2 Kings 7:1 - Meaning and Application

Here, Elisha foretells that, even though Samaria is in desperate trouble, within twenty-four hours they will have plenty again (2 Kings 7:1). The king of Israel had given up hope and was weary of waiting, and that is exactly when Elisha spoke. He spoke when things were at their worst, because human helplessness is the very time when God shows his power most clearly. It is when people have no strength left that God steps in for them (Deuteronomy 32:36).

When they had stopped expecting help, help came. Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). The king had said, “Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?” and some of the elders may have felt the same way. Elisha answers them by saying, in effect, “You have heard what these men say, now hear the word of the Lord. Tomorrow grain will be sold at the normal price in the gate of Samaria.” That means the siege will be lifted, because the city gate will be open again and trade will go on as before. The return of peace is described in this way in another place: “Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates” to buy and sell there (Judges 5:11).

The result would be great plenty. In time, that would be expected, but for grain to become so cheap in just one day was far beyond anything people could imagine. The king of Israel had just threatened Elisha’s life, yet God promises to save both Elisha and the people. Where sin increases, grace increases even more.

A nobleman of Israel who was there openly said he could not believe the prophecy (2 Kings 7:2). He was a court official whom the king loved and trusted deeply. The king leaned on his judgment and depended on his advice. He thought the prophecy was impossible unless God made grain fall from the sky, as he had once sent manna. Nothing less than a repeat of Moses’s miracle would satisfy him, even though Elijah’s miracle of increasing the meal in the jar could have been enough for this purpose.

A just judgment was then spoken against him because of his unbelief, that he would see this great plenty for himself, but not enjoy it. Unbelief is a serious sin. It dishonors God, offends him, and keeps people from the blessings he meant to give them. The murmuring Israelites saw Canaan, but could not enter because they did not believe. So, Bishop Patrick says, it will be with those who do not believe the promise of eternal life. They may see it from far away, like Abraham saw it from afar, but they will never taste it. They lose the benefit of the promise if they will not trust God’s word.