Despite the king blaming God and his prophet for what had happened to his country, God still had a word of blessing through Elisha (v1,2). Elisha said, “Thus says the LORD, “Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.””
The message was that within twenty-four hours the famine would be over, and the monetary situation would change in that prices would be reduced and the economy recovered. One of the king’s officers didn’t believe it and answered Elisha, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” This man doubted God could make windows in heaven and send down food. What a poor idea of God he had! God was able to things which seemed impossible to man. Yes, they were surrounded by the enemy, but that was immaterial to God.
May we never underestimate the power of God, whatever the circumstances.
His doubt led to his downfall. Elisha pronounced God’s judgment on this man – he would see it with his eyes but not enjoy the benefit of it, not eat of it. It is foolish to doubt God, and this man came to realise it. How sad and frustrated he must have been.
While he was not enjoying the benefits of God’s provision, there were four lepers sitting at the entrance of the gate of the city (v3-5). They were outcasts and not welcome in the city. They knew about the famine, so, they decided that they would enter the city rather than sit outside and die. They would only die inside the city as there was a famine. They decided to surrender to the Syrian army who were surrounding the city as they really had nothing to lose. They went at twilight to the Syrian camp and found that there was no one there. Some traditions said that they were Gehazi and his three sons who were struck with leprosy from the incident of lying to Naaman (see chapter 5), but we don’t really know, and it is doubtful because he is still around in chapter 8.
Their thinking was quite logical, so they thought their best chances of survival was to surrender to the Syrians. They found an empty camp full of supplies. Maybe their approach caused the Syrians to decamp, because (v6,7) The LORD had caused the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and horses, and a great army. God was not powerless against this army, previously he had struck them with blindness, now He affected their hearing and caused them to hear things which were not there. They fled for their lives, leaving everything behind, horses, chariots and supplies, thanks to the action of these lepers and the power of God.
The lepers reached the outskirts of the camp, went into a tent and ate the food and drank, took silver, gold and clothing, and went and hid them, and did the same at another tent. When they had hidden that they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” (v8,9)
The lepers, whilst enjoying the miracle which God had given them, realised that God had given them a great responsibility. They couldn’t keep silent about it, they needed to share it with others, after all it was very good news.
We have a great responsibility to share the good news, the best news, that the Lord Jesus Christ has come to bring salvation to a fallen world. We are not doing right by keeping silent. If we have experienced the saving grace of Christ, we have a duty to share it with a lost world, especially if we have come to enjoy what the Lord has done for us. Jesus told his followers to ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15). The news that the Lord Jesus came to save sinners, what better news could a fallen world hear?
The lepers went to the gatekeepers of the city and told them of their discovery among the Syrian camp, and the gatekeepers told it to the king’s household. Even though the lepers were outcasts they did what they could and told the gatekeepers, the only persons they were allowed to speak to (v10-15). The message got to the king who spoke with his servants during the night. He thought that this was a trap from the Syrians, trying to lead them out of the city into the camp because of their hunger and then come back into the camp and attack them. One of his servants suggested that the only way was to try it. What a sensible man! He suggested that they send several men and they took two chariots with horses. The king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army camp to see if it was true or not. They found that the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians discarded in their haste. The men returned and told the king.
The people went and plundered the tents of the Syrians (v16) and sure enough, a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. The word given to Elisha was proved to be absolutely true.
We are not told what happened to the lepers, we can only assume that they returned to their isolation, but, nevertheless, they had done what they could in spreading the good news.
We may never know what effect are spreading the good news achieves. We have to leave that to God, only He can bring about fruit for our labours.
We need to recall the words of Elisha in verses 1 and 2. He prophesied about the cost of flour and barley, but also judgment on the official who doubted, and, sure enough, it happened. In verses 17-20 we are told that the king had appointed the official to have charge of the gate. He didn’t believe, but he was trampled by the rush of those going out to obtain the plunder, and he died. Elisha had said he would see it with his eyes; he saw the other enjoy it, but he wouldn’t eat of it, and sure enough that’s what happened to him, and he died.
