Overcoming life's challenges

2 Kings 7:1-4 

1Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 

2Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

3And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 

4If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

In life we face challenges of varying degrees and characteristics. Sometimes we go through the fire and other times through the water, sometimes through the valley, other times through the desert. Life itself is a challenge and we as children of the most-high God must face those challenges with knowledge, wisdom, vigour and grace.

The four lepers at the gate of Samaria where in a worse situation than the people in the city as their leprous condition made it impossible for them to mingle freely with other people. Faced with what looked like an insurmountable situation, they took certain steps that led to their deliverance. 

Let us consider a few lessons we can learn from the lepers.  

1, They critically analysed their situation:

The lepers took time to analyse their condition with a view to understanding what their challenge was. Their challenge was not their leprosy alone, but the famine in the land which made it difficult for them to have access to food and other necessary supplies. 

2 Kings 7:3-4 "And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die"

If you don't know the challenge, you cannot know the solution! The first step to solving any of lives challenges is to understand the problem.

Many marriages are in a turmoil and yet the spouses do not know what the issue really is. Many siblings do not see eye to eye and if you ask, none can really tell you a cogent reason for the impasse. Some businesses are failing for lack of strategic thinking or professionalism in execution or poor customer service and the owners believe the problem is spiritual!! A wrong diagnosis can lead to a fatal result. The lepers realised they were not hungry because they were leprous but because of the famine. This made is easier for them take a decision.

2, They took action

Knowing what the challenge is, is not the end of recovery but actually the beginning. When you realise what the challenge is, the nest step is to take an action in faith.

The lepers said:

2 Kings 7:4 "If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die."

They weighed their options, stay here and die, go into Samaria and die or go to our enemies and maybe live. The only option that gave a glimpse of survival was going to the enemy’s camp. 

The prodigal son did same, he reviewed his circumstance, compared himself with slaves in his father’s house and then took a definite step.

Luke 15:18 KJV "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."

Whatever you are going through in live requires deliberate steps of faith to overcome them. If you require a job, go out every day and search for one, if you have spiritual attacks, arm yourself with scriptural spiritual weapons and fight, if you have marital challenges, talk to your spouse, seek counseling, whatever the challenge is, like the lepers did, take actions. Do your best and believe God will do the rest. 

3, The Lord fought for them

From the story, we see that the almighty God already fought for the children of Israel and they didn't know!

2 Kings 7:6 "For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us."

Many believers are still fighting wars that the Almighty God has already fought for them without realising they have won the battle. If only we can learn from the lepers how to appraise our position and then take actions.  

God loves us. He loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us or better put to die in our place.

He promised never to leave nor forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

He promised to fight for us

Exodus 14:14 "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

God promised that He will always make a way of escape for us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

It is in living, that we experience the miraculous interventions of God not in hoping!!!  

4, They were not selfish

2 Kings 7:9 "

Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household."

Selfishness is a trait of the devil. As children of God we should have the spirit of giving. God loves us so much and to prove that, he gave. 

The lepers knew people were suffering in Samaria, they saw an opportunity to be multi-millionaires by keeping the spoils from the enemy to themselves but they chose to share the vital information with the rest of the people and thereby spread love.   

Proverbs 11:24 "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."

When you have the capacity to bless anyone, go ahead. 

Prayer is no solution to a hungry man, food is.

The story of the Good Samaritan is that of selfless giving. We need to become good Nigerians too.

Bishop Sam Chidoka

March 2017