July 15, 2024 • 17 mins
In this Bible Story, we say goodbye to the Prophet Elisha and the end of the era of kings. The nations of Judah and Israel continue to wrestle with God. Soon, a great threat would arise to take Israel captive. This was a threat they were not prepared for.This story is inspired by 2 Kings 13. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.
Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 13:19 from the King James Version.
Episode 142: Jonah, a questionable prophet of God, heard the word of God telling him to go to Nineveh and confront the people about their sins. Jonah, giving in to his pride and disgust for the people of Nineveh, said no and immediately boarded a ship headed for Tarshish. While the ship was sailing a deadly storm came upon them and Jonah found out that he could not run from God, and was swallowed by a fish.
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Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard
Producer: Ben Gammon
Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham
Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith
Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, and the Man of God was wroth
with him and said, thou shouldst have smitten five or
six times? Then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hast
consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
Second Kings thirteenth nineteen. Dear Lord, as I continue to
(00:25):
experience your goodness in my life, I will remember the
moments where I cried out to you, then I chose
to honor you in all that I do. I confess
that when comfort and complacency try to rush into my life,
I will stay focused and diligent to follow your ways
(00:47):
as you give me the arrows of opportunity to live
out my dreams. Unlike the Kings and Second Kings thirteen,
I will continue to strike the ground countless times because
I know that my victory will not be a one
time event, but will usher in a victorious life style
(01:10):
similar to the life of Elijah, position me to leave
a legacy of honoring and loving you with all my heart.
I will not stop until I hear the words well done,
my good and faithful servant in Jesus name, Amen, thank
(01:33):
you for praying with us to day, continue your time
with God by listening to to day's Bible story, brought
to you by Bible in a Year dot com.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Broken Kings and a dying Prophet. In our last story,
we learned about the rise and fall of Joash. Joe
Ash began his rule as a young child, growing under
the love and care of the high Priest. However, when
the priest died, joe Ash's heart grew sour and against
(02:12):
the things of God. He caused the people to stumble
and was ultimately remembered for his wickedness. Now we learn
about the continual fall of the kings of Israel. They
refused to acknowledge God, making Israel more and more vulnerable.
Although there was promise for temporary victory, they could not
(02:34):
see the looming threat that was to come. Elisha, the
prophet who stood against the wicked kings his whole life,
gives his last bit of aid before exiting the earth.
Inspired by the Book of Second Kings.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. In our Last time together,
we heard about the tragic life of joe Ash. Though
he followed God and served him in his early years
under the wise council of Jehoidah, the High Priest. In
the end, joe Ash turned away from God to serve
pagan idols and his own selfish indulgences. His failures led
(03:16):
Judah astray and brought God's judgment once again upon the people. Today,
we'll turn north once again to the Kingdom of Israel.
Just like Judah, Israel and her kings had ups and downs,
sometimes running back to God, but often turning away. Their
unfaithfulness had left them weak and vulnerable, and disaster was
(03:37):
on the horizon. Finally, we'll hear of the last earthly
days of God's prophet Elisha and his final words of
counsel to a king of Israel. Let's listen now to
God's word.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Israel was in a continual pattern of rising and falling kings,
citizens and leaders would rise to seek and worship the
lif Lord, then fall into a cycle of wickedness and
self worship. The heart of Israel tore and struggled to
seek higher living. This was the state of humanity since
(04:12):
the Fall in Eden. Men and women sought their own
self satisfaction over the higher calling of selflessness and holiness.
Yet sometimes there were leaders, prophets and kings who would
point towards the higher good. They would lead in a
way that reflected the character of God. They would save
(04:33):
God's people from their enemies and lift them up to
a higher calling. Yet King jehoahaz was not one of
these heroes. He was not strong enough in his character
to lead Israel and worship in truth. He reigned in
Israel for seventeen years. During his time as king, he
(04:54):
lived solely for self glorification. He worshiped the gods of
Israeli enemies. As a result, he continually lost in battle.
He marched into each fight with his men at his back.
He drew his sword, he lifted his shield, and he
rode his chariot, But the Lord was not with him.
(05:15):
The Lord did not march with him. Instead, the Lord's
anger burned against King jehoahas he allowed for King Aram
and ben Hadad and Aram to overthrow the armies of Israel.
