This chapter is chock full of events including two more kings in Israel’s timeline, and the death of Elisha. As usual, there is far too happening to cover everything in detail, so you may wish to read the full chapter.
“And Elisha said to [Jehoash], ‘Take a bow and arrows… Draw the bow… Open the window eastward… Shoot,’ and he shot. And he said, ‘The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.’ And he said, ‘Take the arrows… Strike the ground with them.’ And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, ‘You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.’ ” (v14-19 abr)
The newest king of Israel, Jehoash/Joash (son of Jehoahaz, grandson of Jehu [not the same Jehoash/Joash King of Judah we’ve recently discussed]) comes to Elisha. Israel is under seige/blockade by the Syrians, and Elisha is dying, so the new king is desperate. Despite following in the sins of Jeroboam, he still realizes that Elisha has brought protection to Israel over the years, and he wants his (God’s) help.
Elisha instructs the king to shoot arrows out a window, metaphorically showing God’s deliverance of His people from Syria. The king only shoots three arrows at the ground, when he could have fired far more (the average quiver holds 25 to 40 arrows). Elisha is angry that the king relented after only a few shots.
How often does God call us to do something, but we quit partway? I know there are several partially completed projects around my house which remind of the times I didn’t follow-through on something. God keeps His word, and He has a perfect track record on follow-through. Most people on the other hand, have a bad habit of breaking commitments or leaving them incomplete.
I encourage us (especially myself) to begin/continue completing things when we know they are from God. If we’re doing something sinful, we can quit that, but our God-honoring commitments and promises should be fulfilled. For example, if we offer to serve in a ministry, we should follow through and keep our word. Just like the king should have kept firing until Elisha told him to stop, we can keep going until God tells us otherwise. If God always keeps His word, and we are His image-bearers, then it’s best we also keep our word.
Father God, our Glorious Lord in Heaven, holy, holy, holy, is Your name. Father we long to be more like You and Jesus. One way we can do that is model the reliability and trustworthiness You show us. Please help us to only make promises that honor You, follow through on them, and fulfill any callings You give us. Thank you for making us a light to those around us, and helping us bring glory to Your name, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training