How To Read The Bible

Transcription

1 Exploring God s Word A Survey of the Old and New Testaments Prepared by Polly Strong B.R.E., B.A., M.A. For Rogma International, Inc. (All Scripture quotations from the KJV of the Bible) Copyright by Rogma International, Inc. All rights reserved. Section VI Broken Theme: A biblical perspective of prosperity and privilege is essential to godly leadership. Goal: Learn to use God s gifts of position or possession for His glory alone, not for selfish gains. Summary: This section introduces the beginning of the divided kingdom: Israel (ten tribes of the north) and Judah (2 tribes of the south). The kings of Israel and Judah exalted themselves in pride, and fell. (Remember Solomon s warning in Ecclesiastes 5:13.) But those who humbled themselves before God were lifted up and God protected and cared for them. Date: 950 to 850 B.C., approximately 100 years; Rehoboam and Jeroboam to the end of Ahab s dynasty Outline: 1 Kings The kingdom divided to become Israel and Judah 2 Chronicles Kings The decline of Israel and Judah; time of the prophet Elijah 2 Chronicles Kings 1-9 Ahab s descendants; time of the prophet Elisha People to know: (Know what these people did for the exam) 1 Kings kings of Judah: Rehoboam, Abijah (Abijam), Asa, Jehoshaphat kings of Israel: Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab (Jezebel), Ahaziah prophets: Shemaiah, Ahijah, Jehu, Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah, Zedekiah others: Shishak (king of Egypt), Ben-hadad (king of Syria), Obadiah (governor of Ahab), Obadiah, Naboth (owned a vineyard) 2 Kings 1-9 kings of Israel: Ahaziah, Jehoram kings of Judah: Joram, Ahaziah kings of Syria: Ben-hadad prophets: Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Joel, Obadiah others: the Shunammite, Naaman, Gehazi Places to know: 1 Kings Israel: Shechem, Bethel, Dan, Ramah, Samaria, the Brook Cherith, Carmel, Jezreel, Judah: Jerusalem, Beer-Sheba, Jericho Zarephath of Sidon, Horeb, Egypt, Syria, Damascus, Ramoth of Gilead 2 Kings 1-9 Moab, Gilgal, Edom, Shunem, Jordan 1

2 Words and phrases to know: alliance: joined by treaty; united; related Baal: a chief male Phoenician god of fertility, son of El and Dagon, fathers of the gods. The Canaanites worshipped Baal through priests in the temples or in high places in the open fields. divided kingdom: refers to the nation of Israel after it separated into Judah and Israel; (the ten tribes of the north which withdrew from Judah.) dynasty: succession of rulers of the same family high places: local places of worship originating with the Canaanite religions miracle: act or happening in the physical world that defies natural laws; supernatural occurrence national idolatry: idolatry set up as a part of the national system of government remnant: that which is left; fragment; the few who remained true to God Introduction The moral fiber of the home life of Israel s royalty had been damaged through the sins of David and Solomon. A corrupt, self-seeking heir (Rehoboam) caused rebellion and the kingdom divided to become: Israel, the ten tribes of the north and Judah (with Benjamin), the two tribes in the south. Self-seeking politics of the new fearful king in Israel (Jeroboam) introduced national idolatry to the ten tribes in the north. Immorality, greed, injustice and the worship of false gods, weakened the children of God. For several generations Judah remained loyal to God, though they too were affected by sin. At first there was continual war between Israel and Judah until unholy alliances pulled Judah into the consequences of unfaithful Israel. Only a faithful few, the remnant, remained true to God. Judah and Israel continued separately with different kings. Judah recognized God as head of the nation while Israel became idolatrous and whored after other gods. People of the northern kingdom of Israel who remained true to God, left Israel, and moved to the southern land of Judah to worship God in the Temple at Jerusalem. (This is how all 12 tribes are represented among the Jews.) At the end of this section, unholy alliances between the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah brought sad consequences. (Israel joined with Syria. Judah made treaties with Egypt, then with wicked Ahab and Jezebel who worshipped Baal.) God sent the prophets Elijah and Elisha to show His power and sovereignty to Israel and the nations. THE LESSON I. THE KINGDOM DIVIDED TO BECOME ISRAEL AND JUDAH (1 Kings 12-14; 2 Chronicles 10-12) A. Rehoboam provoked division (1 Kings 12:1-24; 14:25-41; 2 Chronicles 10-12). Rehoboam, Solomon s ruthless son, misused the wealth and power he had inherited to be used for God s glory and used them to serve himself. He rejected the counsel of older men of God and