1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,800 If you can meet me please in the book of Second Kings as we 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:07,040 continue in this series in chapter 8 and we will look at 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:13,000 the 1st 6 verses together, Second Kings chapter 8 and I 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,400 will wait for you before we begin reading these verses. 5 00:00:24,580 --> 00:00:28,660 Let's read together verse one now, Elijah had said to the 6 00:00:28,660 --> 00:00:31,260 woman whose son he had restored to life. 7 00:00:31,740 --> 00:00:35,180 Arise and depart with your household and sojourn wherever 8 00:00:35,180 --> 00:00:39,280 you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,560 upon the land for seven years. So the woman arose and did 10 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,880 according to the word of the man of God. 11 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,400 She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the 12 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,560 Philistines 7 years. And at the end of the seven 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:55,400 years, when the woman returned from the land of the 14 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,480 Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and 15 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,560 her land. Now the king was talking with 16 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,480 Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me all the 17 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,320 great things that Elijah has done and why he was telling the 18 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:13,120 king how Elijah had restored the dead to life. 19 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,880 Behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to 20 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,080 the king for her house and her land. 21 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,240 And Gehazi said, My Lord, O King, here is the woman, and 22 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,960 here is her son, whom Elijah restored to life. 23 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,880 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. 24 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,040 So the king appointed an official for her, saying restore 25 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:39,040 all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields 26 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,280 from the day she left the land until now. 27 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:50,240 Righteous Father, we ask that as we come to this final study of 28 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,040 this year that you would meet us in a special way. 29 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,320 Lord, we hunger for you, We long for you. 30 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,720 And we've come, Lord, believing that you have a word for us. 31 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,280 So we ask that you would stir our hearts, You would stimulate 32 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,560 our minds, You would win our affections, You would transform 33 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,720 us. We trust that you're able. 34 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,760 We trust that this word is able. So we ask that even in our 35 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,960 weakness, from the preacher to the listener, that your power 36 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,960 would be made perfect. So we rely on you and we 37 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,440 believe, Lord, that we will meet with you in your word. 38 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,800 At this moment, in Jesus name we pray, Amen. 39 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:34,800 You know, there is a debate, some debate about this passage 40 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:39,640 that we just read together, and the discussion surrounds the 41 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,560 timing of this testimony. When did it actually take place? 42 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,640 And the reason for this is not so much determining when this 43 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:53,680 famine happened, but rather the mention of Gehazi in this. 44 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,240 Text. The last time that we 45 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:00,040 encountered Gehazi was back in Second Kings chapter 5, when he 46 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,000 was cursed with leprosy and was expelled from the presence of 47 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:08,080 the prophet and really from society altogether. 48 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,320 At least that's what the law demanded. 49 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,360 And to our surprise, we come to 2nd Kings Chapter 8 and we 50 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,680 discover that. Gehazi is not outside the city 51 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,200 walls. He's in the presence of the 52 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,360 king, conversing with him in his palace. 53 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,320 This is strange. There seems to be something 54 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,840 wrong here. And so this has this has LED 55 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,400 some to believe that what we have in Second Kings Eight One 56 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,080 to Six actually took place before 2nd Kings Chapter 5. 57 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,440 Which is plausible. Why? 58 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,960 Because not every biblical author is concerned about 59 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,200 recording and giving their account in a strict 60 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,440 chronological order. We see that in different places. 61 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:58,000 We even see that in the Gospels. So again, there's some who say 62 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,840 this happened before 2nd Kings chapter 5. 63 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,600 But I believe that there are other worthy explanations for 64 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,160 why Gehazi is here when he shouldn't be. 65 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:11,680 And we're going to explore that in this study. 66 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,520 But before we go there, we have to take our time to uncover 67 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:21,040 other truths that precede it. And that's what we'll be doing 68 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,240 today. Because Ghazi isn't the only one 69 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,920 who makes a surprising reappearance in this narrative. 70 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,360 There's someone else. The Shudamite woman. 71 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,800 You remember her, right? We thought that we learned a lot 72 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,000 from her, and we did. But the Holy Spirit obviously 73 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,880 wants to teach us. Even more things from her 74 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,640 example and that's what we are going to learn as well. 75 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,160 All to say that there is much in store for us tonight including 76 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,280 what we can learn from this famine. 77 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,040 Let's look at verse one again Now Elisha had said to the woman 78 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:56,600 whose son he had restored to life. 79 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,200 Arise and depart with your household and soldier and 80 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,040 wherever you can, for the Lord has called. 81 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:06,080 For a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years. 82 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,680 There are three things that we can draw from verse one about 83 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,720 this famine alone. Now, we've discussed this a few 84 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,520 chapters ago, but it's worth revisiting. 85 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,280 And there's an additional thought that I want to present 86 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:21,120 to you. How long did this famine endure? 87 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,480 7 years. Now this is under Elisha's 88 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,440 ministry. But this was not the only famine 89 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,160 that this people experienced. We remember that there was a 90 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,240 famine before this and we'll talk about that, but there is 91 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,080 also a lengthy famine during the ministry of Elijah. 92 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,640 And how long did that last? According to James chapter 5, 93 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:44,320 three years. And how long? 94 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,320 Six months, You're right. So three years and six months. 95 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,360 Now here's the second observation. 96 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:56,800 Elijah declares the one who is behind this famine, What does it 97 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:58,320 say there in the middle of verse one? 98 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,040 For the Lord has called for a famine. 99 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,920 This drought is orchestrated by God himself. 100 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:06,600 And why is that important to know? 101 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,240 Because it reminds us that famines were not natural 102 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,280 occurrences under the Old Covenant. 103 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:15,320 For this people, they weren't part of the cycle of the year or 104 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,720 every few years. Famines were foreign. 