“When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing sackcloth underneath next to his skin. Elisha replied, “Hear this message from the Lord! This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of fine flour will cost only half on ounce of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only half an ounce of silver.”
2 Kings 6:30, 7: 1.
There is a sudden miracle that is coming for that your extreme situation today! God never promised a trouble-free experience for us as Christians, but said that he would be with us at the time of trouble to deliver and honour us. Our Christian walk is like that of the biblical Israel. Their history is that of a mixture of victories and defeats, sorrows and joy, pains and rejoicing, captivities and exploits. But the most important thing in all these is that God never forsook them for once. Each time they ran into crisis, God showed them a way of escape, as he is about showing you now. So, this time Israel was very in deep crisis. An enemy nation – Syria attacked them. The Syrians did not just storm Israel, but sought to destroy it completely. They plundered the land and caused a terrible famine. The economy of Israel was totally destroyed by this singular attack. Things became so bad that the Israelites could not see food to buy. Consequently, they began to eat the forbidden things, and even killed their children for food.
It got to a point where the king of Israel was required to adjudicate a case of two women who agreed to kill their sons and eat. They had killed the complainant’s son, cooked his meat and ate. But the accused refused to reciprocate. So, they brought the matter to their king. In despair the king of Israel tore his clothes and the people, to their astonishment, saw that he was already wearing sackcloth underneath. Though, he had the royal regalia on, though he looked grandiose, he was actually mourning inside of him. He mourned at the turn of events. He was not happy that God’s people have been defeated and throw into such economic, political and spiritual mess. Later on, he even asked, “Why should I wait any longer for the LORD?” And he also transferred the aggression to the prophet of God – Elisha.
There is something I will like to point out here. There are so many people, who walk on our streets well-dressed, looking beautiful on the outside, wearing smiling faces, driving big cars and yet live on different levels of mess and pain. Yes, on the inside they put on sackcloth of mourning, sorrow, disappointment, depression and hopelessness. They come out in the morning smiling like others, but always soak their pillows with tears of pain in the night. Some weep and sorrow because of family problems, some because of sickness (which the doctors have declared incurable). Others because of what their fellow men did to them. And these people are asking like the king of Israel, “Why should I wait any longer for the LORD?” “Why should I still serve this God again” Why should I trust Him again?” “Why should I do good again?” “Why should I trust anybody again?” “Why should I preach again?” “Why should I go to church again?” Why, why, why and why?? Why should I still read the bible again?” I have been there so many times. In fact, I just experienced one. True.
But you know what? I quickly summoned courage and faith to move on. Yes, I must. It’s too late for me to back out. Yes. After thirty something years, how can I just back out because of one incident? No way! After all I have been through it before. I already knew what to do in this kind of circumstance. I encourage myself in the LORD. True. I think it was David that taught me this. When every other thing around him fails, he encourages himself in the LORD. Yes he found strength in trusting God. Just look at one of them in 1Samual 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” KJV.
And Job also said something like that in Job 13:15:
“Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Did you hear that? You don’t need to backslide. You don’t need to run away or fall into depression when it’s like everything is collapsing on your head or nobody is offering you a helping hand. Just encourage yourself in the LORD and move on. Yes, just manage to move on. He is always in control and he doesn’t make mistakes. Everything he does is for our good. He has already said that all His thought towards us is of good and we must take him by his word. Even when it does not meet your expectation keep trusting him, keep moving, because your end will surely be sweet. That is his word. He said that we should mark the good and righteous man, that his end will certainly be peace! It doesn’t matter what you are currently going through. He said that it shall soon become peaceful, sweet and glorious. Yes, all will surely end in praise! In less than twenty-four hours God turned everything – the economy, political and spiritual life of Israel around. They defeated their enemies and confiscated all their wealth and also returned to God. Wow! Your miracle is coming suddenly!
Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the books / audiobooks: Power of Midnight Prayer, Receive Your Healing, Breaking Generational Curses: Claiming Your Freedom, Never Again!, I Shall Not Die, Move Forward, Power of Sacrifice and many others. Tel: +234-8037113283 Facebook: Gab Agbo E-mail: [email protected] Website www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo Twitter: pastorgabagbo Whatsapp: +234-8164819333
