‘Tis a Light Thing for the Lord

“The king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them…

“[Elisha] said, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I will make this dry streambed full of pools… You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.” This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand,  and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’ The next morning,.. behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.

“When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the youngest to the oldest, were called out and were drawn up at the border. And when they rose early in the morning and the sun shone on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. And they said, ‘This is blood; the kings have surely fought together and struck one another down. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!’ But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and struck the Moabites, till they fled before them. And they went forward, striking the Moabites as they went.  And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a stone until it was covered.” 2 Kings 3:9,16-25a

Make a dry streambed run with water? Outwit and defeat a rebel king and his army? ‘Tis a light thing for Almighty God. The Lord knows our thirst, and He knows our battles. He is familiar with every want and enemy, small or large, and takes them all into perfect and measured account in His dominion. The small concerns of my life and the broad issues of world affairs are in the scope of His notice and the reach of His arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Jeremiah 32:27; Daniel 2:21)

How kind was the Lord to assuage their thirst first, to show His care and to restore their vitality. Then He turned that very tangible life-giving provision for them into a trompe d’oeil causing death for their enemies. He is creative, efficient, and always purposeful. He teaches us to trust His means as well as His ways, and to marvel in gratitude when He acts on our behalf.

Since these truths are ours for believing and appropriating, and examples abound of God’s faithful intervention and supply, why do we fret? What causes us to divert our eyes from the One who knows us intimately and rules the nations, and twist up inside with worry and obsessive need to control our environment? Relinquishing control is not yielding to disorder, but accepting God’s order, and trusting that He is far more able than we to bring about righteous, good ends.

Lord, keep me marveling at the light things for You that are huge lessons to me. May I trust and praise You for all Your ways.