105 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,240 Famines were actually something that the people didn't have to 106 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:26,760 experience, but they were triggered when the people 107 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,960 disobeyed persistently. And we've talked about this from 108 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,920 Deuteronomy. Allow me to quote it in your 109 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,960 presence once more so that we can make this more concrete in 110 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,440 our understanding. In Deuteronomy 11, verse 16, the 111 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,400 Lord already forewarned the people in His law. 112 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,440 The following Deuteronomy 11/16 Take care lest your heart be 113 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:50,480 deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship 114 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,400 them. Then the anger of the Lord will 115 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:57,640 be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that 116 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,160 there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and 117 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,440 you will perish quickly off the good land that the Lord is 118 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,840 giving you. So here's what's interesting. 119 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:10,520 When we connect the first insight with the second, we can 120 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,520 make this conclusion. It's a disheartening truth about 121 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:17,680 the people of Israel that under Elijah's ministry, evidently 122 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:22,480 they did not repent, even though on Mount Carmel the true God 123 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:28,240 destroyed Baal ISM, and with that miraculous demonstration 124 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,480 that people still returned to their sin in a persistent 125 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,440 manner. And So what did the Lord do? 126 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,040 Because they didn't learn to repent after God showed the 127 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:42,240 mercy in that way and even after that level of chastisement, He 128 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,280 says, fine, you didn't learn with 3 1/2 years. 129 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:49,480 I'm going to double it. Here's seven years. 130 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,160 Let's see. You'll learn this time if you'll 131 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,400 learn this time. Because, you see, to go back to 132 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,240 sins that we vowed to never revisit again only invites 133 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:04,080 greater discipline from a loving Heavenly Father, especially if 134 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,480 we've been disciplined for those sins before. 135 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,160 And unfortunately, many deceive themselves by thinking that the 136 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,840 consequences that they had to endure and they survived will be 137 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,680 the same consequences they will have to face again if they 138 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,080 indulge in those same sins again. 139 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:24,880 So let this be an example for us. 140 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,800 The Lord will not treat us with such indifference. 141 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,000 He loves us too much. So if we didn't learn the first 142 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,200 time, if we didn't learn the second time, if we didn't learn 143 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,600 the third time, He will change His ways with us every single 144 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,560 time if necessary, in order to win our holiness and to win our 145 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:49,080 devotion to Him. And so we get a sense, we get an 146 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,080 insight of how God treats His own. 147 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:53,880 They didn't learn with 3 1/2 years. 148 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,720 So let's prolong it. Let's go with 7 now and see if 149 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,720 you will truly repent and come back to me. 150 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,360 Here's the third observation about this famine. 151 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,960 There is evidence that this particular drought was not 152 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,280 solely because of the idolatry of the people. 153 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,120 Why? Because there's a clue with the 154 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:16,480 first word of the first verse. What is it now if you have a 155 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:17,600 different? Word for word. 156 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,640 Translation like the new King James, and I believe the King 157 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,400 James, it will read, it will be rendered. 158 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,480 What then? So that's a word that denotes 159 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,840 sequence, that something happened before this and there's 160 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,920 something now following. So we're meant to connect what 161 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,880 Elijah warns about here with what just happened and what. 162 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,400 Did we learn last week that the people endured another famine? 163 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,120 Some argue man made famine because of the siege or it was 164 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,240 another famine and they just the Syrians just capitalize on it. 165 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,160 Nevertheless, the people were suffering, they were starving, 166 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,600 and the Syrians were bringing them to a point of near 167 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,760 extinction or potential exile. And what did God do? 168 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,840 He intervened with. Supernatural provision and 169 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:05,400 protection and preservation. And if you read carefully Second 170 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,280 Kings chapter 6 that account, you'll notice that there is a 171 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,120 staggering omission of something. 172 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,400 A staggering omission. You know what it is? 173 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,400 The lack of response from the people after God came through 174 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,760 for them. There is no sign of an 175 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:23,400 acknowledgement of the goodness of the Lord. 176 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:31,760 There is no hint of repentance, not even a word of gratitude for 177 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:39,160 Him coming through for them. I'm persuaded that a major 178 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:43,440 catalyst to this prolonged famine in Second Kings 8 is a 179 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,240 result of a lack of thankfulness on the part of the people of 180 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:53,120 Israel. God registers how we respond to 181 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:59,840 His provision, to His power, to His Providence in our lives, 182 00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:06,120 whether it's common grace or uncommon grace, God looks at how 183 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:11,920 people respond to His mercy. And if there is a lack of 184 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:16,320 gratitude to us, that may not seem significant, but it is to 185 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,960 the one who is the source of everything that is good in our 186 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,880 lives. And I believe because there was 187 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:26,920 silence here on the part of this people, the Lord said, fine, 188 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,600 here's more discipline. You won't acknowledge me. 189 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,240 You won't give me glory, then here's another famine. 190 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:42,160 But God doesn't just take note of the wrong that sinners or 191 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,200 even His children might do. He takes note of the good that 192 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,240 His servants do as well. How do we know that? 193 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,560 In the very fact that Elijah comes to the Shunamite woman and 194 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:55,240 gives her this awesome revelation of what's to come, 195 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,360 what's about to come to pass in order to prepare her. 196 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:03,680 And I think this is God's way of demonstrating the extent of His 197 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:08,480 reward to those who make the effort and even sacrificially 198 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,800 give to the advancement. Of his purposes on the earth 199 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,840 especially in a day of apostasy like this day so you remember 200 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,320 this is the same woman who when she learned elisha would come 201 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,200 through her town decide to. Give him a meal every single 202 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,640 time, and more than that, decide to make an extension to her home 203 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,680 in order for him to rest there whenever he would like to rest. 204 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,480 And the reward in that immediate context was that she received 205 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,960 what she could not have, and that was a son. 206 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,200 But God went beyond that. He didn't just provide this 207 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,720 woman a child. He provided her insight of the 208 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:45,440 future in order to preserve her life and her the life of her 209 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:49,760 household altogether. And so this really shows how God 210 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:55,640 keeps in mind those who have done good to His people and His 211 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,960 cause. And it reminds me of this New 212 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,520 Testament verse in Hebrews chapter 6, verse 10. 213 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,200 This is a verse for those who serve God and are tempted to 214 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:09,000 believe that maybe God has overlooked my sacrifice. 