Wednesday 18 June 2014

2 Kings 3 Elisha takes over

2 Kings 3
Joram, son of king Ahab of Israel took over as king following the death of his father.
The Moabites had an arrangement that they had to pay tribute to the king of Israel to the tune of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 sheep every year, but the Moabites decided that enough was enough and stopped paying the tribute.
Joram called on the king of the other half of what used to be Israel, Judah, and asked Jehoshaphat to join him in going after Moab.
they decide to attack through the desert of Edom, meeting up with the king of Edom on the way and after a fairly complicated march they wound up short of water and stuck, at the mercy of the king of Moab who if he attacked they would be unable to resist for long due to lack of water.

The Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of God around who they could ask. An officer in Joram's army remembered Elisha and they went to find him.

Elisha was not impressed by Joram, his Father and Mother had been very hostile to God and Elijah had given them what for on mount Carmel, and Joram should ask the prophets of his parents, and is only there at all out of respect for Jehoshaphat.
Elisha asked for a harpist to play and while music was playing the word of God came to him - I will fill this valley with pools of water, even though there is no rain, - this is easy for God, and he will also deliver Moab into the hands of Israel and Judah who will overthrow every town and city, stop up rivers and streams, cut down trees and ruin fields with stones.
That evening water appeared, flowing from Edom into the valley.
Meanwhile the Moabites had armed the entire able bodied population to repel Israel at the border, but at dawn next day the sun reflecting on the water looked like blood and the army thought that Israel and Edom and Judah had had a massive fight and rushed in to plunder the carnage.

Israel raised up and attacked the Moabite army until they fled. Israel then basically ruined the land by blocking rivers, felling trees and throwing stones onto the fields until they were covered.

In a last ditch attempt, the king of Moab and 700 swordsmen tried to attack the king of Edom, but failed. 
The king of Moab then sacrificed the heir to the throne on the city walls in defiance and Israel withdrew.

It is interesting perhaps - music can help people hear God? Remember that David used to play harp for Saul when he was troubled mentally? 

Unfortunately for you, dear reader, I play trombone not harp!

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