increased the burdens of taxation. He was self-seeking and did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14). The people revolted and he lost most of his kingdom to the ten tribes in the north, organized under Jeroboam. Later he also lost the treasures of the house of the LORD to Egypt (l Kings 14:25-28; 2 Chronicles 12:1-4). A prophet of God warned Rehoboam of his sin and he humbled himself, so God delivered him, strengthened him and he continued to reign in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 12:5-13). B. Jeroboam rejected God and introduced national idolatry (1 Kings 12:25-14:24). Jeroboam ruled the 10 tribes of the north. He feared losing his kingdom to Rehoboam in Judah, so he denied his people the right to go to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. He placed golden calves at Bethel and Dan and told the people to worship there. This direct denial of God s sovereignty stayed with Israel until they were taken captive and scattered over the earth. A prophet of God from Judah prophesied 2

3 against Jeroboam s altar at Bethel. He said that a child would be born of the house of David who would pollute that altar by burning men s bones on it. (King Josiah fulfilled this prophesy) (2 Kings 23:15,16). God gave this sign: the altar will split open and the ashes will pour out. Jeroboam put out his hand to take the prophet and it was paralyzed. The altar split and the ashes poured out. Jeroboam asked the prophet to call on God to restore his hand. God healed him. The prophet of God refused to join Jeroboam in his home (l Kings 13:1-10). He also refused the invitation of an old man, but later, when the man said he was a prophet sent by the Lord, he went with him. God rebuked the prophet for this. On the way home a lion killed him. The old man buried the prophet s body and asked his sons to bury him when he died with this true prophet of God (1 Kings 13:11-32). Jeroboam s son, Abijah was sick. He sent his wife, in disguise, to seek counsel from the prophet Ahijah (who had prophesied he would be king) at Shiloh (1 Kings 14:1-4). The prophet gave the king this message from God: I exalted thee and made thee prince over my people Israel yet thou hast done evil thou hast made other gods and molten images and hath cast me behind thy back. Therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam... the child shall die... For the LORD shall smite Israel and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger (1 Kings 14:5-16). It came to pass as the Lord had said (1 Kings 14:17-20). C. Things to Think About: 1. What caused the downfall of both Rehoboam and Jeroboam? They had selfish ambitions of building great kingdoms for themselves. Their priority was not honoring God. Both of them suffered for this. What kinds of selfish ambitions try to enter your life and ministries? Have you asked God to help you keep your priorities straight? (1 Corinthians 10:31). 2. What prompted Jeroboam to build the golden calves and tell people to worship before them? He was afraid of the people going back to Rehoboam if they went to Jerusalem to worship. Fear often prompts people to perform unholy acts of worship. Remember Saul s sacrifice in l Samuel 13. What fears affect you? Do they prompt you to invoke idols, spirits or other powers? II. THE DECLINE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH (1 Kings 14-22; 2 Kings 1-8; 2 Chronicles 13-20) War continued between Israel and Judah because they served two separate masters (1 Kings 15:6). Judah continued to recognize God (though they did not always respect and reverence Him). Israel served idols. Rehoboam (Judah) and his sons, Abijah and Asa, were against Jeroboam (Israel), his son Nadab, and the kings who followed: Baasha, Zimri, Omri and Ahab. But after many years, Jehoshaphat, a godly king of Judah, entered into unholy alliances with ungodly Israel (1 Kings 22:44; 2 Chronicles 18:1; 19:2) and Judah began to decline in the same sins as Israel. A. The sons of Rehoboam (Judah) and of Jeroboam (Israel), fought because their kingdoms were built on different premises (1 Kings 12-22; 2 Chronicles 13-20). 1. The sons of Rehoboam continued to honor God as head of the nation of Judah, but did not always obey Him and follow His commands. a. Abijah (Abijam), Rehoboam s son did evil like his father, but he fought in the name of the Lord and claimed Judah for God. Therefore God gave him victory and preserved Jerusalem because of David (1 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 13:1-12). b. Asa, Abijah s son, respected God and His laws (1 Kings 15:8-24; 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14). He took away the Sodomites and idols. He even removed his own mother as queen, because she made an idol in a grove. He destroyed her idol and brought the dedicated things into the house of the Lord (1 Kings 15:11-16). He opposed Israel s idolatry and fought against king Baasha. But he did not remove the high places. He also sent treasures of the house of the Lord to the king of Syria in Damascus, and talked about an agreement between Syria and Judah, encouraging Syria to attack the king of Israel (1 Kings 15:14,19,20). 2. Jeroboam s son and succeeding kings of Israel continued in idolatry. a. Nadab, Jeroboam s son, reigned 2 years, and did evil like his father (1 Kings 14:20; 15:25, 26). 3

