Read: 2 Kings
13
2 Kings 13 recounts the reigns of two kings of
Israel, Jehoahaz and Jehoash, as well as the final prophecy and death of
Elisha. Jehu’s son, Jehoahaz, succeeds his father in ruling Israel. Jehoahaz is
an evil king. God is angry at Jehoahaz’s wickedness, so he allows Hazael, king
of Aram, to rule over Israel. This painful subjugation of Israel to Aram was
prophesied by Elisha (8:11-13). Eventually, Jehoahaz is broken. He cannot
rescue Israel, so he seeks the Lord. When we come to the end of ourselves and
seek God He always responds. The Lord delivers Israel out of Aram’s hands.
Despite receiving God’s miraculous salvation, Jehoahaz continues in his wicked
ways. Because of this, God allows Aram to decimate Israel’s armies. Jehoahaz
dies and is buried with his fathers in Samaria.
Jehoash, Jehoahaz’s son, becomes king of Israel.
He, too, did evil and failed to repent. During Jehoash’s reign, Elisha falls
ill. The king visits the prophet and mourns his impending death. Elisha’s final
prophecy is recorded in this story. Elisha tells Jehoash to take up a bow and
arrow and shot out the east window. This prophetic act declares Israel’s coming
victory over Aram. Next, Elisha tells Jehoash to strike the ground with the
arrows. Jehoash strikes the ground three times and stopped. Whatever his
motivation for stopping Jehoash fails Elisha’s test. Jehoash does not display
the zeal and resolve necessary to fully defeat Aram. Thus, Israel will only
have a partial victory. Sometime after this meeting, Elisha dies and is buried.
God’s spirit rested on Elisha so powerfully that a dead man came to life after
touching Elisha’s bones!
Prayer and
Journaling
1. God heard Jehoahaz’s cry and rescued Israel in
their time of need. Is there an area where you need God’s powerful deliverance?
Ask God to show you how He wants to be your deliverer in this situation.
2. Spend a good amount of time (at least fifteen
minutes) interceding for God’s deliverance in this situation. Pray for His
rescue from the depths of your heart. Our God is strong and mighty to save!
3. God’s Spirit was powerful in Elisha’s days and
it is powerful today. Pray that God would meet people, speaking to them in
dreams, healing them physically and emotionally and working miracles in their
lives. Pray that the movements of God’s Spirit would lead people to submit
their lives to Jesus. Pray that, even as you read this, God would move in
miraculous ways to bring people into His kingdom.