215 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,160 And part of that temptation is when people, especially the 216 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,560 people of God, don't recognize. You for your sacrifice. 217 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,600 Or praise you, or reward you. Look what the Holy Spirit has 218 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,440 included in His Word in Hebrews 610. 219 00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:26,880 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love 220 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:32,080 that you have shown for His name in serving the Saints, as you 221 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,440 still do. I love that verse. 222 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,920 Someone beautifully commented on it by saying that while God will 223 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:46,320 never remember our sins, He will never forget our service. 224 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:53,640 He will never remember our sins, and he will never forget our 225 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:59,320 sacrifice for him. And I would add that his reward 226 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,760 outweighs whatever contributions we make in this temporal life, 227 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,600 because it is temporal 1 and it is granted, and it is responded 228 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,160 to with eternal reward. Things that people can't steal, 229 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:12,960 or moths can't eat up, or rust can destroy. 230 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,960 But let me stay here for a while because it's difficult for some 231 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,520 people to remain persistent in their service to the Lord. 232 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,240 And I love what the author says here because he mentions the 233 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,160 love that you have shown for his name in serving the Saints. 234 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,680 If you. Lack the motivation to serve God 235 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,760 with your gifts, to serve God consistently in the House of 236 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,960 God. Do it for His name. 237 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,760 Do it for His name. Not even necessarily for those 238 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,160 who bear His name. Do it for His name and you'll 239 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,840 find greater grace to serve those who bear His name. 240 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,360 So that's an encouragement to me that ultimately I'm doing it for 241 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:51,920 the Lord. I'm doing it for my Master. 242 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,040 I'm doing it for His smile. Whether people smile at me or 243 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:56,080 not. Will people recognize me? 244 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,440 It doesn't matter. I'm doing it for His name. 245 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,920 And there's a warning in this passage as well, because only 246 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,800 when we do it in His name and for His name are we rewarded. 247 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,520 If I'm doing it for my name, I lose my reward, right? 248 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,040 So if I'm here preparing Bible studies and preaching every 249 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:16,760 Sunday for my name, then I will appear before the judgment seat 250 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:18,880 of Christ and all my works will turn into ash. 251 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,520 That's what Paul teaches in First Corinthians chapter 3. 252 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:27,440 So it must be for his name. That will motivate you to work 253 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,160 and that will also keep you with the right motive in your work. 254 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,400 This woman served this man of God and the Lord did not forget 255 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,480 him. He spoke to Elijah, says you 256 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,040 need to go to that Shunammite woman and tell her that she 257 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,160 needs to flee from here because I'm going to bring a famine. 258 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,680 Not even the king received such a privilege word, but this 259 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,120 widow, I say widow because I believe based on what we read, 260 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,440 her husband was no longer with them. 261 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,960 Remember the husband to this woman We learned there in Second 262 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:02,120 Kings earlier? In chapter 4 that he was old, he 263 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,280 was much older than she was, and based on how this text reads, 264 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,040 doesn't seem like he's there anymore. 265 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,240 But God is there, watching over, taking care of her, providing 266 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,200 for her. What a wonderful God we serve. 267 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,120 Now I can't move on without bringing up an interesting 268 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,120 detail and Elijah's warning to this woman. 269 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,600 Read it carefully. This really stood out to me when 270 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,200 I was reading it the other day. Now Elisha had said to the woman 271 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,720 whose son he had restored to life. 272 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:32,440 Arise and depart with your household and sojourn wherever 273 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:38,280 you can. Highlight those 3 words wherever 274 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,800 you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come 275 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,560 upon the land for seven years. No doubt. 276 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:49,880 This is supernatural revelation. God has made this known to the 277 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,320 prophet. He's making it known to this 278 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,920 woman, but within it we find an intensely practical truth. 279 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,880 He tells this woman something's about to happen, you need to 280 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:03,320 leave. But he gives her liberty where 281 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,079 to go? Go wherever you can. 282 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:09,960 Do you know why this is encouraging to me? 283 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,240 Well, it should be encouraging to all of us, especially those 284 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,079 who are troubled by the notion that every single decision that 285 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,240 you make in this life, whether it's big or small, must not be 286 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,839 made unless you receive or it is approved by supernatural 287 00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:26,319 disclosure. Have you met people like that? 288 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:32,280 I have, and those people, as much as they think it's 289 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,960 spiritual to live that way, are actually tormented in many 290 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:37,880 cases. I'm not saying that you 291 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,600 shouldn't be praying about your plans. 292 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,440 You have to pray about everything. 293 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,400 But to remain completely inactive unless some spectacular 294 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:51,640 sign is granted to you, it's not only unscriptural, it can be 295 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,680 very harmful. So go wherever you can. 296 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,400 What's the biblical approach to some of these decisions that we 297 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,680 have to make in life? It is to continually seek God's 298 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,480 guidance. Yes, pray without ceasing. 299 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,080 And if it provides clear answer, then you have another reason to 300 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,960 praise Him. But if He doesn't? 301 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,920 Then what the Bible proposes is that you make the most 302 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:22,040 righteous, wise, God glorifying decision and trust that God is 303 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:26,680 going to protect you from making the wrong choice as you step out 304 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,160 and obey him. So this woman was told, go 305 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,680 wherever you can. You have options. 306 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:38,320 And that mindset is found in the New Testament as well. 307 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,480 You might you might be shocked where you're going to find this, 308 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:46,920 go to 1st Corinthians Chapter 7. Look at verse 39. 309 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:51,400 In this chapter, Paul gives us insight about marriage, divorce, 310 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:57,200 singleness, being engaged. In the context of a particular 311 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,480 persecution that the Corinthians were experiencing, if you don't 312 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,760 view it in that light, you can draw some strange conclusions 313 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,280 and give some awful counsel to people. 314 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,800 You have to view First Corinthians 7 in light of a 315 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,000 trouble that the people at this time were experiencing. 