Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels’ loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but[a] the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth[b] and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.
2 Kings 8 Part 2–Knowing The Future Is not as Fun as It Would Seem
Just because one knows the truth, does not mean that they can affect it. Elisha was in the area. The king of Syria, Ben Hadad, was sick. He sent his trusted servant Hazael to seek a prophecy from Elisha. The question was simple, “Will I recover from the illness. The truth was that Ben Hadad was going to recover from the illness–but, he would be murdered by the beloived assistant. In addition, Elisha could see the devastation the future King–Hazael would pour out on the chosen people of Israel. One would think, with that foresight Elisha could change the course of History. Sadly, Elisha’s role was to tell the truth, not change the future.
Everyone wishes they could see the future. Think what that would mean. Here was a prophet that could see what was ahead and it made him heartbroken. Similarly, as Jesus approached Jerusalem this Palm Sunday, He also wept, because he could see what lay ahead. Knowing what is ahead is not a gift. At best, it is a duty and at worst it is a burden. God is omnicient and omnipresent. He knows all things and is in all places and times at once. He calls us to trust and follow Him as He completes His plan for our lives. He never promises to change the future, but simply walk with us through it. It is encumbant on us as His chosen to trust Him and seek Him with all our hearts. He promises in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”
In these days, We cannot lose heart, neither can we lose our faith nor our trust in God, His provision and protection. He does love us and will do what He does the very best! We need to do as the Lord commands and follow Him humbly and closely!
God Bless You
Walking With God 