Day 5: Strike!
Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped (2 Kings 13:18).
Our Father in heaven, Moses prayed to You, If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You (Exodus 33:13). Moses understood what David would later express, As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him (Psalm 18:30).
But You are God of infinite wisdom, and Your ways are often far beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). So You ask us to trust You.
You call us into Your divine plan and purpose, into a faith that believes that You exist, and that You reward those who earnestly seek You (Hebrews 11:6). Throughout Scripture, You give us so many examples of those who in faith trusted You, and fully obeyed—in defiance of human wisdom and logic. Noah, without any concept of rain, prepared for a flood; Abraham, without any clue to a destination went on a journey.
Others entered wholeheartedly into battle plans that were so far outside human reasoning, that no one could boast against You, ‘My own strength has saved me’ (Judges 7:2). You assigned Joshua a mystifying march (Joshua 6:1-20). Gideon, an anemic army (Judges 7:1-7). David, a simple sling (1 Samuel 17:1-54).
Despite their own limitations, all these understood Your limitless power and Your boundless might, and stepped boldly and unreservedly into faith. And You brought them resounding victory.
Not so, King Jehoash. The prophet Elisha gave him "The Lord's arrow of victory" and asked him to strike the ground to symbolize defeat over an oppressing enemy. The text tells us:
Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times” (2 Kings 13:18-19).
Oh Lord, You require from us earnest, diligent faith. Keep us from lackluster leanings and limiting perceptions. When You instruct us to march, or to be silent, or to shout, or to strike, help us to strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in us (Colossians 1:29).
We think of Elijah, who in unflagging faith sent his servant to look for signs of rain—again, and again, and again—seven times—until he saw “A cloud as small as a man’s hand... rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:44). Give us that faith, that determination, that perseverance.
In all that You have called us to, help us to obey with wholehearted faith. All around us, the drought, the desert, the parched wilderness seem to steadily encroach on light, and hope, and life. Help us to pray unceasingly for rain. And in the places where You call us to strike, help us to grasp the Lord's arrow of victory and strike!
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