Today's readings are 2 Kings 2.19-25, 2 Kings 4.1-7, and Ephesians 4.25-5.14
In our reading today we see two different facets of the work of Elisha. This prophet is both a healer and one who calls judgment down on people. Let's take those characteristics and see how they both come from one and the same God.
It is the Lord who is the giver of life. However, he is also the giver of death, as the penalty of sin. This world is a place of stark contrasts, such as life and death, health and sickness, riches and poverty. And in every case, a truly biblical world view will see God as the one who sovereignly superintends over all. Is there life, health, or riches without God's hand? No. We confess that our Lord gives us all that we need. He is the one who created and sustains everything and everyone. Yet we see those positives such as life, health, and riches only by looking at their opposites. How do we know life is a good thing without seeing death as a bad thing? How do we know health without knowing about sickness? How do we know about riches without knowing about poverty? And when we look to the Lord, the giver of Life, we look in faith through Jesus Christ, who, becoming sin for us, took death on our behalf, enduring sickness and poverty. He has healed us through his suffering.
Yes, our Lord works in this world through both good and evil. Since creation we have had no shortage of good. Since the fall into sin, we have had no shortage of evil. There is more than we need of both to point us to the goodness of God in Christ.
Can God's servants then give evil, such as Elisha's cursing of the young people? Apparently this is an appropriate thing to do. We should notice, though, that proclaiming God's curse on someone has a truly terrible effect. It is not to be taken lightly that we may both bless and curse. Let us strive to bless people, not curse them in all we do.
In our reading today we see two different facets of the work of Elisha. This prophet is both a healer and one who calls judgment down on people. Let's take those characteristics and see how they both come from one and the same God.
It is the Lord who is the giver of life. However, he is also the giver of death, as the penalty of sin. This world is a place of stark contrasts, such as life and death, health and sickness, riches and poverty. And in every case, a truly biblical world view will see God as the one who sovereignly superintends over all. Is there life, health, or riches without God's hand? No. We confess that our Lord gives us all that we need. He is the one who created and sustains everything and everyone. Yet we see those positives such as life, health, and riches only by looking at their opposites. How do we know life is a good thing without seeing death as a bad thing? How do we know health without knowing about sickness? How do we know about riches without knowing about poverty? And when we look to the Lord, the giver of Life, we look in faith through Jesus Christ, who, becoming sin for us, took death on our behalf, enduring sickness and poverty. He has healed us through his suffering.
Yes, our Lord works in this world through both good and evil. Since creation we have had no shortage of good. Since the fall into sin, we have had no shortage of evil. There is more than we need of both to point us to the goodness of God in Christ.
Can God's servants then give evil, such as Elisha's cursing of the young people? Apparently this is an appropriate thing to do. We should notice, though, that proclaiming God's curse on someone has a truly terrible effect. It is not to be taken lightly that we may both bless and curse. Let us strive to bless people, not curse them in all we do.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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