With each raid, with each battle, and with each mission,
Jehoah has his army depleted dramatically. Jehoah has walked through
(05:38):
his palace doors after another brutal defeat. His armor was heavy,
as was his heart. His arms were sore from battle.
His face was dirty from riding his horse through the
dusty battlefield. As he entered his chambers, he took off
his armor and fell to his knees. He knew God
had always been there to hear him. He knew that
(06:01):
the God of David and Moses was present and able
to help. However, he ward in his heart against him.
Yet for the first time, he felt his heart break
for his people. He knew that he was losing because
of his disobedience. So he put his pride aside for
a moment and cried out to the Lord. His heart
(06:22):
melted before God. He prayed for favor and rescue from oppression.
He prayed that he would halt the onslaught of raids.
He prayed that he would restore safety to his people.
The Lord heard him. He honored Jehoah as his request,
and restored Israel to a place of safety and wealth.
(06:45):
The Aramians no longer had their boot on the throat
of Israel. Their raids ceased, and their armies subsided like
a shrinking tide. Yet with safety came comfort. With comfort
came complacency, and with complacency came compromise. King Jehoah has
(07:07):
stopped kneeling in the presence of God and resumed kneeling
at the foot of the Asherapole in Samaria. The people
followed the example of their king, and Israel's heart continued
its path into darkness. Riches were sacrificed at the altar
of the pagan gods, and wisdom was forsaken for lawlessness.
(07:28):
As a result, Israel's armies were reduced to a fraction
of what they once were. The kingdom was becoming more
and more vulnerable. This would prove as the first step
into complete slavery. A darkness was rising from the south,
a darkness that would prove too great for the Kingdom
of Israel to bear. Jehoah has his time on earth
(07:51):
came to an end. He left no legacy of excellence
and was not remembered for his courage or devotion. His son, Jehoash,
took his place as ruler over Israel. He followed in
the footsteps of his father and pursued his own pleasure
above the righteousness of God. Jehoash was a stubborn soul.
(08:13):
He refused to turn from the sins of his father
and set his heart on leading Israel astray. He ruled
in Israel for sixteen years. In his time as king,
he made them more vulnerable to the impending threat that
was rising against Israel. There was something wicked coming to
claim the heart of God's people, a foe more formidable
(08:35):
than Egypt. On the outskirts of Samaria, Elisha coughed in
his bed. The fields below him were painted gold from
the sunset, and the beautiful spring breeze gently caressed his cheeks.
It was nearly time for him to depart to be.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
With the Lord.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
His soul was longing for rest, and his body was
fading back into dust. For all of Jehoash's flaws, he
was endeared to the prophet Elisha. The king knelt beside
his bed and wept over him. He knew that Elisha
could help against Israel's enemies, particularly Syria. Elisha looked at
(09:14):
the king. He knew that Syria should be the least
of Israel's worries. There were greater threats awaiting. Nonetheless, he
desired to comfort his king. Get a bow and some arrows,
Elisha told the king. He did as he was told.
Open up the eastern window, Elisha said, gesturing to the
(09:36):
window beside his bed. Jehoash opened the window and beheld
the view. There were beautiful plains before him, Lilies adorned
the grassy hills. The grass was light under the sunset,
and the hills rode towards the city of Samaria. Shoot,
Elisha commanded. So the king shot his arrow into the distance.
(09:59):
The king looked back at the prophet to find him smiling.
That is the lord's arrow, he explained, you will have
victory over the Syrians. The king returned Elisha's smile. They
shared a sweet moment together. Although the king was an
idle worshiper, Elisha still felt it was his duty to
(10:20):
seek God on his behalf. Now, pick up the other
arrows and strike them against the ground. Elisha said it
was a peculiar request for Jehohash, However, he knew there
was symbolism at work. He struck the arrows three times
on the ground. Elisha's smile turned into a scowl. Why
(10:40):
did you stop, he asked. You should have struck the
ground more times than that, at least five or six.
You very well may have only victory over your enemies
three times. The king left and Elisha was left alone
with his god. He peered out the window, thinking of
all the miracles he had seen God do. He thought
(11:02):
of his life, his ministry, and all the things God
had done in him and through him. Although much of
his time was spent counseling wicked kings, he had the
privilege of watching everyday people be healed and restored. He smiled, exhaled,
and inhaled into eternity.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
As we begin today's reading, Israel continues to be distant
and disobedient to God. It seems that for every righteous
and honorable king that set on the throne and led
the people back to the Lord, many others rose up
who pursued wickedness, false gods, and their own glory. Israel is,
(11:44):
in many ways a picture of the human condition. Since
the Fall in the Garden, mankind was stuck in a
pattern of turning from God, suffering, crying out in repentance,
and then quickly forgetting the Lord when things went well.
