s hands. Then came the Lord’s word from Elisha to the king: “Open the east window…,” and “Shoot.” The promise of God that accompanied this action was, “…The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” (2 Kings:13:16,17) Elisha would then instruct the king to take the arrows and strike the ground,” however, he only struck the ground three times and stopped, knowing full well what this meant. Elisha was angry with the king because, in light of the king’s knowledge of God, and God’s calling and blessing upon Elisha as a man of God and truth, the king would not believe God for the full victory over their enemies. The king by his unbelief would only have a partial victory, missing his opportunity to believe God and see the glory of God.
Why is this story important to the believer today? First and foremost, it must be understood that though we do not stand this day before the prophets of old, we do stand before the same God of these men of God, the God of Judah and Israel, who was seeking to show forth His glory, ever seeking to find someone who would trust and obey Him.
Secondly, this is the same God who declared to His people through the Psalmist, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth WIDE and I will fill it.” (Ps. 81:10) Through another Psalm, God would reveal, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Ps. 84:11) This God, who through the prophets and psalmists gives such knowledge of the truth, spoke through the Apostle Paul, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19) The Christian and disciple of Christ has been placed in living union with Christ at the new birth. IN CHRIST he or she is complete, accepted in the Beloved before the Father, and blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. Is it not right that we should trust God for His fulness for His glory?
Dear Father, Grant us Thy fulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.