What can we learn about faith from Elisha's command to strike the ground? Setting the Scene: A King, a Prophet, and Three Strikes • 2 Kings 13:18: “Then Elisha said, ‘Take the arrows,’ and the king took them. Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘Strike the ground!’ So he struck the ground three times and stopped.” • King Joash has just been assured of victory over Aram (v. 17). The command to strike the ground is Elisha’s test of the king’s faith-filled obedience. • Joash stops at three strikes; Elisha grows angry and foretells only three victories instead of complete deliverance (v. 19). Faith Meets Obedience: Why the Number of Strikes Mattered • Elisha never set a limit—Joash’s own restraint exposed a limited faith. • Faith is measured not by words but by the extent of our obedient action. • Because Scripture records events accurately and literally, Joash’s three strikes truly limited Israel’s future victories. Lessons on Faith for Today • Wholehearted obedience invites full blessing. – Partial effort can squander the fuller victory God intends. • Faith persists until God says “stop.” – Stopping short often reflects fear, fatigue, or self-reliance. • Visible acts reveal invisible trust. – Joash’s half-measure mirrored a heart unwilling to believe for total triumph. • God responds to the measure we use. – Luke 6:38: “For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” • Opportunities of faith are time-sensitive. – Joash could not return later and strike again; the window closed with his first response. Supporting Scriptures that Echo the Principle • Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” • James 2:17: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” • Mark 9:23: “All things are possible to him who believes.” • 2 Chronicles 16:9: “For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro … to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” • Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Bringing It Home: Living Out Persistent Faith • Strike boldly—pray and act as if God truly means what He has promised. • Strike repeatedly—continue obeying until God’s purposes are fully realized. • Strike expectantly—anticipate complete victory, not partial relief. • Strike joyfully—confidence in God’s literal, unfailing Word fuels perseverance. |
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