Power

II Kings 13:21

"And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet."

When Elisha was sick and about to die, Joash, the king of Israel, came to him weeping. Elisha told him to open the window and shoot an arrow eastward. This was the arrow of victory over Syria. Then he told Joash to strike the ground with the arrows which he did three times. Angrily, Elisha told him he should have struck the arrows many more times. Now he would only subdue them three times. This alone seemed to described Joash's rule. He did a little to renovate the temple and serve God, but he also fell sadly short.  What Elisha said did come true! Joash defeated Syria only three times without destroying them.

Then Elisha died, and even in his death, he was powerful. A man was thrown into his grave and the man revived and came to life again. When Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's power, he certainly got it. What a contrast between Joash and Elisha, one half-hearted and one whole-hearted, one weak and one powerful, and one inconsistent and one consistent for God. Where is my heart? What is my desire, a double-portion or a nominal portion?

Father,

Help me not to be half-hearted in my worship and service of You. Make me a woman of faith through Your grace and strength.

In Jesus name,

Amen