4 b. Baasha, of the house of Issachar, conspired against Nadab and killed him with all the house of Jeroboam, as the Lord had prophesied. War continued between Judah (Asa) and Israel (Baasha), (1 Kings 15:27,29,32). Jehu (the prophet) prophesied the destruction of Baasha because he continued to make Israel sin in the idolatry of Jeroboam (1 Kings 16:1-3). c. Elah, Baasha s son, reigned two years and was killed by his servant Zimri (1 Kings 16:8-14). d. Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. The people heard he had killed the king, so they rejected him and made Omri (captain of the military) king of Israel. e. Omri conquered Tirzah and burned the palace with Zimri in it. For a while the people were divided, but Omri gained strength and became king of Israel (1 Kings 16:15-22). Omri, bought the hill of Samaria and made it his capital. He continued the idolatry of Jeroboam and did worse than the kings before him (1 Kings 16:23-28). He died and his son Ahab became king (1 Kings 16:29-30). (The ten northern tribes are often called Samaria.) f. Ahab, the most wicked king of Israel, continued the idolatrous sins of Jeroboam. He took Jezebel, a Sidonian, as his wife, and introduced Baal worship. He built a house for Baal, and made him an altar and a grove. He did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him (1 Kings 16:31,33). (Read the life of Ahab: 1 Kings 16:29-22:39.) B. Elijah, the man of God, confronts wicked Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 17-19). The prophet Elijah announced a famine and warned Ahab and the people of Israel to turn from their sins. God knew Ahab s wicked heart and hid Elijah and fed him by the Brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:5,6). When the brook dried up, God took Elijah to a widow in Zarephath and used him to fill the woman s barrel with meal and her cruse with oil. When her son died, God used Elijah to bring the boy back to life (1 Kings 17:8-24). God was revealing Himself to Israel. He wanted them to know that the God of Elijah was the true God. In the third year of the famine, God sent Elijah to tell King Ahab that rain was coming. Ahab had sent Obadiah his governor (a God fearing man who hid and fed 100 prophets during Jezebel s slaughter) to search for grass for the animals (1 Kings 18:1-6). As he was returning he met Elijah, who instructed him to tell Ahab he was near. Obadiah feared for his life but did as Elijah said (1 Kings 18:7-16). Ahab called Elijah he that troubleth Israel and blamed him for the famine. Elijah said Ahab and the people of Israel had caused the famine by forsaking the Lord and His commandments to follow Baal. Elijah challenged Ahab to a contest on Mount Carmel between his God and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:17-20). The people gathered. Elijah said to them, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. They did not answer. Elijah was the only prophet of God facing 450 prophets of Baal. Each prepared their altars and sacrifices. The prophets of Baal called on their god, leaping, crying loudly, cutting themselves and petitioning from morning until evening. Nothing happened. Baal did not reply (1 Kings 18:21-29). Elijah prepared his altar to the Lord on twelve stones, poured four barrels of water on the burnt offering, and called on the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, saying, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant (1 Kings 18:30-36). The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice, wood, stones, dust and water. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God (1 Kings 18:39). Elijah told Ahab to go eat, that the rain was coming. Seven times Elijah looked and, at last, a cloud appeared and a great rain came. Ahab got in his chariot and Elijah ran before him to Jezreel (1 Kings 18:41-46). Unthankful Jezebel told Elijah she was going to kill him. Elijah ran for his life to Beersheba and on into the wilderness where God met him (1 Kings 19:1-8). Elijah rested under a juniper tree, despairing of life. The angel of the Lord ministered to him and he was given strength to travel forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God (in Sinai) (1 Kings 19:1-8). There he hid in a cave. The Lord came to him again and asked him what he was doing. Elijah said, I only, am left. He felt alone and was afraid. God sent a great wind, an earthquake and a fire. Then He appeared to Elijah in a still small voice and Elijah humbled himself before God. Again the Lord asked what he was 4