316 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,480 Nonetheless, universal truths that can still be applied in any 317 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,440 context, including this one. Notice this in First Corinthians 318 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,880 739. A wife is bound to her husband 319 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:28,440 as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is free to be 320 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,360 married. To who? 321 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,640 To whom she wishes. Only in the. 322 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:43,600 Lord, I think this dispels a lot of Christian teaching about what 323 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,360 to look for in a candidate in the spouse. 324 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:47,240 It really demystifies it, doesn't it? 325 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,400 What did he tell them? He says if your husband dies, 326 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:54,880 you are free to be married to who? 327 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:57,800 Whoever you desire to be married to. 328 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,600 One condition, they have to be Christian. 329 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,480 They have to be in the Lord. So what does this mean? 330 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,600 Doesn't mean that you don't pray about your spouse. 331 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,600 No, you better be praying about your spouse. 332 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,880 But it also means. That it's OK to be drawn to 333 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,600 somebody based on their personality and who they are and 334 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,160 compatibility and their vision and their character. 335 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,040 You can assess things in such a way. 336 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,040 I've talked to people who have told me, should I consider so 337 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,240 and so And I say, well, are you attracted to so and so? 338 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:33,720 No, I'm not attracted to them whatsoever, but I'm just 339 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,080 wondering. They might be God's will. 340 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:39,720 No, probably not. Actually, no, but they're godly. 341 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:41,920 OK, great, they're godly, but you're not attractive. 342 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,400 So keep them in the category of sister in Christ, for your sake 343 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:54,080 and hers to whom she wishes. It's not as mystical as people 344 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,240 like it to be. Can God make wonderful stories 345 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:58,680 and testimonies of how people come together? 346 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,880 Absolutely, yes. But if you're waiting to meet 347 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,480 somebody on that premise alone, and if it doesn't come in the 348 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,120 way you think it should happen in the spectacular, 349 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:12,360 supernatural, undeniable way, you might be waiting for a 350 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:17,040 while. To whom she wishes. 351 00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:19,920 Only in the Lord. So you don't have total liberty. 352 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,760 So what we see in the Scripture is that in moments where we may 353 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,320 not understand, there may not be a chapter or verse on it. 354 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,280 What do we do? Well, you take God's righteous 355 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,160 precepts and His wisdom and you see the examples and you receive 356 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,880 people who have biblical insight, and you make the most 357 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:39,160 guided, wise decision that you can with the options that you 358 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,240 have and trust that the Lord will lead you. 359 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:46,520 So go wherever you can. And how does she answer it? 360 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:50,640 Look at verse 2. So the woman arose and did 361 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,320 according to the word of the man of God. 362 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,520 She went with her household and soldier into the land of the 363 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:58,600 Philistines. 7 years. This is wonderful. 364 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:01,600 Number one. She obeyed in faith. 365 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:06,440 She obeyed without delay. There is no resistance, there is 366 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,640 no protest. She went when she heard the 367 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:10,960 word. And here's why. 368 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,680 This going to inspire us because the land of Israel was in plenty 369 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,440 at this time, wasn't it? If we're connecting Chapter 8 370 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,160 with what we read in Chapter 7 last week, then we understand 371 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,040 that the economy in the land of Israel this time knew a radical 372 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:27,840 shift in the favor of of the people. 373 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:31,960 And so just when things were beginning to look. 374 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,800 Good God tells us, women, get up, you need to move for several 375 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,200 years. So all she had to really work 376 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,560 with was the word from the Prophet. 377 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:44,480 But everything that she's seeing, businesses are opening 378 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:49,360 up again, people are remodeling their homes, the stock market is 379 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:53,240 looking great. Just when things are are looking 380 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,080 wonderful, she's told pack up your bags. 381 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,960 Things are going to change course very quickly. 382 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:05,000 And so she had to trust that. Moreover, consider the 383 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,800 difficulty of leading the promised land in general. 384 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,320 God gave him this land. This was his promise to the 385 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,520 people. And though they were generally 386 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,920 apostate at this time, to choose to be among the Philistines was 387 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,280 no better in terms of your surroundings and your influence. 388 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,960 And we've seen many times in the Scriptures how when people stray 389 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:29,760 from the place that God had determined for them. 390 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:34,080 It it doesn't turn out good, they don't benefit much from 391 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,000 such a decision. However, this is a unique case, 392 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:38,880 isn't it? So this woman is not like 393 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,560 Abraham back in Genesis 12 where the famine came to the land of 394 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,240 Canaan and out of his fear he moves to Egypt. 395 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,640 He didn't get a word from the Lord and what happened? 396 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,320 Lying and all this craziness, and he ended up bringing Hagar 397 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,720 back. And we know what happened with 398 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,280 Hagar. Nor is this like David, who who 399 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,120 thought and his exhaustion and his weariness. 400 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,680 The best way to deal with Saul chasing me is to go beyond the 401 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,320 border and to live among the Philistines. 402 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,400 And we saw the trouble that he got himself there too. 403 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,520 This is a woman who received permission from the Lord like 404 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,120 other instances where others have received permission from 405 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,440 the Lord to go to a foreign land and to sojourn there for a 406 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,120 while. And that's an important word 407 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:22,080 here. What does it say here in verse 408 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,960 two? Look at the last few words. 409 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:29,240 She sojourned and sojourn in the land of the Philistines 7 years. 410 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:31,240 You know what the word sojourn means? 411 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:36,320 To temporarily stay somewhere. So she intentionally, she was 412 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,920 mindful reminding herself in her household, we are not here for 413 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,600 the long haul. Seven years the Lord gave us 414 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,920 seven years and year after year they were reminded of that, I'm 415 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,240 sure day by day. So even in this the Holy Spirit 416 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:54,440 is telling us that she soldiers, she obeyed the Lord those seven 417 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,160 years faithfully. And I couldn't help but compare 418 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:01,800 this with another couple. A couple also fled the promised 419 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,760 land due to a famine. But they didn't receive a word 420 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,560 from the Lord, and they experience a very different 421 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:13,960 outcome. Go to Ruth chapter 1 and I want 422 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:20,960 us to look at Lemonlec and Naomi briefly, who made a similar move 423 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:28,560 to a different country but didn't have the confidence of 424 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:33,240 God's permission. Look at Ruth chapter 1 beginning 425 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,000 in verse one. Let's read the first 2 verses 426 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:43,190 together. In the days when the judges 427 00:25:43,190 --> 00:25:47,830 ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem and 428 00:25:47,830 --> 00:25:54,270 Judah went to sojourn in the country of Mohab, he and his 429 00:25:54,270 --> 00:25:57,150 wife and his two sons. The name of the man was 430 00:25:57,390 --> 00:26:01,710 Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of the 431 00:26:01,710 --> 00:26:06,120 two sons were Mahlon and Helion. They were Ephrathites from 432 00:26:06,120 --> 00:26:09,360 Bethlehem and Judah. They went into the country of 433 00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:12,680 Moab and remained there. Can you compare verse one and 434 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,800 verse 2 in terms of their travelling plans and see if 435 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,320 there's a difference? What do they? 436 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:21,600 Decide to do in verse one. They went to do what in the 437 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:25,000 country of Moab sojourn? How did that turn out? 438 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,240 Good. Look at the last two words of 439 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,160 verse 2. They went into the country of 440 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,040 Moab and what sojourn there? They remained there. 