I also noticed that after Elisha's death, there is a story of some people burying a man in haste because of the raiders in the land. They threw the body of the man in Elisha's tomb and when his body touched the bones of Elisha he "came to life and stood up on his feet"... I don't know what to make of this... Elisha was a powerful man of God and even after his death his bones could work miracles???
Throughout the reading today (2 Kings 13-15) and the passages prior, I noticed that none of the kings ever fully repented and turned back to God and destroyed the Ashera pole(s) and the golden calves where the people were worshipping... and it seems that the northern and southern kingdoms are fighting each other... and they are getting whittled away by foreign kings and kingdoms.... But God still honors His promises and doesn't fully wipe out the line of David... He also seems to take note of their suffering and provides them with relief (at least some relief) despite their faithlessness to Him....
How painful to see Him continue to be gracious to these people, I can't imagine the pain it caused/causes Him as people continue to choose other gods instead of Him... how do I do that? How do I choose myself/my comfort over Him? I long to offer Him my whole heart... not just what is easy to give....
I am also reminded that Saul sought out the witch at Endor and was able to bring Samuel back from the dead... magic appears to really work... I wonder about God's warnings about these practices... how weak we are as human beings and how easily swayed from the path He has marked out for us... it seems to include suffering and I at least am always trying to ease my own pain instead of searching for Him in the midst of it.... He knows our weaknesses and offers us grace in the midst of this journey... sometimes relief, but asks of us trust... how might I trust the heart of God today?
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