Marching toward Hope
(2 Kings 7:3~8)


2 Kings chapter 7 records an event that took place when King Ben-Hadad of Aram invaded northern Israel and laid siege to Samaria. When the siege lasted long, food ran out in the city, leading to the suffering of the people from severe famine. Horrible events beyond the imagination of mankind arose because people could not find food any more. Four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate did not just sit around and wait to die of starvation. Even if it may be faint hope, they were determined to choose hope and move forward.

1. A choice of four men with leprosy

1) Why stay here until we die? (2 Kings 7:3)
2) If we go into the city, the famine is there and we will die. If we stay here, we will die. (2 Kings 7:4)
3) Therefore, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.

2. Elisha’s prophecy

1) The Lord said, “About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” (2 Kings 7:1)
2) An officer heard Elisha’s prophecy and said, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” Then, Elisha answered the officer, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it.” (2 Kings 7:2)

3. Marching forward to hope

1) Marching of the four men with leprosy sounded like a tank corps to the enemy. When the men tripped over a stone, it sounded like a large army of 1 million people was attacking. (2 Kings 7:5~6)
2) When God had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, they thought that Israel had hired soldiers. The Arameans who were spiritually attacked by God abandoned their tents, horses and donkeys, and ran away. (2 Kings 7:7)

Conclusion
The four men with leprosy ate and drank as much as they pleased. Then, they went to Samaria and delivered good news to the people who were dying. Many people rushed out of the gate, and the officer who was in charge of the gate died by being trampled by the people, just as the man of God had foretold. Even if we face tough situations, we should never be discouraged or give up. We must march toward hope because God Almighty is with us.