441 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:36,600 They didn't sojourn there. They remained there. 442 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:40,600 This is a strong reminder for us that if we choose to step 443 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:44,560 outside of the will of God for any reason, you were in danger 444 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:46,440 of staying there much longer than you planned. 445 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,520 Always. You may plan it, you may plan 446 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,520 the timing of it, you may plan the resources you'll spend in 447 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,360 that season, but you can never determine it. 448 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,440 Here they are deciding to sojourn, but they ended up 449 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:05,720 moving permanently. They remain there and eliminate 450 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,840 and his family quickly became comfortable in Moab. 451 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,800 See the the Shudamite woman refused to remain comfortable in 452 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:13,880 the land of the Philistines. But they did. 453 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:19,200 And what happened here is that this people group had a rich 454 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:23,720 history of being enemies of the people of God, and because they 455 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,560 worship the false God eventually. 456 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:29,280 What happened in Mohab began to affect what happened in this 457 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:34,640 family, and this often happens with people who profess God is 458 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:35,920 king. Do you know what the name Elimek 459 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:37,280 means? God is king. 460 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,560 God is king. So he had the name, but he 461 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,440 wasn't living it right? So God is king, But I'm going 462 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:45,880 to. Tell myself where I'm going to 463 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,080 go and how long I'm going to be there for, though this is 464 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,760 clearly against God's will. So who's really king here? 465 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,080 This man who was the man of the house made this decision and 466 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:59,680 when he sojourned and even planned to return. 467 00:28:01,360 --> 00:28:03,320 He remained there long enough to make decisions that would 468 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,720 permanently alter his future and the future of his family. 469 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,600 How do we know that? Look at verse 3. 470 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,600 But alumni like the husband and Naomi died and she was left with 471 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:14,240 her two sons. Verse 4. 472 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:19,200 These took Moabite wives. So you stay there long enough 473 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,040 for your children to do something that was clearly 474 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,120 against God's Word. God is not against different 475 00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:29,160 ethnic groups marrying, but He is against different faith 476 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,240 groups coming together. And this was true even in the 477 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,560 Old Covenant. These took Moabite wives. 478 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,760 The name of the one was Orpan, the name of the other, Ruth. 479 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:41,200 They lived there about 10 years. This is the very thing that God 480 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,600 warned about, and they made themselves more vulnerable and 481 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,960 susceptible by going into the land that they shouldn't have 482 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:47,640 gone to in the in the first place. 483 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:52,560 And this is what we're supposed to learn from this, that even a 484 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,920 single deliberate step of disobedience. 485 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:59,440 Will often lead to a deeper descent into sin. 486 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,720 It started out as a just a little vacation in Moab and 487 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:07,400 ended up becoming something that would have generational effects. 488 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:09,240 Now, thankfully, God redeemed it through Ruth. 489 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,240 We know that story. But that's not always the case 490 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,520 for people. And the longer you and I remain 491 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:17,880 outside of God's will, the more likely are to make decisions 492 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,960 that can do such things to our futures. 493 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,600 And I think it's very possible that the sons were just 494 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,320 imitating the relaxed attitude that their father had concerning 495 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,840 God's word. They saw it in dad. 496 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:34,000 So, yeah, should be a problem for us. 497 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:36,640 And let me just say this before we move on. 498 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,960 Elimelech is a picture of a father who really has the the 499 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,720 interests of his family in mind, but only in the physical realm. 500 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,760 So he leaves the promised land because there's a famine that 501 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:48,760 was induced because of the people's sins, right? 502 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:52,880 It was in the day of the Judges and he wants to provide for his 503 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:58,280 family bread, physical bread and not spiritual bread. 504 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:01,440 And I want to speak to the men here. 505 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:04,040 And maybe it's possible that some, some of the men here grew 506 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,920 up with a dad like that, where he expressed his love primarily 507 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,120 and exclusively in his provision for you. 508 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:14,240 He worked hard, he paid the bills, he got you wonderful 509 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,320 gifts, He helped you pay for your school. 510 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,640 And those are wonderful things. And I believe that's part of 511 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,000 being a godly man. But if that's all you're 512 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,480 providing your children without the instruction and the 513 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,640 admonition and the fear of the Lord, then you're not completely 514 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,000 walking in your purpose as a man, as a father. 515 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,160 Here's a lemon. Like he's, he's providing in one 516 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:35,880 sense. But what ended up becoming more 517 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,000 detrimental, the lack of food or the lack of the spiritual 518 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,200 nourishment? The lack of the spiritual 519 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:40,560 nourishment. Trust God. 520 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:43,240 You have to take him at His Word. 521 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,120 And that's what the Shunammite woman does. 522 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,960 She was much different. Look here at verse three of 523 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:53,440 Second Kings chapter 8. And at the end. 524 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,000 Of the seven years when the woman returned from the land of 525 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,120 the Philistines, she went to appeal to the King for her house 526 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:04,440 and her land. So here's what I see in this 527 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,560 woman. She acted in faith when she left 528 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:11,200 the Promised Land she acted in. Faith when she remained in the 529 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:14,600 land of the Philistines and she acted in faith when she returned 530 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,840 to her home. Every step of the way she was in 531 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:22,080 tune with obedience. Obedience and reliance on the 532 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,160 Lord. How do I know that? 533 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:29,160 Because she didn't leave midway. She didn't leave. 