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Divine reversals
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of the siege of Samaria in the time of Jehoram, son of Ahab and Jezebel (about 852-841 BC). See 2Ki 3:1-3
The Syrian armies besiege Samaria. Things get desperate, and some people in that idolatrous city, take unspeakable measures to assuage their hunger (See 2Ki 6:25-29). Upon seeing this, the king resolves to kill Elisha, the prophet, who is also in the city.
He sends a servant to Elisha, saying, “Surely this calamity is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (2Ki 6:33) Elisha advised the king to repent and wait on God. Jehoram says: “I’ve had enough, if God can cause such evil upon us, why should I wait upon Him?”
How superficial was Jehoram’s repentance! He wore sackcloth under his royal clothing (2Ki 6:30), but his heart was untouched. (How outward can our repentance be sometimes!)
Elisha, not known to be a man of many words, says to him — “tomorrow, there will be a lot of food!” That is such an outlandish declaration that it is met with unbelief by the king's assistant, “ if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” (2Ki 7:2)
You know the rest of the story. A total divine reversal unfolds within less than 24 hours. The army besieging the city became the means of the abundant supply of food. (And riches to boot.)
What was the key to this divine reversal?
While the king was busy walking on the walls, fretting and worrying and not truly repenting, Elisha was waiting on the Lord! He was sitting before the Lord with the elders of the city. No doubt that included prayer, intercession, but also waiting, and submitting to the pain of waiting on the Lord and for the Lord, till He speaks!
The situation was grave, no doubt, but it called, not for action and fretting, but for seeking for, and waiting on God!
The point of all this
Israel is in a very tough situation right now, both within and without. There is a crisis of leadership; the enemies of Israel are almost at the door. This time calls for waiting on God. We all have opinions and advice for God, which many times we express as prayer, but what we need is to get a hold of His Word, and wait on Him over it. Not once has the Lord warned me, “Ofer don’t pray your opinions to Me!”
He is Wonderful
Is. 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The word “Wonderful” is from the same root in Hebrew as the word “difficult”, Zech 8:6. We can say it this way. Our God, can meet every difficult thing, by doing something Wonderful, and reverse every difficult thing to bring us into a broad place. (See psalm 118:5)
So we are facing some difficulties
Difficulties within
1. No clear leadership in Israel at this time, non-functioning government. We are possibly heading for a third election, the first two having failed to produce a government.
2. Emerging crisis of the Secular and Religious. Read here
Difficulties without
Iran threatens Israel in both word and deed. It continues its effort to reach Israel’s borders physically, continues to supply Hamas and Hezbollah, who are on our borders. The goal is clear: “Nothing will be left of Israel.” Read here
Difficulties in the Body
The wonder of it all is that there is a Body of Messiah in the Land again! What a wonder. Yet, being a young body of believers, we lack Godly leadership; those who know the Lord deeply, those who have had a long history of walking with the Lord, those who know His Word and preach it straight; the whole counsel of God.
We are inundated with strange teaching. Too, we are tempted to fit into society, tempted to go after the world, tempted to make Yeshua manageable and “safe.” We are pressed by apathy when it comes to living an all-out life for Yeshua. Individualism (putting oneself at the center instead of cooperating to build the Body with Yeshua as the top and center), hinders us from becoming a House for God, to dwell in.
So while all of these things besiege us, we are trusting for God to bring a divine reversal by fulfilling His Word.
Zechariah 8 has been such a place of waiting and praying and seeking God. Here are some of the main points that we are waiting on God for.
- God will meet the need with great zeal and fury! Zech 8:2
- God will come! Zech 8:3
- God will remove all of the lies and corruptions to make Israel a place of truth! Zech 8:3
- God will cause Israel to remain safe. Zech 8:4-5
- These promises are NOT too difficult for God! Zech 8:6
- God will save Israel through Messiah (truth and righteousness) Zech 8:8
- God will cause the Body to know Him in Truth and in His Righteousness (we will know the crucified Messiah deeply and walk in Truth and Righteousness.) Zech 8:8
- God will cause Israel to inherit in peace! Zech 8:12
- God will cause Israel to be a blessing once again to the nations (incl. Iran) Zech 8:13
- God is determined to do good to Israel. Zech 8:14-15
- There will be justice, truth, and right judgment in the Land. Zech 8:16-17
- There will be spiritual integrity and wholeness within the Body of Messiah Zech 8:26-17
- The nations will come to Israel to seek the Lord together with us (Lebanon? Iran? Syria? Impossible? Difficult? Yes, but not for God Zech 8:20-22
Please take time to read and meditate on this chapter, until it becomes real to you and pray. You’ll be glad you did. And we will be happy that you prayed together with us.
Abundant blessings from Jerusalem,