Beggars and Bread

2 Kings 8.  And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. 9.  Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now

There is a story told, in the Old Testament of the Bible, about a time that the Syrian army had come against Israel and laid siege to the city of Jerusalem. The city was in such dire straits that there was no food, since the fields were located outside the city walls.  And of course, to go out to find food would result in death from the Syrian army.

There were four leprous men at the gate of the city who made a decision.  They decided that if they stayed inside the city walls they would die of starvation. If the left the city, the worse that could happen was they would be killed by the army camped round about the city.   Either way, they were in a no win situation. Stay in the city and starve, or take a chance that the Syrians would leave them alone because they had the dreaded disease, leprosy.

Off they went, facing certain death, but not willing to just sit there and die in the city with the rest of the people. Some of us have been in that situation, or maybe now face something  similar.  Due to the problems that life has thrown us, we are ready to make a change, and take a chance that there may be a way out of  the problems that we face.  The people in the city were resigned to die.  They felt that they had no choice in the matter.  Let me tell you, that what ever you face, there is a way out.

Now here is the interesting part, which leads to the moral of the story.  During the night, as predicted by Elisha the prophet, God moved among the Syrian camp and made them think that a large army was approaching to wipe them out.  In their fear and confusion, they left everything behind and fled back to their home country.

Imagine the surprise of the lepers when they entered the Syrian camp and found it deserted.  There was food in abundance, clothing, weapons of war, and bags of gold and silver that had been left in the confusion.  Because they were afflicted with leprosy, and not stupidity, they started to collect for themselves the good things left behind.

After laying aside more than they could ever need, they began to feel guilty.  Here they were, living it up with food and wine, filled up like an old dog tick, and hundreds were starving to death in the city. So back they went to the city, with their unbelievable story.  At first telling, people naturally didn’t believe them and thought it might be a trick of the enemy to lure them out.  But after some convincing talk, the rest of the city came out and enjoyed the wonderful things that God had provided for them.

The moral of the story is this.  Just like the people in the city, there are millions of people that are facing spiritual death because the enemy of their souls is keeping them from the good things of God. They are sitting in a spiritual prison, facing certain death in their relationship with God.

But here’s the Good News.  There are some of us Lepers, who were just like them at one time, rejected by the world because of the way we looked, talked, or dressed, that have ventured outside the city and found the good things that God has provided to those who will turn to Him.  We’ve come back to the city, and like the lepers told a fantastic story.  You do no have to face certain death.  The Bible tells us that Jesus Himself said, “I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly”. 

Make Jesus a part of your life.  You’ll never be the same.  Just one old beggar, telling others about bread.

In the Wind

Double D