2 Kings 7:3-7 MSG It happened that four lepers were sitting just outside the city gate. They said to one another, “What are we doing sitting here at death’s door? If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us, we’ll live; if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
5-7 So after the sun went down they got up and went to the camp of Aram. When they got to the edge of the camp, surprise! Not a man in the camp! The Master had made the army of Aram hear the sound of horses and a mighty army on the march. They told one another, “The king of Israel hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us!” Panicked, they ran for their lives through the darkness, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys – the whole camp just as it was – running for dear life.
Observation
Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection primarily affecting the nerves of the extremities (fingers, toes), the skin, the lining of the nose, and the upper respiratory tract, producing skin ulcers, nerve damage, and muscle weakness that untreated causes severe disfigurement and significant disability. Lepers of this time were pariahs who usually lived in isolated areas, depending upon the benevolence of others, and required to loudly announce their approach so everyone could keep significant social distance.
We have here four lepers assessing their options as they sit outside the city gates. The overwhelming army of Aram, known for their cruelty and mercilessness, have blockaded the city until resources are scarce. The people inside the city are starving and desperate enough to resort to looking to the unthinkable for food. In good times, lepers depended on the mercy, compassion and benevolence of family and strangers. Now the resources are so scarce that these lepers know that nothing will be spared for them in the city. There is only one other place to turn. “So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us, we’ll live; if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Imagine the sight! These four lepers were weak from hunger and disfigured by this disease (perhaps missing fingers, toes, nose) as they struggled to their feet to limp, stumble and hobble toward the enemy camp in the dark. These four were no part of any battle plan we would consider, but God is not limited by what we consider prudent or possible. Paul tells us that God uses the weak to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:20-31 Phillips) to keep us from glorying in our own talents, abilities, wisdom, accomplishments. God used these people of negative value to their community to deliver them from the enemy. “The Master had made the army of Aram hear the sound of horses and a mighty army on the march. They told one another, “The king of Israel hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us!” Panicked, they ran for their lives through the darkness, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys – the whole camp just as it was – running for dear life.” These four were used by God to deliver the whole city. This is good for us to remember as we are tempted to judge the value of another’s contribution in accomplishing God’s will and purpose.
Impact on Me
I am reminded of this story every time I weigh the worth of what I bring to the table to answer God’s call on my life. I believe that God wants me to be active in seeking Him, reading His Word, studying, preparing myself for service and actually doing good works in His name. These are all necessary to demonstrate my commitment to Him, but – and this is a big but – He does not NEED my talents, abilities, education, finances, wisdom or anything else of mine to accomplish His will and purposes. My evidence is these four lepers. If God can make these stumbling, starving lepers sound like a mighty army, then He can equip me (or anyone else who is willing) to do anything He asks me to do if I will be obedient to get up and go as He directs.
So, I stopped telling God what I think I need and started asking Him to show me what He thinks I need. He first tells me that I need to know what He really did for me on the Cross. Knowing this equips me with righteousness, peace, joy and all the weapons I need for warfare. Then I hear He needs my willingness to trust in Him and faithfully obey His leading, knowing that He will go with me and provide all I need to do His work. Like these four lepers, I need to get up and go in the direction God sends me. I need to bring all I have and am, put it on the table which is God’s altar, let Him assess its worth and place in His plan, and freely allow Him to use whatever He can for His glory.
Prayer
I exalt Your name, Oh God, Creator, Redeemer, Eternal, Awesome, Wise, All-Powerful One. I surrender all I am and have to You for Your will and purposes. May my life be a praise to You, one of obedient and faithful service, glorifying You in all I am, say and do. If ever my pride rises up to take any glory from You, remind me of these four lepers; You don’t need my help, but for some reason You have included me in accomplishing Your plans. I certainly need Your help to do so. I pray this all in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 