September 24 See the Blessing

2 Kings 2:19-22 Now the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful." 20 Elisha said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 21 Then Elisha went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it." 22 So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

QUICKLY into his ministry, Elisha has demonstrated two miraculous signs in God's power. 1) His cloak parted the Jordan River. 2) He purifies water in Jericho. Isn't it interesting that Elijah's ministry ends, Elisha's begins and Jesus' ministry also begins at the Jordan River? This is also where God's people entered into the Promised Land. Water symbolizes change. Water brings life, and God uses an ordinary river to become an extraordinary symbol of his life-giving change.

    And who of us would think that God would use salt to purify the water? Salt makes water unusable, doesn't it? But salt is an element of creation that is necessary for life. Too much salt, of course, is harmful. But too little salt is also harmful. In fact, without salt, our bodies die.

    Thus we can clearly see God is in this miracle. Elisha is not some enchanter who magically purifies some small amount of water. Elisha is empowered by God to bring life-giving water for drink and for crops to Jericho and its "pleasant" surroundings. 

    God has acted to restore a city and its economy. Do you think its citizens will notice his blessing? In your life, do you notice your "pleasant surroundings"? Do you see God's blessings?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for the ways you bless my heart with the Father's truth. Thank you for blessing my life with the Living Water, Jesus Christ. Amen.