534 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,240 After a few years, she waited until the seven years was 535 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:35,440 complete. Additionally, she didn't delay 536 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:36,960 when the seven years were complete. 537 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,040 I mean, you stay somewhere for. Seven years, you would think, 538 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:44,000 OK, you're adjusted to a new way of life, a new routine. 539 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,320 And so maybe I'll stay here a little bit longer. 540 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,160 I'll linger here. She doesn't do that either. 541 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,240 So she doesn't abort it early, nor does she prolong it 542 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:54,880 unnecessarily. The moment the seven years were 543 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:58,240 up, she went back. She went back. 544 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:03,560 So this is precise obedience. This isn't flimsy. 545 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:06,720 This is in general. This isn't circumstantial. 546 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,600 This is calculated. This is OK. 547 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:12,400 The Lord told us this amount of time, no sooner, no later. 548 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:17,320 That's wonderful, and I'll tell you why that level of obedience 549 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,960 is important, because it secures God's blessings in our lives, 550 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:25,160 that kind of righteous stubbornness, in a way. 551 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:27,760 And how do I know that it secures? 552 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:30,360 God's blessings in our lives, because look what happens next. 553 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:32,880 I want us to read here. The. 554 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:34,720 Next few verses beginning. In verse 4. 555 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,040 Now the king was talking. With Gehazi, the servant of the 556 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,760 man of God, saying, tell me all the great things that Elisha had 557 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:43,960 done. And while he was telling the 558 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:46,960 king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, we've seen 559 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,320 that that word over and over in many verses of this study. 560 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,280 Behold, I pause and see what's about to happen. 561 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,240 Behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to 562 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:57,040 the King for our house and our land. 563 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,680 And Ghazi said my. Lord, O King, here's the woman, 564 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:02,680 here's her son, whom Elijah restored to life. 565 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,520 It was at the time. Out of all the things that 566 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:10,560 Elijah had done, it came to the point where he was explaining to 567 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,000 the testimony of this boy being resurrected from the dead. 568 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:17,320 And while he is sharing that testimony, the woman who is part 569 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:19,240 of that testimony walks in the room. 570 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:25,880 And confirms the story. And her presence? 571 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:31,160 In light of that testimony being shared, I believe was necessary 572 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:34,200 for this unrighteous king to be willing to give her back what 573 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:38,120 she lost. Now here's what I thought about. 574 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:41,520 What if she had left the land of the Philistines before the seven 575 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,760 years? What about out of her 576 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:46,360 frustration? It's been three years. 577 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:49,400 Enough of this, I'm going to go back and she goes back. 578 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:55,040 What if she delayed? What if she had not trusted the 579 00:33:55,040 --> 00:34:00,600 Lord to wait seven years? I wonder if it would have messed 580 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,800 up the timing of all of this. But because she trusted the Lord 581 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,520 and she walked according. To his ways. 582 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,880 According to his desire, she stumbled upon the right 583 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:15,520 circumstance to unlock the blessing of her property being 584 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:21,800 brought back to her. Just trust God, would you just 585 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:26,679 take him at His word? Believe Him, believe Him every 586 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:29,000 step of the way. You and I are going to be held 587 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,280 accountable on one thing, what His word said and how you 588 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,520 responded to it. Even though things look 589 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:36,400 different, even even though if your obedience looks very 590 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,480 costly, if it is costly, notice she obeys the Lord. 591 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:40,760 And what happens when she returns? 592 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,840 Somebody takes her land, somebody takes her home. 593 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,080 Is this what I get for trusting the Lord? 594 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:49,600 Going to the land of the Philistines for seven years and 595 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,840 I come back and instead of coming back to an empty home, I 596 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:56,360 come back to somebody occupying it, my produce, my fields. 597 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:57,560 Remember, she was a wealthy woman. 598 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:01,920 She had a lot. Is God still worthy? 599 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,440 To be trusted and obeyed when it's costly. 600 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:09,800 She doesn't complain. Oh, you see this consistency in 601 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,360 her character. Whether it was her son who was 602 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:17,400 prematurely sick and dies because of that sickness, all is 603 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,520 well. All is well to her husband. 604 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,200 All is well before the Prophet, and now she comes. 605 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:25,480 Back to. The land, her land, and it's 606 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:27,520 taken from her. And though she doesn't say, she 607 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:29,120 demonstrates this. You go, OK, I'm going to go to 608 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:30,440 the king and I'm going to make an appeal. 609 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:33,360 She doesn't raise her fist to the heavens. 610 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:40,080 This is a remarkable woman. So as challenging as waiting on 611 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:43,720 God may be, or as inconvenient as his commands might seem, you 612 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:45,920 can't afford to rely on your human wisdom. 613 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:48,440 Especially when it contradicts God's word. 614 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,800 Because you have no idea what. Blessings await the other side 615 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,040 of your obedience. You have no idea. 616 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:58,520 Speaking on relying on our own. Wisdom. 617 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:00,320 Let's talk about Gehazi a little bit, shall we? 618 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,120 This rebel, how do you explain his? 619 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:06,880 Presence in the palace of the king. 620 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:12,280 How is he here of all places? Well, you heard it earlier that 621 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:15,120 A. Common explanation is that this 622 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:16,840 took. Place before 2nd Kings chapter 623 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:19,760 5. But I think there are 624 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:20,800 challenges. With that. 625 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:25,320 So there are some other. Possibilities and people will 626 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:30,080 claim that. He must have repented, he must 627 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:33,480 have confessed his sin, and God was merciful to him by reversing 628 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,480 the curse. And as much as we would love to 629 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:39,280 believe that he had a change of heart, there is no shred of 630 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:42,360 evidence that Gehazi got right with God. 631 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:45,720 So you have others who would say. 632 00:36:45,720 --> 00:36:49,000 Well, OK, yes, he did receive this indictment, this judgement 633 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:52,200 of leprosy, but it didn't develop right away. 634 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:57,840 It was a slow process and so. For a period of time he was 635 00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:01,400 still fine and he was able to function in society, which 636 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:03,800 enabled him to engage with the king in this manner. 637 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:08,040 OK, but that. Really contradicts this verse 638 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:11,160 where we read in Second Kings 527 that. 639 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:15,320 He went out from Elijah's. Presence a leper like snow. 640 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,960 So this is advanced leprosy immediately. 