ELISHA - "AW, THAT'S AN EASY THING FOR GOD!"

The king of Israel (Joram, Ahab's son) and the king of Judah (Jehoshaphat) went to war against the king of Moab (Mesha). They figured God was on their side. As they were entrenched in the battle, the water ran out. There was no water for the soldiers or for the animals. Joram was upset! He unhappily suggests that perhaps God has called him, Jehoshaphat (and the king of Edom) to war so that He could hand them over to the Moabites.

Jehoshaphat calls for a prophet of the Lord so that they can "inquire of the Lord through him." Good idea, Jehoshaphat! This is not the only time J. had the wisdom to inquire of the Lord!

So they call Elisha. I like Elisha. I always liked Elijah a little better. I'm not sure why. I think it's because I heard more preaching on the life of Elijah. But, if you want to read about a stalwart, unshakeable man of God, study the life of Elisha. He is totally unaffected by anything but what God wants him to do. He immediately tells King Joram (wicked King Joram), "Why do you have the nerve to call me? Why don't you call the prophets of your mom and dad (Jezebel and Ahab). The king blurts a reply. Elisha quietly blasts King Joram: Basically he says, "If it weren't for the fact that godly King Jehoshaphat is standing here in this little meeting, I wouldn't even look at you or notice you!"

Oooooo! That's "Oooooo," not "Ohhhhh."

He calls for a harpist. They did that back then. As the harpist was playing the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha. I think that's so cool. I've been doing some thinking about the effect of music on us in the time of trouble or decision.

Anyway...and this is what the title of this page is about...Elisha makes a startling and amazing statement, one that mattered greatly to that group meeting, but also to me today.

"This is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. THIS IS AN EASY THING IN THE EYES OF THE LORD!"

Elisha responds to their great fears of defeat and the lack of water by saying something like, "Aw! That's nothing! This is an EASY thing in the eyes of the Lord." God was going to give them water from somewhere besides the sky, where they were used to it coming from, so that it would be clear that it was Him who had done it!

Water out of nowhere! Aw, that's an easy thing for God. And whatever looks insurmountable in our lives, for God, those are easy things to fix, because it's all the same to Almighty God. Nothing is too hard. Everything is easy. And be watching for the answer to come out of nowhere so that we can never say, "Look what I did!"

"Aw, shucks! That's an easy thing for my God to do!" 

Read the rest of the story in II Kings 3.