The Prophet ElishaSample

God Keeps His Promises In Unexpected Ways

“The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So, a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.” (2 Kings 7:16)

The unbelievable happened — by God’s intervention. He made the Syrian soldiers, who were still surrounding Samaria, hear the sound of a great army. The soldiers panicked and ran for their lives. They abandoned all of their belongings: tents, horses, silver, gold, clothing… and a lot of food.

When some men noticed that the Syrian camp was deserted, they told the gatekeepers who in turn informed the king. After careful investigation, they concluded that the whole Syrian army had fled as far as the river Jordan. They had really retreated!

Now the Samaritans could plunder the camp of the Syrians. Suddenly, there was food in abundance! And so, God’s promise came true. But the unbelieving captain was trampled in the gate by the hungry masses — in fulfillment of God’s words that this man would not eat of the food that the Lord provided.

Nobody could have imagined this outcome of the siege. God worked in an amazing and creative way to save the people of Samaria. They may not even have understood why the Syrians fled, since only these soldiers heard the “sounds of war” and no competing army was to be seen. It was clear, however, that God had intervened!

Does it encourage you that God can intervene in unexpected ways in seemingly hopeless situations? Can you mention an example from your own life or someone else’s?