Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” (2 Kings 13:19 NLT)
Observation
In 2 Kings 13, EliSha’s failing health prompts an emotional visit by Israel’s King Jehoash. He weeps over Elisha. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried (2 Kings 13:14). Elisha, in a deathbed directive, instructs Jehoash to get a bow and some arrows, and to fire an arrow towards the east. Elisha then announces the symbolic significance of the act—“This is the LORD’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek” (2 Kings 13:17).
Elisha then instructs Jehoash to “pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” He does so—but only three times. He’s soundly rebuked by Elisha.
“You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” (2 Kings 13:19 NLT)
I’ve always read that before and thought, “Bad form!” (on Elisha’s part, I mean). How was Jehoash supposed to know the significance of his actions? How come Elisha didn’t give him some kind of warning? Today (in contrast to past readings)…
It seems obvious to me that it should have been obvious to Jehoash that this was a symbolic action of great significance. Elisha has just had him perform a symbolic act, declared the significance of it (“This is the Lord’s arrow, and arrow of victory over Aram”), and then instructed Jehoash to strike the ground with the rest of the arrows! Jehoash should have seen it plainly—and I’m not so sure he didn’t! But if Jehoash did understand the significance of his actions, why didn't he strike the ground agressively and repeatedly?
For the very reasons we don’t!
How often has the “man of God” said, “Lift your hands in praise, friends!” or “Can you say, ‘Amen’?” or “Won’t you respond to God’s Word by gathering around the altars?”…how often has the pastor or worship leader requested a simple but significant symbolic act on the part of the people…to which the people have responded half-heartedly, if at all?
I’m leaving it to you, today, to assess the reasons behind your lackadaisical response…I’ll be busy assessing my own! But I am reminded that these simple actions (common or not-so-common) that God asks of us are not insignificant…that powerful action on God’s part can be fueled by the simplest obedient action on our part. I need that—so I’m listening with fresh intensity, today, for God’s voice of direction.
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