2 Kings 3:1-20
" 1In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.3 Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.
4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. 7 And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8 Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” 12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. 15 But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ 17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ 18 This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, 19 and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” 20 The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water."
There is something in this story reminiscent of the children of Israel's experience in the wilderness when Moses drew water from the rock to quench their thirst. The effect of the mir- acle was the same here as there, although the method employed was different. We notice here that the appeal to God came only at the point of crisis, and doubtless the Lord, since He purposed to help and deliver His people, was intent upon making them feel their need of Him, and allowed this lack of water to harass them and jeopardise their safety. In this connection it is significant to see that Jehoram was quick to assume that the Lord had brought this about in order to deliver them into the hand of Moab. This is an eloquent commentary on the effectiveness of Elijah's ministry in creating a conscience in Israel for the things of God. It is something when rulers are able to associate national crises with moral and spiritual issues. Would that modem governments did the same. What need there is that a conscience of this kind should be created in our national life by similar, Elijah-like ministries!
Elisha's response to the appeal made to him is interesting. It was because of Jehoshaphat's association with the venture, not Jehoram's, that he was prepared to intercede for them. This must have been very galling for Jehoram and sufficient to correct any false assumption he may have been likely to make that the Lord was relenting towards his sinful ways. This is something we should remember, the presence of the godly with us in business or at home, may be far more responsible than we had realised for the blessing of God that attends us. Isn't that worth thinking about?