If we're honest. Unfortunately, we can recognize at times this
same pattern in our own lives. The power in the
(12:07):
presence of sin pulls us away, and we're always tempted
to sin. Sometimes we don't understand why we do what
we do, or why we don't do why we ought
to do, but praise God. When we confess our sins,
we find forgiveness in Christ, who died for every sin, past, present,
and future. When we fall, we are secure in the
(12:29):
grace of God. God never leaves us or forsakes us,
even when we walk away from Him. But in today's passage,
Israel has not yet received the promised Messiah, and so
they are stuck in this cycle, stuck with far more
evil kings than good ones. And in our reading we
discover that King Johoahs was not one of the good ones.
(12:53):
He was constantly giving his heart an attention to idols.
He lived to please himself rather than God. And as
the king went, so did the people. So Israel suffered
defeat after defeat in the hands of their enemies. In
each defeat it was like a peace of their hearts
being shipped away, destroyed by sin and rebellion. It left
(13:14):
them weak and vulnerable, as sin always does. It's been
said that sin will take you farther than you want
to go, keep you longer than you want to stay,
and cost you far more than you want to pay. Finally,
King Jehoah has his army was decimated depleted, and the
king was desperate. Though he had turned away from God,
(13:36):
he did not forget the Lord entirely, and he knew
very well that only God could save them. In Second
Kings thirteen to four we read, then Jehoah has sought
the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him,
for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the King
of Syria oppressed them. While God is truly a God
of judgment and righteousness, he never delights in punishing his children.
(14:01):
In his holiness and goodness, God cannot let unrighteousness go unanswered,
but he is always responsive when we truly repent, crying
out to him for forgiveness. God is a loving father
who never wants to see his children suffer or hurt.
So the Lord comes to the rescue of Israel, and
(14:21):
for a time things changed positively for Israel. Israel resisted
the Syrians and experienced some peace and stability, but it
was short lived for jehoahahs and the people turned away
once more, bending the knee at Asherah poles, rejecting the
God who saved them. They fell again to the enemy,
the beginning of a downward spile that would end in
(14:43):
change and captivity. Jing jehoahahs died and his son jehoah
Ash took the throne. But it was a case of
like father, like son. Wickedness persisted like a cancer in
the land, eroding the strength of a nation that could
have seen greatness had they continued to believe and trust
in God. Instead, they follow their own desires, set themselves
(15:06):
on a disastrous collision course with an enemy like none
they had ever seen before. During the reign of Jehoash,
God's prophet Elishah came to the end of his life
on earth. He had seen God do great things, just
as he had promised when he took on the mantle
from his mentor Elijah. He had counseled, caution and cared
(15:27):
for many kings, most of them evil, and God used
this man in a mighty way to bring blessings and
judgment upon the people. Now he had one final task
before leaving, to be in the presence of the Lord King.
Joash came to his bedside, and though the king was
stubborn and sinful, he wanted to seek favor with God
(15:48):
and knew Elijah was the man he needed to see.
Elishah heard the request and gave the king an odd command.
He was to shoot an arrow out of the window.
The king did this, and Elishah told him this represented
the victory God would give the king over Syria. Next,
he told Jehoash to strike the ground with remaining arrows.
(16:09):
The king struck the ground only three times. Elishah told
him that he should have kept striking the ground repeatedly,
for now he would only have victory three times rather
than the complete victory over Syria. Elisha's words foreshadowed Israel's
coming demise and defeat, and provides us a lesson that
when God asked you to go in, you must go
(16:30):
in all the way, because partial disobedience is full disobedience.
Elijah passed into glory, knowing that he had served the
Lord with courage and conviction and an example to which
we can all aspire. Thank you, Lord for the inspiring
life of Elisha. We thank you for the powerful witness
(16:52):
of this man in a very wicked time. God give
us courage always to stand for you, even in dark days.
Thank you for your loving kindness and forgiveness when we
sin and you return us to yourself. May we put
our eyes upon you, and just as Elijah look forward
to the day that we are in your presence. Amen.
