Dancing in Dry Ditches

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 3:1-2, 5-18, 20-24

One of the paradoxical statements of Christianity is that we are strongest at our weakeset. To the carnal mind, this statement seems to contradict itself. To Christians, this statement is a profound truth.

In the above scripture passage we find 3 kings that are going to attack the king of Moab. The kings of Israel and Judah found an ally in the king of Edom. So, they decided to attack Moab by going through the Desert of Edom.

To a strategist, this would look like a good plan. One would expect the element of surprise traveling through a desert. The plan looked good on paper, but in its execution, they came upon a problem. They ran out of water.

How often do you make plans, only to see them not work out the way you thought they would? How do you respond to these situations?

King Jeshoshaphat responded in proper fashion. He decided to inquire of the Lord about their situation. Going to God should be our first response.

Do you think they asked God about their plans before they even started marching?

Seeking Godly direction should always be the first thing we do when making any plans. The scripture does not say anything about whether or not they ever asked God what He thought about their plan. It appears they just decided to go to war because they felt it was the right thing to do, without making God a part of their decision making.

Do you pray before making important decisions in our life? For major decisions, do you have people you can council with that God could use to give you direction?

For a moment, let's assume they did pray before going to war (through the desert) and that they did not receive any warnings from God. The problem of the lack of water came as a normal circumstance of life, then.

Problems are fertile ground for miracles. When obstacles come our way, we should face them with faith!

God gave instructions through the prophet Elisha. The request to dig ditches might have seemed strange, but the people obeyed and God delivered them!

When we are engulfed in tribulation, we feel weak. In those situations, there is nothing we can do to fix the problem. We have to totally depend on God. He loves to show Himself sufficient when we humble ourselves and ask Him for help. We are at our strongest when we are at our weakest, because it is God's strength that empowers us and delivers us. (Read Psalm 147, focusing on verses 10-11 especially)

If you are facing hardship today, put on some Christian music, praise God and ask Him for help. That is what Elisha did!

If God directs you to do something, obey! Some miracles require you to dig some ditches!

The request to dig ditches may seem strange. If God would have told them to dig a well in a certain spot, that would have made more logical sense. But God's ways are above our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Obeying God is key to you getting your miracle.

Has God been dealing with you about some dirt that needs to be dug out of you? Pride? Selfishness? Apathy? A bad habit?

Remove the dirt and make room in your life for a miracle!

God will use desert times in our lives to teach us. His answer will come while we are in the desert. You can go ahead and dance in the ditches, the victory is near!