“And Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.’ But the king of Israel said to him, ‘No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.’” (2 Kings 3:13 ESV).
When Jehoram, the king of Israel, found himself in crisis during a joint military campaign with Judah and Edom, he sought out Elisha, the prophet of the Lord. Elisha responded sharply, challenging Jehoram’s sincerity by telling him to seek help from the prophets of his father Ahab and mother Jezebel, who had led Israel into Baal worship. Elisha’s rebuke exposed the king’s inconsistent relationship with God. Although Jehoram had tolerated idolatry and distanced himself from the Lord in times of peace, he now came pleading for divine help in a time of desperation. Elisha made it clear that he would not even regard Jehoram if it were not for the presence of Jehoshaphat, a godly king of Judah.
How often do we act like Jehoram? We may live self-reliantly or even compromise with the world when life is running smoothly, but the moment trouble strikes, we cry out for God’s help. While God is merciful and often meets us in our distress, Elisha’s words remind us that God is not someone to be used in times of crisis and ignored in seasons of comfort. We must examine our hearts. Are we seeking the Lord daily or only when our plans unravel? Do we treat God as a refuge to run to only when our idols fail us? Let us turn to Him not just in times of need, but at all times, with love, worship, and obedience.
PRAYER :Dear Father, forgive us for the ways we turn to You only when we are desperate, after ignoring You in times of comfort Help us not to treat You as a last resort but as our first love. Teach us to seek Your face daily, to walk with You in faithfulness, and to rely on You at all times. May our devotion be steady, not seasonal. In Jesus’ name, amen.