Discernment Leads to Obedience, Obedience Leads to Blessing
Friday, December 13
2 Kings 8:7-10 (NIV)
“Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, “The man of God has come all the way up here,” he said to Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the LORD through him; ask him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” Elisha answered, “Go and say to him, ‘You will certainly recover.’ Nevertheless, the LORD has revealed to me that he will in fact die.”
Devotion
In today’s scriptures we see multiple instances of the Lord’s provision for those who seek Him. King Ben-Hadad was not an Israelite, but he still knew that in a life or death situation, the only counsel that mattered was Yahweh’s, the God of Israel. He confirmed his confidence in the Lord with a gift that was exuberant — way more than he had to give to Elisha for him to seek an answer from God. The Lord saw his heart and provided Elisha with an answer that was in his favor.
We also see Elisha’s blessing — one he received from obedience in the past. As Pastor Jentezen said, Elisha knew there is a time to obey and look like you’re without. This is from his level of discernment. He sought the Lord, spent time with Him in prayer, and devoted his time to serving others and sharing the Lord’s message with them. Without this deep of a relationship, we can not discern the voice of God. You may recognize blatant sin, but when it comes to choices to be made and things to be said that the Lord is wanting you to do and say, you won’t know.
We see time and time again in the Bible where the Lord asks specific things of different people — just like we heard on Sunday with the leper who had to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times. We all have different assignments, different calls on our life that we can not identify or walk in without hearing the voice of God. If we seek the voice and face of God like Elisha, we will see a reward. 40 camel loads, enough reward to change his life and bless others.
Be encouraged to stop today and ask the Lord if there is anything He is calling you to do— ask Him for ears to hear, eyes to see, His Spirit to strengthen and guide you along a path of obedience to do whatever it is. It will require some kind of sacrifice, maybe your time, comfort, or plan, but after you may have a testimony of 40 loads of blessing, Like the woman in 2 Kings who not only made it through a famine and got her son resurrected, but got her house back, her farm back, her land back, and seven years of lost harvest! “The years the cankerworm had taken away, all because she was obeying God."
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding us that discernment comes from a relationship with You and that obedience to Your voice leads to blessings. Lord, help us cultivate a deeper connection with You through prayer, worship, and meditating on Your Word. Open our ears to hear Your instructions clearly and our hearts to trust You fully. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Take time today to seek God intentionally. Set aside a moment of stillness to ask Him for direction in areas of your life where you need clarity. Write down what He reveals to you and take one step of obedience, no matter how small it may seem. Trust that your obedience will unlock the blessings He has prepared for you.
Resources:
- Watch the message, “The Blessing Is In The Breaking”, and be encouraged to keep the faith even in the seasons that break us.
- Read 1 Kings 17:7-16 and be inspired to learn how God provided for the Widow of Zarephath.