(17:14):
Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot
com app and make Bible study and prayer the priority
of your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, share
it with someone you love because by sharing the Word
of God, you can make a huge difference in someone's life.
(17:35):
And let me encourage you to go to Jack Graham
dot org. That's Jack Graham dot org to find multiple resources,
many resources for your Christian walk and life. God bless
you and have a great day.
Let us pray, and the Man of God was wroth
with him and said, thou shouldst have smitten five or
six times? Then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hast
consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
Second Kings thirteenth nineteen. Dear Lord, as I continue to
(00:25):
experience your goodness in my life, I will remember the
moments where I cried out to you, then I chose
to honor you in all that I do. I confess
that when comfort and complacency try to rush into my life,
I will stay focused and diligent to follow your ways
(00:47):
as you give me the arrows of opportunity to live
out my dreams. Unlike the Kings and Second Kings thirteen,
I will continue to strike the ground countless times because
I know that my victory will not be a one
time event, but will usher in a victorious life style
(01:10):
similar to the life of Elijah, position me to leave
a legacy of honoring and loving you with all my heart.
I will not stop until I hear the words well done,
my good and faithful servant in Jesus name, Amen, thank
(01:33):
you for praying with us to day, continue your time
with God by listening to to day's Bible story, brought
to you by Bible in a Year dot com.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Broken Kings and a dying Prophet. In our last story,
we learned about the rise and fall of Joash. Joe
Ash began his rule as a young child, growing under
the love and care of the high Priest. However, when
the priest died, joe Ash's heart grew sour and against
(02:12):
the things of God. He caused the people to stumble
and was ultimately remembered for his wickedness. Now we learn
about the continual fall of the kings of Israel. They
refused to acknowledge God, making Israel more and more vulnerable.
Although there was promise for temporary victory, they could not
(02:34):
see the looming threat that was to come. Elisha, the
prophet who stood against the wicked kings his whole life,
gives his last bit of aid before exiting the earth.
Inspired by the Book of Second Kings.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. In our Last time together,
we heard about the tragic life of joe Ash. Though
he followed God and served him in his early years
under the wise council of Jehoidah, the High Priest. In
the end, joe Ash turned away from God to serve
pagan idols and his own selfish indulgences. His failures led
(03:16):
Judah astray and brought God's judgment once again upon the people. Today,
we'll turn north once again to the Kingdom of Israel.
Just like Judah, Israel and her kings had ups and downs,
sometimes running back to God, but often turning away. Their
unfaithfulness had left them weak and vulnerable, and disaster was
(03:37):
on the horizon. Finally, we'll hear of the last earthly
days of God's prophet Elisha and his final words of
counsel to a king of Israel. Let's listen now to
God's word.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Israel was in a continual pattern of rising and falling kings,
citizens and leaders would rise to seek and worship the
lif Lord, then fall into a cycle of wickedness and
self worship. The heart of Israel tore and struggled to
seek higher living. This was the state of humanity since
(04:12):
the Fall in Eden. Men and women sought their own
self satisfaction over the higher calling of selflessness and holiness.
Yet sometimes there were leaders, prophets and kings who would
point towards the higher good. They would lead in a
way that reflected the character of God. They would save
(04:33):
God's people from their enemies and lift them up to
a higher calling. Yet King jehoahaz was not one of
these heroes. He was not strong enough in his character
to lead Israel and worship in truth. He reigned in
Israel for seventeen years. During his time as king, he
(04:54):
lived solely for self glorification. He worshiped the gods of
Israeli enemies. As a result, he continually lost in battle.
He marched into each fight with his men at his back.
He drew his sword, he lifted his shield, and he
rode his chariot, But the Lord was not with him.
(05:15):
The Lord did not march with him. Instead, the Lord's
anger burned against King jehoahas he allowed for King Aram
and ben Hadad and Aram to overthrow the armies of Israel.
With each raid, with each battle, and with each mission,
Jehoah has his army depleted dramatically. Jehoah has walked through
(05:38):
his palace doors after another brutal defeat. His armor was heavy,
as was his heart. His arms were sore from battle.
His face was dirty from riding his horse through the
dusty battlefield. As he entered his chambers, he took off
his armor and fell to his knees. He knew God
had always been there to hear him. He knew that
(06:01):
the God of David and Moses was present and able
to help. However, he ward in his heart against him.