5 doing and Elijah poured out his heart to God (1 Kings 19:9-14). Elijah was encouraged and humbled himself before God. The Lord told him to go to Damascus and anoint Hazael as king of Syria, Jehu as king of Israel and Elisha as the prophet to follow him. God told Elijah 7,000 prophets in Israel had not bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:15-18). Elijah did as God had said. C. God sent enemy nations to test and punish Israel (1 Kings 20-22). God used the enemies of Israel (Egypt, Syria, Assyria, and Babylon) to test and prove them. He sent enemy nations to discipline and punish His people just as He did in the time of the judges. Syria besieged Samaria (1 Kings 20:1-12). Ben-hadad, king of Syria, sent word to Ahab saying: Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children (1 Kings 20:3). King Ahab aligned himself with Syria saying, I am thine and all that I have (1 Kings 20:4). But Ben-hadad continued his attack. God defeated the Syrians to show His great power, but he told Ahab to strengthen himself because Syria was coming again (1 Kings 20:16, 20-22). Israel had misrepresented God and Syria had blasphemed Him. The servants of the king of Syria said that the gods of Israel are gods of the hills but they would fight them in the plains (1 Kings 20:23). Because the Syrians said the LORD is God of the hills, but not of the valleys, God said to Israel, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD (1 Kings 20:28,29). Israel defeated Syria, but Ahab negated the victory by making a covenant with Syria. He was rebuked for this (1 Kings 20:34-43). This was the beginning of the Syrian sieges that weakened Israel and led to their downfall. Ahab and Jezebel continued their wicked ways. Ahab dealt selfishly with Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-16). Elijah pronounced God s judgment saying that he had sold himself to work evil in the sight of the LORD, therefore God would cut off his house. Ahab repented in sackcloth and ashes. Elijah said that because Ahab humbled himself the evil would not come until his son s time (1 Kings 21:17-29). Ahab, stirred up by Jezebel his wife, sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord more than any other king (1 Kings 21:25). For three years there was no war between Israel and Syria (1 Kings 22). Then King Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in battle against Ramoth-Gilead (1 Kings 22:4). Ahab was killed in this battle. His body was returned to Samaria where the dogs licked his blood as it was washed from his chariot (1 Kings 22:33-40). D. Judah paid the price of unholy alliances. Judah still recognized God, though they did not always respect, reverence, and obey Him. Jehoshaphat, a godly king in Judah, sold his nation into ungodly ways. Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, rid Judah of the Sodomites, strengthened himself against Israel, and refused joint trade ventures. He walked in the ways of his father David and sought the Lord God. He did not follow Baal or the ways of Israel. He took away the high places and groves and sent out his princes, priests and Levites to teach the law of God in the cities of Judah. His testimony was evident to others and the fear of the Lord fell on the nations around them. He built up the economy and military forces of Judah (1 Kings 22:46,49; 2 Chronicles 17:1-19). But Jehoshaphat kept the high places where people offered sacrifices and burned incense (1 Kings 22:43), and when he had riches and honor in abundance he made peace with Israel (1 Kings 22:44). He joined himself with the wicked king Ahab in marriage, politics, war and economic ventures (2 Chronicles 18:1,2). He took Athaliah, Ahab s daughter, as a wife for his son Jehoram and thus aligned himself with Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:6). Ahab invited him to a big feast and persuaded him to join in a battle to take Ramothgilead from the Syrians. Jehoshaphat wanted to consult a prophet. All the prophets of Ahab said to go. Micaiah, a prophet of God also said to go, but added, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd... (1 Kings 22:17). Ahab was angry and put Micaiah in prison for prophesying against Israel. Ahab was killed in this battle (1 Kings 22:29-40; 2 Chronicles 18:1-32). The prophet Jehu asked Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly... therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD (2 Chronicles 19:2). Jehoshaphat listened and obeyed the Lord. He told the judges to judge not for man, but for the Lord and to let the fear of the Lord be upon them. He told the 5

