“Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the LORD. This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver. ” 2 The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” 2 Kings 7:1-2.
Regularly I use the Daily devotional and yearly plan of New Living Translation. They normally take a text from New Testament and Old Testament. Today the New Testament text is 1 Corinthians 13. The popular scripture about love, that emphasizes that whatever I do and particularly if “I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains”, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. This bible plan was followed by 2 Kings 7.
Whereas you read above Elisha prophesied about prosperity in Israel. But you know the officer made a mockery of Elisha’s prophecy and the man of God quickly pronounced death on the officer! Fast forward the prophecy of Elisha came to pass there was prosperity in Israel and the prophecy on the officer came to pass also - ‘You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it’ also happened. “And so it was, for the people trampled him to death at the gate!” 2 King 7:20.
What the Holy Spirit is teaching us today is how to deal with anger. Yes, the bible tells us if any man is in Christ we are a new creature old things have passed away ! But you and I know that even though God has done that in the spirit we still manifest some old things in the flesh sometimes. Which is okay to start with, that is why the bible says “work out your salvation”, you have been saved from your sinful nature of sin, but there are some things in you and I that we need to deal with as we grow in grace and in power. As I normally say, the bible characters are gone, it is you and I that need to learn from them and make heaven. So this is not a discourse to apportion blame on a major prophet like Elisha but to learn a few things from him, especially his inability to deal with anger issues.
Let me give you more instances where Elisha exhibited unrestrained anger:
1. Cursed and caused Gehazi to become leprous “The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow” 2 kings 5: 27.
2. Cursed and caused 42 young children that made mockery of his baldness and sent them to early graves. “And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.” 2 King 2:24.
3. Disparaged and disrespected King Jehoram and others who came to him for a word.”And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee”2 Kings 3:13-14.
I do not justify Gehazi for his greed and the children for mocking an Elder or The Kings officer for unbelief and being talkative, but do these simple acts justify instantaneous death from a man of God? The answer is No. But when people offend individuals who are prone to anger the result most times is out of proportion.
What is anger?
Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong. Let the truth be told we all have a degree of anger. What we are dealing with here is escalating anger. Anger leads you to do something stupid at the slightest provocation. Anger makes you curse your spouse, children, family, relations, church members or leaders. Anger makes you destroy your precious hard earned TV screen, laptops, phones. Anger makes you call police on your spouse. Anger makes people to commit suicide, withdraw from school, leave the church where God is blessing them. Anger makes people resign from their job prematurely.
Anger makes people drive furiously until they wreck their own car and probably kill innocent road travellers! Anger makes an individual to become a nuisance to his/her nuclear,extended family and in-laws. Anger turns you to abuse person, physical abuse of spouse. Many of us even pray in anger. Or how do you explain the type of “fall and die” prayers of our generation ! Because someone stole your one hundred dollars phone you say “whoever stole my phone shall not wake up tomorrow”! Is the life of someone equivalent to your iPhone? Jacob said “But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live”. Gen 31:32a and sent his beloved wife Rachael to an early grave.
Conclusion: Anger is treatable emotionally issue. Anger is controllable. Get yourself in to Fruits of the spirit mode, I promise you , you will be fine. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things” Shalom .
Pastor Amos Dada PhD, P.Eng.
Zonal Superintendent Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Canada Zone
Chairman, CAC Men's Association, North America
Dean, Christ Apostolic Church North America Bible Institute