Yet for the first time, he felt his heart break
for his people. He knew that he was losing because
of his disobedience. So he put his pride aside for
a moment and cried out to the Lord. His heart
(06:22):
melted before God. He prayed for favor and rescue from oppression.
He prayed that he would halt the onslaught of raids.
He prayed that he would restore safety to his people.
The Lord heard him. He honored Jehoah as his request,
and restored Israel to a place of safety and wealth.
(06:45):
The Aramians no longer had their boot on the throat
of Israel. Their raids ceased, and their armies subsided like
a shrinking tide. Yet with safety came comfort. With comfort
came complacency, and with complacency came compromise. King Jehoah has
(07:07):
stopped kneeling in the presence of God and resumed kneeling
at the foot of the Asherapole in Samaria. The people
followed the example of their king, and Israel's heart continued
its path into darkness. Riches were sacrificed at the altar
of the pagan gods, and wisdom was forsaken for lawlessness.
(07:28):
As a result, Israel's armies were reduced to a fraction
of what they once were. The kingdom was becoming more
and more vulnerable. This would prove as the first step
into complete slavery. A darkness was rising from the south,
a darkness that would prove too great for the Kingdom
of Israel to bear. Jehoah has his time on earth
(07:51):
came to an end. He left no legacy of excellence
and was not remembered for his courage or devotion. His son, Jehoash,
took his place as ruler over Israel. He followed in
the footsteps of his father and pursued his own pleasure
above the righteousness of God. Jehoash was a stubborn soul.
(08:13):
He refused to turn from the sins of his father
and set his heart on leading Israel astray. He ruled
in Israel for sixteen years. In his time as king,
he made them more vulnerable to the impending threat that
was rising against Israel. There was something wicked coming to
claim the heart of God's people, a foe more formidable
(08:35):
than Egypt. On the outskirts of Samaria, Elisha coughed in
his bed. The fields below him were painted gold from
the sunset, and the beautiful spring breeze gently caressed his cheeks.
It was nearly time for him to depart to be.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
With the Lord.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
His soul was longing for rest, and his body was
fading back into dust. For all of Jehoash's flaws, he
was endeared to the prophet Elisha. The king knelt beside
his bed and wept over him. He knew that Elisha
could help against Israel's enemies, particularly Syria. Elisha looked at
(09:14):
the king. He knew that Syria should be the least
of Israel's worries. There were greater threats awaiting. Nonetheless, he
desired to comfort his king. Get a bow and some arrows,
Elisha told the king. He did as he was told.
Open up the eastern window, Elisha said, gesturing to the
(09:36):
window beside his bed. Jehoash opened the window and beheld
the view. There were beautiful plains before him, Lilies adorned
the grassy hills. The grass was light under the sunset,
and the hills rode towards the city of Samaria. Shoot,
Elisha commanded. So the king shot his arrow into the distance.
(09:59):
The king looked back at the prophet to find him smiling.
That is the lord's arrow, he explained, you will have
victory over the Syrians. The king returned Elisha's smile. They
shared a sweet moment together. Although the king was an
idle worshiper, Elisha still felt it was his duty to
(10:20):
seek God on his behalf. Now, pick up the other
arrows and strike them against the ground. Elisha said it
was a peculiar request for Jehohash, However, he knew there
was symbolism at work. He struck the arrows three times
on the ground. Elisha's smile turned into a scowl. Why
(10:40):
did you stop, he asked. You should have struck the
ground more times than that, at least five or six.
You very well may have only victory over your enemies
three times. The king left and Elisha was left alone
with his god. He peered out the window, thinking of
all the miracles he had seen God do. He thought
(11:02):
of his life, his ministry, and all the things God
had done in him and through him. Although much of
his time was spent counseling wicked kings, he had the
privilege of watching everyday people be healed and restored. He smiled, exhaled,
and inhaled into eternity.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
As we begin today's reading, Israel continues to be distant
and disobedient to God. It seems that for every righteous
and honorable king that set on the throne and led
the people back to the Lord, many others rose up
who pursued wickedness, false gods, and their own glory. Israel is,
(11:44):
in many ways a picture of the human condition. Since
the Fall in the Garden, mankind was stuck in a
pattern of turning from God, suffering, crying out in repentance,
and then quickly forgetting the Lord when things went well.
