Do we doubt God’s ability to set things right and His timing? How can we overcome doubt and grow in faith? Let’s begin in 2 Kings 7.
Did Elisha prophesy relief from drought and siege, but did the king of Israel’s officer continue to doubt and criticize God?
Elisha said, “Hear the Lord’s word! This is what the Lord says: At this time tomorrow a seah of wheat flour will sell for a shekel at Samaria’s gate, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.” Then the officer, the one the king leaned on for support, spoke to the man of God: “Come on! Even if the Lord should make windows in the sky, how could that happen?” Elisha said, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat from it.” (2 Kings 6:1-2 CEB)
How did God miraculously stop the Syrian siege of Samaria?
About the same time, four men with leprosy were just outside the gate of Samaria. They said to each other, “Why should we sit here, waiting to die? There's nothing to eat in the city, so we would starve if we went inside. But if we stay out here, we will die for sure. Let's sneak over to the Syrian army camp and surrender. They might kill us, but they might not.” That evening the four men got up and left for the Syrian camp. As they walked toward the camp, the Lord caused the Syrian troops to hear what sounded like the roar of a huge cavalry. The soldiers said to each other, “Listen! The king of Israel must have hired Hittite and Egyptian troops to attack us. Let's get out of here!” So they ran out of their camp that night, leaving their tents and horses and donkeys. When the four men with leprosy reached the edge of the Syrian camp, no one was there. They walked into one of the tents, where they ate and drank, before carrying off clothes, as well as silver and gold. They hid all this, then walked into another tent; they took what they wanted and hid it too. (2 Kings 7:3-8 CEV)
What did the lepers report to the king? How much did the Syrian army leave behind?
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.” So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household. And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’” And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.” So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king. (2 Kings 7:9-15 ESV)
Did their plunder of the Aramean or Syrian camp fulfill Elisha’s prophecy?
Then the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp. It was then that six quarts of fine meal sold for a shekel and 12 quarts of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. The king had appointed the captain, his right-hand man, to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway. He died, just as the man of God had predicted when the king came to him. When the man of God had said to the king, “About this time tomorrow 12 quarts of barley will sell for a shekel and six quarts of fine meal will sell for a shekel at the gate of Samaria,” this captain had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” Elisha had said, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.” This is what happened to him: the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died. (2 Kings 7:16-20 HCSB)
Why did the king’s officer not receive what he wanted?
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he undertakes. (James 1:5-8 ISV)
How can we grow in faith and overcome our doubts?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)
Do we doubt God’s ability to set things right and His timing? How can we overcome doubt and grow in faith? You decide!
