My reading took me to 2 Kings – a book I ordinarily find incredible and miraculous, but a long cry from the world we live in today.  Kind of like reading Acts – it seems almost too incredible to be true, and way too amazing to be relevant today. 

And yet, we serve a big God whose every word in the bible is full of truth we can learn from even today.  In chapter 3, there’s this scene of an alliance between kings and taking the advice of King Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah who had decided that this army should go “The route of the Wilderness of Edom” (3:8), without seemingly giving it much of a second thought or consulting the Lord. Then low and behold, this mighty king gets himself backed into a corner when the troops have no access to water, the land is bone-dry, and he realizes that they’re in trouble.  The two other kings with Jehoshaphat also realized the gravity of their situation and I imagine probably have some blame for Jehoshaphat for choosing the route that will lead them to certain doom.  Only then does it seem to occur to Jehoshaphat that they should turn to the Lord, and he begins to look for a prophet. 

Sound familiar yet?  Here’s this mighty King of Judah – who obviously knows who the Lord is – who goes his own way instead of seeking God’s will for his people. How easy is it to do just that? The other kings in his company even asked Jehoshaphat’s opinion on which direction to go, offering a perfect opportunity for Jehoshaphat to pause and seek God’s guidance to see if he should even be committing to this venture, let alone on which direction they should set out.  But it’s only after he gets himself in a very desolate position that he does seek God.  Oh, how easy it is to set out on our own path and attempt to lead the Lord we say we follow.  Then when something happens, we cry out and ask that He rescue us. 

But what got me today was the response in verses 15-18:

 Now bring me a musician.  While the musician played, the Lord’s hand came on Elisha.  Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water, and you will drink – you and your cattle and your animals.’ This is easy in the Lord’s sight.  He will also hand Moab over to you. 

King Jehoshaphat was told to demonstrate faith by doing something.  First in calling a musician and then in digging ditches to hold the water the Lord says he will mysteriously send.  All this just seems too incredible to be true – and yet Elisha declares how easy this feat is for the Lord.  But how many and how deep do you think they dug the ditches?  At first pass, it would only make sense that if you have a word like that from God that you would dig until you physically couldn’t dig anymore.  Scripture just records that he was to dig ditch after ditch . . . .

It made me wonder, where are the places in my life where I’ve gone my own way and I need to pause and seek God’s direction? How should I be preparing and create room (digging ditches) in my life for God’s promises?     Do I dive into following his direction with all my heart and strength?  And perhaps the most convicting – When God looks at my actions – does He see that sort of faith?  The kind of faith that doesn’t push back and ask why when God simply asks me to do something. Such as loving and protecting my daily time with Him and His word? Or inviting someone to church?  Offering a kind word of encouragement instead of worrying about my schedule?

Asking God to show me where I need to do better at putting His will and His direction first is every bit as dangerous as praying for patience.  Whatever answers He provides requires repentance and inevitably giving up “things” or “comforts” in my life that I would rather not.  But in the end… I committed to following Him, not trying to lead… after all, He’s the one with the directions . . .