Faith, Obedience, Miracles - Jehoshaphat And Joram

“This is what the LORD says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water! You will see neither wind nor rain, says the LORD, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. But this is only a simple thing for the LORD, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!”

2 Kings 3:16-18

Humorist and author Jan King told the story of a friend who couldn’t get his son to clean his bedroom. The boy always agreed to tidy up but never followed through.

The son’s attitude changed when he joined the United States Marine Corps after high school. When he came home on leave after basic training, his father asked him what he had learned in the service.

“Dad,” he said, “I learned what now means.”

Many Christians receive God’s commands but wait to see what he’s doing before obeying. Unfortunately, this “You first, God” approach to obedience often means missing out on his blessings, and maybe a miracle or two.

Jehoshaphat and Joram, kings of Judah and Israel, needed a miracle. Their armies had marched against Moab, but after seven days, the soldiers had run out of water and were in danger of dying of thirst.

Speaking through the prophet Elisha, God sent them word that he would miraculously provide water. There was only one condition: They were to dig ditches in the valley near Israel’s camp and wait for him to act.

Did that make sense during a long-lasting drought?

Jehoshaphat and Joram were far apart spiritually, but the godly king of Judah and the idolatrous king of Israel had a choice that day—to laugh at Elisha and ignore God’s command or to obey and wait for a miracle.

Jehoshaphat and Joram acted in faith and obedience, and God fulfilled his promise with more water than their men and animals could possibly drink.

When God commands you to do something that seems humanly unreasonable, do you act immediately or wait for him to act first? God doesn’t call you to blind faith and obedience but to faith and obedience rooted in the knowledge of who he is. He desires to bless you when you trust him enough to obey.