2 Kings 3:13-19: a reflection

13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” 14Elisha said, “As the LORD of Armies lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I respect the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you. 15But now bring me a musician.” When the musician played, the LORD’s hand came on him. 16He said, “The LORD says, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’ 17For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your other animals. 18This is an easy thing in the LORD’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 19You shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’”

Three kings, their armies dying of thirst in the wilderness, come to the prophet Elisha for a word from God. Elisha tells them to dig the valley full of trenches; and though they will see neither wind nor rain, the valley will be filled with water, enough for the army and all their animals. And he adds: this is an easy thing in the LORD's sight. God would provide water without the usual means, without wind or rain; and to do it was easy for him. But first they must dig the trenches, preparing in faith for a provision they could not yet see.

Notice two things: God provides in unexpected ways, and what seems impossible to us is easy for him. The water would come without wind or rain, without the ordinary means they would expect; God was not limited to the usual channels. And what seemed impossible, water in a dry valley with no rain, was, the prophet said, an easy thing for the LORD. But notice also the call to prepare: they were to dig the trenches first, making room for the water in faith, before it came.

Both are worth taking to heart. God is able to provide in ways beyond the ordinary means we expect; what seems impossible to us, requiring means we cannot see, is easy for him. Do not limit your expectation of God's provision to the usual channels; he can provide without wind or rain, in ways you do not expect. And there is a call to prepare in faith: to dig the trenches, making room for a provision you cannot yet see. When you need God's provision, do not despair because you cannot see how it could come; what seems impossible to you is easy for God, who is not limited to the means you expect. And prepare in faith, digging the trenches, making room for the provision before it comes. God filled the valley without wind or rain, an easy thing for him; trust him to provide in ways you cannot foresee, and prepare in faith for the provision you cannot yet see.

Lord, three kings whose armies were dying of thirst came to Elisha, who told them to dig the valley full of trenches, for though they would see neither wind nor rain, the valley would be filled with water, and this was an easy thing in your sight. Help me take both truths to heart. You provide in ways beyond the ordinary means I expect; what seems impossible to me, requiring means I cannot see, is easy for you. Keep me from limiting my expectation of your provision to the usual channels; you can provide without wind or rain, in ways I do not expect. And there is a call to prepare in faith: to dig the trenches, making room for a provision I cannot yet see. When I need your provision, keep me from despairing because I cannot see how it could come; what seems impossible to me is easy for you, who are not limited to the means I expect. And help me prepare in faith, digging the trenches, making room for the provision before it comes. You filled the valley without wind or rain, an easy thing for you; help me trust you to provide in ways I cannot foresee, Lord, and prepare in faith for the provision I cannot yet see.