On to my blog post...
Recently, I have been reading in 2 Kings. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot that has really jumped off the page at me. At times while I'm reading all the kings start to run together a bit. However, at other times, there have been very clear moments where I've connected with a story and took it to heart. What I am about to share is just one of them. Reading through Israel's struggles and the biographies of her kings is a clear reminder that we're all human and wrestle with sin. We face many of the same issues that they did during that time. If you want some nice entertainment, replace the names of the characters in 2 Kings with Italian mobsters. It reads just like a scene from Godfather...
Well, on to my story, right?? I was reading in 2 Kings 13 about Joash, King of Israel. Now, Joash was an evil king and led Israel astray (as most of them seemingly were). He came to a point in his reign were he felt he was on the verge of defeat. So, doing what most people do when they think they're about to die, he cried out to God. He went to the prophet Elisha and sought help. Elisha told him to take a bow and arrow and shoot it out the window. (Kind of strange, but people have been asked to do weirder things in the Bible...read Jeremiah, for one.) The direction he shot was towards his enemy, symbolizing that he would defeat them. Then, Elisha asked him to take the remaining arrows and strike the ground. Joash responded and struck the ground 3 times. Then, something rather odd happens. Rather than responding positively to Joash, Elisha responds in anger. He tells Joash that he will only defeat his enemy 3 times. Elisha tells him that he should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times b/c then he would have completely defeated them. Instead, Joash has to settle with a minor victory and recognize that his enemy will eventually renew his stronghold against Israel.
This story has always struck me. Maybe because I'm a rule-follower. I tried to put myself in Joash's shoes. Elisha, this man of God in a position of authority tells me to strike the ground. I strike it...maybe even only once. "Hey, I'm just doing what I'm told." I've never been one to get really wrapped up in the moment and go overboard. I can't imagine myself striking and striking and striking til the arrows break or I'm exhausted. So, I respond quietly to Elisha's request, merely striking the ground a time or two. But then I find out that it's not really "following the rules after all." There's a hidden agenda here...God wants to see fervor. Passion. Zeal. A little "over the top-ness." I'm in trouble...
On the other hand, unlike me, Joash was NOT a rule-follower. He did his own thing and didn't obey the voice of God. Sure, he was living "outside the box," but doing so in a way that was unhealthy and destructive to his people. He pursued his own pleasure and led everyone else along his path of destruction with him. What would it have taken for him to exhibit a little abandon when he came to seek God? I'm sure it was not his comfort zone. Sure, he had abandon in other areas of his life, but not when it came to his relationship with God. So, when it came time to strike the ground, he picked the safe number: 3. Not too much. Not too little. But then he found out, that it wasn't quite right...
So, what does that mean for me? Abandon, in the proper respect is not only healthy, but expected. Living with fervor and zest is beneficial...and it not only has implications for my own life, but will ultimately affect those around me. So, when God leads me in a certain direction or asks me to do something for His kingdom (even something as simple as striking the ground), I pray that I can dive in wholeheartedly. May I not stop with simple obedience. May I not choose the "safe" answer. May I respond with enthusiasm and passion as I recognize that my small act may have a much larger impact. Here goes to striking...
"6Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;
7[He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching;
8He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness." Romans 12: 6-8 (Amplified Bible)
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