641 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:26,320 So what is the answer? I think we're left with only one 642 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:31,400 conclusion, that Gehazi had a unique relationship with the 643 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:33,920 prophet Elijah, and because of that, he was. 644 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:38,480 Granted, special, though limited access to the King who wanted to 645 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:42,840 satisfy his curiosity, who had inquiries about Elijah's life, 646 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:49,080 his story, his abilities. And so he summons Ghazi, who had 647 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:53,320 a front row seat, to it all. And how that worked? 648 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:56,680 Practically, we're not told, but that seems to make to make the 649 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:59,320 most sense that he calls for this man, though he's a leper, 650 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:05,240 so that he can inquire of him in order to to know more about the 651 00:38:05,240 --> 00:38:08,800 Prophet. And if that is true. 652 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:11,160 Then it also. Provides an insight about the 653 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:14,280 human heart. That the King's. 654 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:18,240 Curiosity about the things of God and Gehazi's ability to 655 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:22,000 recount them accurately does not signify a right relationship 656 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:26,200 with the Lord. So we might be excited. 657 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:30,600 That the king of Israel is finding some thrill and 658 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:33,120 discovering. What Elijah is all. 659 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:35,280 About what he's able to do in the testimonies that are 660 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:38,880 associated with him. But that doesn't mean that he. 661 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:42,200 He wants God. There are many people who have 662 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:43,120 an. Interest in the Bible. 663 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:44,680 I've met people like that. I've met people who've come on 664 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:47,240 Friday night Bible studies who after the study will come up and 665 00:38:47,240 --> 00:38:50,760 they have, they just have this curiosity about the things of of 666 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,920 the of the word, the historicity of it, the revelation of it, the 667 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:57,400 prophecies about it. But they have zero interests of 668 00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,960 the God of the Bible. They don't want a relationship 669 00:38:59,960 --> 00:39:02,120 with him. They're just curious. 670 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:04,000 They're just. Fascinated. 671 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:07,520 Maybe. It's just an intellectual. 672 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:12,920 Kind of stimuli mental. Gymnastics and you have others 673 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:16,000 like Ghazi. Who can, who can rehearse? 674 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:20,560 Church history with a PhD level of knowledge. 675 00:39:21,240 --> 00:39:25,520 Memorized it. Can explain any doctrine, any 676 00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:29,320 theological concept. In our lepers. 677 00:39:30,720 --> 00:39:35,920 Unrepentant, still filled with greed and operate in deception. 678 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:40,280 So you have this pair. One is. 679 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:44,520 Interested in the things of God, but is wicked Another who can 680 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,880 explain the things of God, but is wicked in his own way? 681 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:52,640 This is interesting. And it's quite telling of the 682 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:56,360 human condition. It's not what you. 683 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:58,560 Know it's what you do with what you know, Yeah. 684 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:01,760 And it's not how fascinating you. 685 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:04,760 Are with the truth it's if it's one your devotion. 686 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,920 So no matter how. Excited you are about these 687 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:12,720 things or how well you can articulate them that. 688 00:40:12,720 --> 00:40:18,320 Won't save you only when that truth has won your heart. 689 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:22,280 Does it mean something? To you and to others. 690 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:26,680 So what shall we do? We have to make a conclusion 691 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:28,600 about Gehazi. I don't think the author is too 692 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:31,880 interested in trying to explain to us how he is here, I think. 693 00:40:31,880 --> 00:40:34,240 There's a greater truth to be learned. 694 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:36,960 And it's about Providence. And. 695 00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:39,240 That's what we're going to conclude. 696 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,440 On there are a couple of thoughts about. 697 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:43,000 Providence that I want to bring to your attention. 698 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,560 Let's look at verse 6 again. And when the king asked the. 699 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,640 Woman, she told him. So the king appointed an 700 00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:54,320 official for her, saying restore all that was hers, together with 701 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:58,280 all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the 702 00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:02,320 land until now. Let me mention to you. 703 00:41:02,440 --> 00:41:05,640 The brilliance of God's Providence, the. 704 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:08,520 Brilliance of God's. Providence in how it 705 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:13,120 accomplishes more than one redemptive purpose at a time. 706 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:18,560 Because the obvious. Conclusion here is that. 707 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:21,600 God orchestrated all of this so that the woman would arrive at 708 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:24,920 this particular moment, so that the King would hear the 709 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:28,480 testimony, see the evidence of it, and be moved to get behind 710 00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:32,080 supporting this woman and the way God supported this woman or 711 00:41:32,080 --> 00:41:34,960 whatever was going through his mind to actually accept her 712 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,760 appeal. But it's more than that. 713 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:41,920 As much as God had the woman in mind right to reward her and to 714 00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:45,120 preserve her, I believe that God had the King in view as well. 715 00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:49,160 What do you mean? Because Gehazi's testifying. 716 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:52,400 Of what the Lord had done through Elijah and at the same 717 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:55,320 time there's a double witness you. 718 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:58,320 Have the woman and her son appearing before the king of 719 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:00,640 Israel, confirming that this was true. 720 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:05,440 With what end in mind to? Entertain the king you know to 721 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:07,840 hopefully cause him to see this is the true God. 722 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:12,080 He's real. The gods that I worship. 723 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:15,360 They can't do this. There's no testimonies like 724 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:19,640 this. And so I'm persuaded that the 725 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:24,800 Lord orchestrating this was also to cause the king to reconsider 726 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:27,040 his lack of faith in the true God. 727 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:31,680 He gave this king a chance. Another chance with this 728 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:33,160 testimony is a brilliant testimony. 729 00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:37,920 And so I love the way God. Moves because you see one 730 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:39,560 testimony. And there are hundreds of other. 731 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:41,160 Testimonies attached to that one. 732 00:42:42,040 --> 00:42:44,560 God is doing something in your. Life, which is wonderful, but. 733 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:48,440 There are other things that he's doing in that. 734 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:52,600 There are all these different subplots in God's work. 735 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:54,880 It's it's wonderful. And I think in eternity we're 736 00:42:54,880 --> 00:42:57,600 going to spend thousands upon thousands of years connecting 737 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:00,880 all the dots. And so we just see two things. 738 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:04,960 At least that's what I see. The woman being provided for and 739 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:07,480 also the king being provided for In what way? 740 00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:11,320 Yes, the woman, her property, but this man under the chance to 741 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:13,960 witness the truth so that he can come to the truth. 742 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:19,160 So the brilliance of God. 'S wisdom in his providential 743 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:25,960 work, but also the purpose of pain in his providential work. 744 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:30,680 Who would have? Thought that the Lord. 745 00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:33,760 Bringing this woman a child and allowing that child to die. 746 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:40,200 Would be the necessary. Testimony for years to come that 747 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:42,800 when this woman would lose everything, it would be that 748 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:45,080 testimony that would win everything back. 749 00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:50,400 At least 7A. Minimum of seven years has has 750 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,400 transpired between this woman and her son. 751 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:56,600 And this encounter with the. King, Surely it's more than. 752 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:59,200 That. So who would have thought? 