6 Levites and the priests to serve faithfully in the fear of the Lord, with a perfect heart, and to warn of sin (2 Chronicles 19:5-11). When Moab and Ammon came up against Judah, Jehoshaphat was afraid and sought the Lord. He prepared a fast and gathered the people to ask for God s help. He prepared his own heart, called the people to prepare their hearts, worshipped and gave praise and honor to God. The people humbled themselves and the Spirit of the Lord came in the midst of the congregation and encouraged them. The Levites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel. Jehoshaphat encouraged them saying, Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established praise the beauty of holiness. When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against Ammon and Moab. They were three days gathering in the spoil. They blessed the Lord and He made them to rejoice. The fear of God was on all the kingdoms and God gave them rest (2 Chronicles 20:20-30). After Ahab died, Jehoshaphat joined himself with Ahaziah, the next wicked king of Israel, in making ships to go to Tarshish. The Lord broke up the ships (2 Chronicles 20:35-37). Jehoshaphat died and his son Jehoram reigned in his place (1 Kings 22:50,51). E. Things to Think About: 1. What caused war between Israel and Judah? Israel worshipped idols and Judah worshipped God. There will always be conflict between people who worship God and those who oppose Him. How did Elijah meet this conflict? He openly witnessed of God s greatness, even though his life was threatened. Are you willing to face bravely and openly the conflict with evil? 2. How did Jehoshaphat, a godly king in Judah, weaken the nation? He made business and marriage alliances with ungodly Israel. These were unholy alliances because they were contrary to God s law. What kinds of unholy alliances do believers make today? 3. Why did God do miracles through Elijah? He wanted the people to see His power and glory and to know that He is God. God shows His power and glory today through the miracle of rebirth and changed lives of believers. Can others see His power and glory through you? III. THE PRICE OF DISOBEDIENCE IN AHAB S DESCENDANTS IN ISRAEL (2 Kings 1-9) A. In Israel Ahab s descendants continued his wicked ways. God sent prophets to warn them. Ahaziah, Ahab s son, became king in Israel (2 Kings 1:1-18). He sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub. God sent Elijah to meet them with this message, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? He told Ahaziah that he would die (2 Kings 1:2-4). Three times Ahaziah sent fifty men to tell Elijah to come down from the hill where he prophesied. Each time Elijah called down fire from heaven that consumed them, until they admitted that God is God. Elijah went to Ahaziah with the message of death (1 Kings 1:9-18). (God sent Elisha to replace Elijah, 2 Kings 2) Jehoram (Joram), son of Ahaziah, ruled in Israel (2 Kings 3:1). Moab rebelled against Jehoram and he asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to go up with him against Moab. Jehoshaphat agreed saying, we are all one. The kings of Israel, Judah and Edom went together to fight against Moab. There was no water and Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet. The prophet Elisha rejected the king of Israel but recognized Jehoshaphat. He told him there would be no wind or rain, but to dig ditches, and the valley by Edom would be filled with water (2 Kings 3:16-20). In the morning the Moabites saw the sun shining on the water and it looked like blood. They concluded that the kings had killed each other and went in for the spoil. Israel met them and conquered Moab. The king of Moab realized he was defeated and offered his son, the royal heir, as a burnt offering (2 Kings 3:21-27). B. In Judah, Jehoram (Joram) replaced Jehoshaphat as king of Judah (2 Kings 8:16). He walked in the ways of Ahab and Jezebel, his in-laws, but the Lord kept a light in Judah because of his covenant with David (2 Kings 8:18,19). Edom and Libnah revolted (2 Kings 8:20-22). Ahaziah 6

