Has God ever intervened in your life in a mighty way? When I was 27 years old, I was broadsided by a drunk driver that the police estimated was going 70 mph. The last thing I remembered was crying out to the Lord. A few minutes after the accident I awoke with just a small abrasion on my left knee. The police officer could not believe I survived such an accident, let alone with just an abrasion. I knew how I survived. It was God’s intervention.
In our story today, Elisha the prophet of God was used by the Lord to warn the nation of Israel about their enemy. It was God intervening in the lives of His people.
8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.” 9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” 10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. 11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?” 12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” 2 Kings 6:8-12
Aram and Israel are at war, but God tells Elisha what the Arameans are planning so Elisha can warn the king of Israel. Most of the people of Israel, including the king were not walking with the Lord. It was only through God’s grace that they were being protected. Grace is God’s undeserved love. The Lord was intervening to get the nation of Israel’s attention. Like a loving father, the Lord was pursuing Israel. Like a loving father He was protecting Israel and like a loving father He was going before them. This story gives us insight on how much the Lord loves us even when we don’t love him and fail to give Him thanks.
From our story we can understand: God pursues me by intervening in my life in amazing ways. At times the Lord intervenes in obvious ways like the warning of the enemy army to the king of Israel. At other times we may be unaware of God’s intervention. Someone may be praying for us and God will answer that prayer. Or the Lord may hold back the powers of darkness in a realm we can’t see.
How has the Lord intervened on your journey? How has He sent people into your life to make a difference? How has God’s intervention affected you? Often, only in hindsight are we able to get a glimpse of the Lord working in our lives.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (2 Ki 6:8–12). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.