753 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:02,600 That the trauma of this boy's dead death. 754 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,120 And the glorious testimony of His resurrection had something 755 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:10,360 greater in mind that would take years upon years before it was 756 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:14,200 realized. So you and I have scars. 757 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:15,960 And we wonder the purpose of these scars. 758 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:18,520 You might not know it for another decade. 759 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:21,520 You might not know it for another. 30 years? 760 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:26,520 You have no clue. But we have stories like. 761 00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:29,160 This to comfort us in those moments of waiting and wondering 762 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:33,760 that this is not in vain. My my turmoil is not pointless. 763 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:36,800 There's something to this. I may not be able to see it. 764 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:41,120 I may not be able to explain it. And I'm sure you've tossed in 765 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:44,120 bed back and forth trying to wonder what, why this, why, and 766 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:47,160 I. Wonder what the reaction of 767 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:48,400 this? Woman was she was a woman of 768 00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:50,120 faith. She was, she was a smart woman. 769 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:54,200 I wonder what she thought when she went back home and realized 770 00:44:54,640 --> 00:44:59,600 it was this testimony that would win the King's temporary 771 00:44:59,600 --> 00:45:03,200 affection to allow me to have everything that I lost. 772 00:45:04,040 --> 00:45:05,680 This is no ordinary king, by the way. 773 00:45:06,200 --> 00:45:08,160 The context suggests that he is Jeho Ram. 774 00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:09,520 And who is he? The son of? 775 00:45:09,640 --> 00:45:11,200 Remind me? Good. 776 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:12,800 Ahab. And his mother was Jezebel. 777 00:45:13,240 --> 00:45:15,960 Did Ahab have a reputation of being kind with people's 778 00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:19,120 property or No, No, no, no. You remember Nabit's vineyard, 779 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:22,400 right? And so this is. 780 00:45:23,120 --> 00:45:25,640 This is a king whose. Dad was very manipulative, 781 00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:27,800 right? And it makes you wonder. 782 00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:31,320 What are the chances? That this king is not going to 783 00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:34,520 take advantage of the situation and. 784 00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:37,560 Manipulate it so that he. Can come out with something very 785 00:45:37,560 --> 00:45:41,720 low, very low if we see his. History and his upbringing, and 786 00:45:41,720 --> 00:45:47,120 yet it would be Ghazi's word and this woman's appearance at that 787 00:45:47,120 --> 00:45:50,440 time and that particular story out of all of Elijah's 788 00:45:50,440 --> 00:45:53,800 testimonies that would soften his heart and say you can have 789 00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:56,640 it back. And not just have it back. 790 00:45:56,640 --> 00:46:00,800 Read verse 6 carefully again. So the king. 791 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:04,400 Appointed an official for her saying restore all that was 792 00:46:04,400 --> 00:46:07,960 hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the 793 00:46:07,960 --> 00:46:10,080 day that she left the land until now. 794 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:14,240 So not just your house and. Your land, but whatever produce 795 00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:17,200 that might have been developed in your absence, all of that is 796 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:18,840 being brought to you. As though you were here. 797 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:20,880 Everything that was. Taken from you. 798 00:46:22,240 --> 00:46:23,320 Is going to be given back to you. 799 00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:25,520 I'm sure she would have been happy if you just got the keys 800 00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:28,560 back to her front door. But no, we're going to, we're 801 00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:31,480 going to work this out and figure out what was, what was 802 00:46:31,480 --> 00:46:34,160 developed and what was produced. And we're going to, we're going 803 00:46:34,160 --> 00:46:35,640 to put that into your account as well. 804 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:38,240 Because the Lord goes above and beyond for those who serve him, 805 00:46:39,160 --> 00:46:40,280 He goes. Above and beyond. 806 00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:43,360 For those who serve him, that's really the lesson of this 807 00:46:43,360 --> 00:46:48,120 testimony in this study, that you will never go wrong serving 808 00:46:48,120 --> 00:46:54,040 the Lord sacrificially never go wrong and though you serve him 809 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:56,240 and. Things happen in your. 810 00:46:56,240 --> 00:47:00,280 Life that don't make sense. Treatment that doesn't seem to 811 00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:05,240 align with faithfulness. There's a reason for it. 812 00:47:06,320 --> 00:47:11,000 There's a reason for it. It's developing a wisdom in you. 813 00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:16,440 It's developing a character. In you, it's developing a story 814 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:19,680 in you that when it's shared, might win people to the Savior. 815 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:25,960 They say, I've read this in many, many accounts of 816 00:47:25,960 --> 00:47:30,760 ministers, that their messages and that their counsel and that 817 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:35,040 their interactions with their members radically change when a 818 00:47:35,040 --> 00:47:38,560 chapter of suffering comes their way. 819 00:47:42,120 --> 00:47:45,960 God's curriculum in his school is very fascinating to me, very 820 00:47:45,960 --> 00:47:50,520 interesting. And all that requires of. 821 00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:56,360 Us is just to trust him, believe him, let him lead and let him 822 00:47:56,360 --> 00:48:00,520 write this story and as he's writing that story, as we learn 823 00:48:00,640 --> 00:48:04,200 that doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have some liberty 824 00:48:04,480 --> 00:48:07,480 to make choice as you were informed by the word of God. 825 00:48:08,040 --> 00:48:12,920 Go wherever you can. And so I want us to end here 826 00:48:12,920 --> 00:48:17,600 tonight, asking us for both of those things, for His perfect 827 00:48:17,600 --> 00:48:21,320 leadership so that we wouldn't miss 1 testimony. 828 00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:26,040 And at the same time for the wisdom and the balance to know 829 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:33,400 when to move, how to act, what to decide, and to believe that 830 00:48:34,240 --> 00:48:37,720 He will guide us even though we don't get supernatural guidance 831 00:48:37,720 --> 00:48:39,520 in it. Shall we pray? 832 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:42,480 Can we take our time? I think this is a very fitting 833 00:48:42,480 --> 00:48:49,760 study for the last study of our year of this year as we prepare 834 00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:53,560 for a new year. And the praise team can. 835 00:48:53,560 --> 00:48:56,960 Join me on the platform as we are ready to sing to the Lord. 836 00:49:12,260 --> 00:49:15,340 Thank you, Lord. We bless your holy name. 837 00:49:16,340 --> 00:49:20,940 You are beyond good to us. Lord, Oh God, we thank you for 838 00:49:20,940 --> 00:49:22,980 2024. We thank you for every 839 00:49:22,980 --> 00:49:25,220 testimony. We even thank you for the tests, 840 00:49:26,340 --> 00:49:29,580 the trials, Lord, that you were able to bring us through. 841 00:49:30,360 --> 00:49:32,960 Thank you, Lord, that these things occurred, not because we 842 00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:34,400 have something to prove to you, but. 843 00:49:35,560 --> 00:49:38,000 So that we can confirm. The faith that we have in you 844 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:42,040 and realize I do trust him, I do believe in him, I do love him. 845 00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:46,240 So Lord, we, we honor you, we crown you with our praise for 846 00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:47,400 everything. Oh God. 847 00:49:47,920 --> 00:49:51,200 And we, we ask even now, Lord, if there is a crossroads that 848 00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:54,720 some are standing at, not knowing where to go, that this 849 00:49:54,720 --> 00:49:59,320 study would be the nudge to push them in the right direction. 850 00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:02,360 And for those who have done all that they can to obey you and it 851 00:50:02,360 --> 00:50:05,520 and it just seems to cost them more than anything else. 852 00:50:05,840 --> 00:50:10,200 May they believe you and may they rest in you knowing that 853 00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:12,600 they will never go wrong, obeying what your word has to 854 00:50:12,600 --> 00:50:16,600 say, even if it encourages delay, even if it causes 855 00:50:16,600 --> 00:50:20,080 inconvenience. Lord, we believe you that you 856 00:50:20,080 --> 00:50:24,000 only have good in mind for us. So help us be patient. 857 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:27,160 In our obedience, help us be patient as we wait on You. 858 00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:33,200 Lord, Tonight we pray that You would deposit in our hearts the 859 00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:37,600 ability to retain these truths. When they matter, the. 860 00:50:37,600 --> 00:50:42,120 Most when we are faced with similar things that might 861 00:50:42,920 --> 00:50:46,400 challenge us to distress you, Lord, bring these things to 862 00:50:46,400 --> 00:50:48,280 mind. Help us remember. 863 00:50:48,600 --> 00:50:51,600 We will not, O Lord, divert from your way. 864 00:50:51,880 --> 00:50:55,920 We will not be like Elimelech and Naomi and choose to be the 865 00:50:55,920 --> 00:50:58,680 kings of our own lives, the queen of our own decisions. 866 00:50:58,680 --> 00:51:04,120 We trust in You, even in famine. Even in discomfort. 867 00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:08,600 We'll wait on you. In Jesus name, Amen. 868 00:51:08,840 --> 00:51:10,200 Let's stand and worship the Lord. 869 00:51:10,920 --> 00:51:14,680 Just worship Him with the heart that He has taught us so much in 870 00:51:14,680 --> 00:51:19,040 2024 and that He has more for us should He tarry in 2025.