7 (Jehoahaz) reigned in Judah (2 Kings 8:25-29) and walked in the ways of his grandfather, Ahab. (He was the son of Jehoram and Athaliah.) He joined Joram, king of Israel, in war against Hazael of Syria. Joram was wounded and Ahaziah went to him at Jezreel (2 Kings 8:28,29). Jehu came to Samaria and killed Joram, Ahaziah and Jezebel. Athaliah (mother of Ahaziah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel) killed all the royal seed after the death of her son Ahaziah, and made herself queen of Judah. Jehosheba, Ahaziah s sister, saved his youngest son, Joash, and hid him in the Temple with Jehoiada the priest. When he was seven years old, they presented him as king of Judah and killed Athaliah (2 Kings 11:1-20; 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:15; 24:7). C. Elisha s miracles proved God s power during this wicked period (2 Kings 4-8). 1. God provided for two women who believed and trusted in Him. God supplied oil to the widow of a prophet to pay off her debts (2 Kings 4:1-7). He gave a son to the Shunammite woman who prepared a room for Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-17). When her son died, God used Elisha to restore his life (2 Kings 4:18-37). 2. God provided for the sons of the prophets. Poison soup was made good, and twenty loaves of barley and ears of corn fed 100 people (2 Kings 4:38-44). 3. God healed Naaman, a Syrian military leader (2 Kings 5). Naaman had leprosy. A captive Jewish slave girl testified to his wife of the power of her God in Israel (2 Kings 5:1-4). Naaman went to the king of Israel. He could not help him, so he sent for Elisha (2 Kings 5:5-7). At first Naaman rejected Elisha s reception and instructions, but counseled by his servants, obeyed and was healed (2 Kings 5:8-14). Then he said, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Elisha refused payment. But Gehazi, his servant tried to get gain, and was punished for his sin with leprosy (2 Kings 5:15-27). 4. God showed His power to the sons of the prophets. An ax head of the sons of the prophets fell in the water. Elisha prayed and God made it rise to the top of the water and swim in the river Jordan (2 Kings 6:1-7). 5. Several times God protected the king of Israel and the people of Samaria. a. A man of God saved Israel s king by exposing the location of the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:8-10). b. The king of Syria tried to take Elisha at Dothan (2 Kings 6:13-22). Elisha told his servant, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them (2 Kings 6:16). The Lord opened his eyes and he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots and fire. The Lord blinded the Syrians and Elisha led them into Samaria. There the Lord opened their eyes. Elisha told the king of Israel to feed them and send them home (2 Kings 6:17-23). c. Syrians surrounded Samaria, and there was a great famine (2 Kings 6:24-33; 7:1-20). People were so desperate they ate dung and their own children. The king asked Elisha to kill him, but Elisha refused. He prophesied food for the next day. The messenger was told he would not eat any of it because he did not believe God s message (2 Kings 7:1,2). The following day four lepers went to the Syrian camp. The Lord caused the Syrians to hear a noise they thought was Hittites and Egyptians hired by Israel. They fled, leaving everything behind. The lepers took this news back to Samaria and the people rushed to get the food. The unbelieving messenger was trampled by the mob (2 Kings 7:3-20). 6. God rewarded a believing woman. The woman whose son was raised returned after the seven years of famine and approached the king about her land. Gehazi was reporting to the king of Elisha s great works. Because of his testimony her land was restored (2 Kings 8:1-6). 7. God showed His power over the kings of the nations. He told Elisha to send Hazael to Ben-hadad in Syria with a message that Ben-hadad was not going to die. Elisha knew Ben-hadad really would die and wept for what Hazel was going to do to Israel (2 Kings 8:7-15). D. Things to Think About: 7

8 1. What were the results of Jehoshaphat s unholy alliances with Israel? His children lived like wicked king Ahab and eventually his daughter-in-law tried to kill all the royal line. Are you doing things that may lead to the downfall of your children and grand-children? 2. What were the results of Elisha s ministry? A city was saved; hungry people were fed; sick people were healed; a woman received a son and her land was restored. Have you seen good that came to places where the Gospel was preached and believed? E. Miracles. During three periods in Bible history God used many visible miracles: 1. when the children of Israel were leaving Egypt 2. at the time of Elijah and Elisha 3. when Christ was on earth Each of these periods is a transition period when God s people had forgotten Him and He was revealing Himself to give them one more chance to repent. Each of these periods was also a time when God was showing His power to the Gentile world as well. Elijah opened the way for a new era in Israel s history, the period of the writing prophets, where prophecy and miracles played an important part. He is a type of John the Baptist who prepared the way for the coming of Christ. 8