Every day we make choices. Some good, some bad, but choices nonetheless. In today’s Bible Journaling, we look at 2 Kings 7:4-5. To give you some background on the situation, the Arameans had laid siege on Samaria and surrounded it. On top of that, there was a famine, and the people of Samaria were starving. So, no food was coming in because the Arameans weren’t allowing food to come in from other sources and they weren’t able to grow food because of the famine. Four lepers sat at the gate of the city, and like everyone else, they were starving. Not only were they going to die from leprosy, but they would also most likely starve to death. They talked among themselves and asked why they just sat at the gate waiting to die. Our verses today pick up their conversation, “If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; but if we sit here, we will also die. Now then come, and let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, then we will die.’ So they got up at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there.” (NASB)
They had choices to make. It seemed that no matter what choice they made it would lead to death. They chose to go to the camp, but what the lepers didn’t know was, God had a plan and made the Arameans hear what sounded like a mighty army coming with chariots and horses against them, and the Arameans were so afraid, they ran from the camp and left everything behind. The lepers were able to find food and other things. After eating and taking what they wanted, they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what they found and told them to tell the king. Their choice started a new beginning for them and the people of Samaria.
When we have choices to make, do they lead to a new beginning, or are we stuck in the same rut we’ve been walking in? When we make choices that cause us to stay where we are and not move forward, we can become defeated in heart, mind, and spirit.
You may be facing adverse circumstances in your life. You may need a job, healing, a place to live, or something else from God. Expect a miracle because God is concerned about your need. He loves you. After He meets your need, you can choose a new beginning, just as the lepers did when they told the gatekeepers about the camp.
In making choices, we must start with prayer. Ask God to help us make the choices we need to walk into a new beginning. God has a plan for us, and He knows where He wants us and what He wants us to do. He also works things out for us. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” (KJV) Even though their situation didn’t look good, God was working the four leper’s situation out for their good and a new beginning was made available to them because God provided food for them and the city, and the king’s forces were able to drive the Arameans away.
We can also utilize the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, in making choices. When we trust God, even when the future looks dim, we will find that despite what the circumstances look like, God will help us. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He is our counselor. We can trust Him!
Do the choices we make reflect God in our lives? Do they show His leadership? Do they show His power? Do we imitate Him in our choices? Do our choices show that we are following in His footsteps? These are questions we must ask ourselves when we are making choices. When we follow God’s leadership in the choices we make, He will lead us into a new beginning and will guide us forward into a new life with Him that will give Him honor and glory.
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