If we're honest. Unfortunately, we can recognize at times this
same pattern in our own lives. The power in the
(12:07):
presence of sin pulls us away, and we're always tempted
to sin. Sometimes we don't understand why we do what
we do, or why we don't do why we ought
to do, but praise God. When we confess our sins,
we find forgiveness in Christ, who died for every sin, past, present,
and future. When we fall, we are secure in the
(12:29):
grace of God. God never leaves us or forsakes us,
even when we walk away from Him. But in today's passage,
Israel has not yet received the promised Messiah, and so
they are stuck in this cycle, stuck with far more
evil kings than good ones. And in our reading we
discover that King Johoahs was not one of the good ones.
(12:53):
He was constantly giving his heart an attention to idols.
He lived to please himself rather than God. And as
the king went, so did the people. So Israel suffered
defeat after defeat in the hands of their enemies. In
each defeat it was like a peace of their hearts
being shipped away, destroyed by sin and rebellion. It left
(13:14):
them weak and vulnerable, as sin always does. It's been
said that sin will take you farther than you want
to go, keep you longer than you want to stay,
and cost you far more than you want to pay. Finally,
King Jehoah has his army was decimated depleted, and the
king was desperate. Though he had turned away from God,
(13:36):
he did not forget the Lord entirely, and he knew
very well that only God could save them. In Second
Kings thirteen to four we read, then Jehoah has sought
the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him,
for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the King
of Syria oppressed them. While God is truly a God
of judgment and righteousness, he never delights in punishing his children.
(14:01):
In his holiness and goodness, God cannot let unrighteousness go unanswered,
but he is always responsive when we truly repent, crying
out to him for forgiveness. God is a loving father
who never wants to see his children suffer or hurt.
So the Lord comes to the rescue of Israel, and
(14:21):
for a time things changed positively for Israel. Israel resisted
the Syrians and experienced some peace and stability, but it
was short lived for jehoahahs and the people turned away
once more, bending the knee at Asherah poles, rejecting the
God who saved them. They fell again to the enemy,
the beginning of a downward spile that would end in
(14:43):
change and captivity. Jing jehoahahs died and his son jehoah
Ash took the throne. But it was a case of
like father, like son. Wickedness persisted like a cancer in
the land, eroding the strength of a nation that could
have seen greatness had they continued to believe and trust
in God. Instead, they follow their own desires, set themselves
(15:06):
on a disastrous collision course with an enemy like none
they had ever seen before. During the reign of Jehoash,
God's prophet Elishah came to the end of his life
on earth. He had seen God do great things, just
as he had promised when he took on the mantle
from his mentor Elijah. He had counseled, caution and cared
(15:27):
for many kings, most of them evil, and God used
this man in a mighty way to bring blessings and
judgment upon the people. Now he had one final task
before leaving, to be in the presence of the Lord King.
Joash came to his bedside, and though the king was
stubborn and sinful, he wanted to seek favor with God
(15:48):
and knew Elijah was the man he needed to see.
Elishah heard the request and gave the king an odd command.
He was to shoot an arrow out of the window.
The king did this, and Elishah told him this represented
the victory God would give the king over Syria. Next,
he told Jehoash to strike the ground with remaining arrows.
(16:09):
The king struck the ground only three times. Elishah told
him that he should have kept striking the ground repeatedly,
for now he would only have victory three times rather
than the complete victory over Syria. Elisha's words foreshadowed Israel's
coming demise and defeat, and provides us a lesson that
when God asked you to go in, you must go
(16:30):
in all the way, because partial disobedience is full disobedience.
Elijah passed into glory, knowing that he had served the
Lord with courage and conviction and an example to which
we can all aspire. Thank you, Lord for the inspiring
life of Elisha. We thank you for the powerful witness
(16:52):
of this man in a very wicked time. God give
us courage always to stand for you, even in dark days.
Thank you for your loving kindness and forgiveness when we
sin and you return us to yourself. May we put
our eyes upon you, and just as Elijah look forward
to the day that we are in your presence. Amen.
(17:14):
Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot
com app and make Bible study and prayer the priority
of your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, share
it with someone you love because by sharing the Word
of God, you can make a huge difference in someone's life.
(17:35):
And let me encourage you to go to Jack Graham
dot org. That's Jack Graham dot org to find multiple resources,
many resources for your Christian walk and life. God bless
you and have a great day.
Host
Jack Graham
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