January 18, 2026
We’re in a message series about Elisha. He was a young farmer, and last week we learned how he was plowing and out of nowhere a famous prophet, basically indicated Elisha would be the next prophet. Elisha jumped at the chance, he left all to follow! Not only that, he killed his oxen and chopped up the plow as firewood and cooked a meal for his family and friends. So, his farming equipment was gone and there was no going back. Basically, God asked Elisha to be a prophet and his hand shot up! I’ll do it! We learned God isn’t looking for ability, he’s looking for availability!
Today we’re going to hear about a time, maybe 5 years later, when Elisha is no longer an apprentice. His master, Elijah, has gone to heaven in a chariot of fire. Elisha is now a prophet in Israel. At that time, Moab was a country bordering Israel. Moab paid taxes to Israel. But one day the king of Moab says, “To heck with it, I’m not paying taxes.” So Joram, the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, and the king of Edom decide to go to war against Moab. They take their troops and they think, This is gonna be easy, three countries against one, we’ll win, no problem! They expect things to go well, but life rarely goes as planned. How many of you would agree that life rarely goes as planned? Especially when you march through a desert to go to war!
2 Kings 3:9 says, “After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them.” You can’t live long without water, and you can’t go to war without water. They’re in trouble! When the King of Israel finds out, he says in verse 10, “What! Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?” He’s asking, wait a minute God, what are you doing? Have you ever found yourself asking God, wait a minute, where are you God, and what are you doing? Have you noticed how quickly things can go from bad to worse in life? Like money’s tight, and you’re a little concerned but you’ll be ok, until the car breaks down and you either need to do an expensive repair or get a new vehicle. Or your marriage isn’t great, you know it, but suddenly things get worse and your spouse is talking about divorce. At one moment you think you can handle things, and the next moment you think, “I never thought this would happen to me. God, I need help!” The King of Israel is saying, I need water now God, I need a miracle now! Where are you God?!
Then King Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah says, “Is there no prophet here that we can inquire of the Lord?” An officer of Israel says, yes, there’s Elisha. The King of Israel has not been a worshipper of God. But the three kings or Israel, Judah and Edom discuss what they can do. They decide to go visit the prophet, Elisha. They’re in a desperate situation, but they don’t give up! There’s wisdom that comes from seeking help. Sometimes we need to work with God on a miracle. For example, maybe we could ask others to pray for us, or ask around for good advice. If we don’t do what we can do, why do we expect help from God? We need to work with God on a miracle, like the kings worked with God. They don’t give up. They go on a trip.
They go to the prophet, and when Elisha sees the King of Israel, he says, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” His parents used to worship the false god, Baal. Elisha is annoyed that King Joram suddenly found God just because he wants help. But King Joram says “No, I won’t go to the prophets of Baal. Because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.”
King Joram doesn’t think about God until he needs him. You and I have done the same! There are times when you and I haven’t paid God any attention, not prayed to God, not sought his guidance, or done his will. And then all of sudden things fall apart. We pray, “Oh God, can you help me, please remember me now, I need help!” Do you ever wonder why bad things happen to us? One of the reasons bad things happen is that when we get to the point that we need something from God, that’s when we realize we need God!
In verse 14 Elisha says, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you.” Then here comes something you might not expect. Out of the blue Elisha says, “But now bring me a harpist.” This is weird. The kings are panicking, the soldiers are thirsty, the nations are at war, and Elisha says, Get me a harpist. I need some music in order to prophesy. So, imagine that bbbrrrriiinngg, the soothing, relaxing sound of a harp plays. Why a harp? Back then, the harp was often used in worship. Elisha wants to worship. He knows one of the best things you can do in a difficult time, is worship! Why is worship important? It changes your perspective. You take your eyes off your problems and fix them on God who provides. Worship invites God into our hearts and creates space to hear from God! Worship gets us out of alarm mode into the slow, calm warmth of the presence of God. So, if you’re anxious and worried, if you’re frustrated and angry, it’s time to worship! Slow your heart rate to the soothing tone of the harp and be still. God is there with you.
Verses 15-16 tell us: “While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.” God is going to save them from disaster! But he’ll do it in an unusual way: In verse 17 Elisha says, “For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.” Sometimes when God sends help, it doesn’t look the way you expect it to. It might not happen the way you want. Elijah said, “The Lord says you won’t see the rain, but still, he’ll do the miracle, help is on the way!” Faith doesn’t deny what you see. Faith decides who you will believe.
Elisha adds, “This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.” God’s got this! It sounds incredible, and maybe impossible, but water will happen. And it does! Water roars in and makes pools of water. For God, it’s easy! When things are tough, God is tougher. So, when things get difficult, when you’re hurting and desperate and scared, will you trust God? Will you decide, I know things look bad, but I believe what Jesus says: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!” Faith doesn’t deny what you see. Faith decides who you will believe.
So, if you’re worried about your health and you need a miracle, turn on some harp music, or whatever song helps you relax, be calm and trust in God. We all need to worship more and worry less, right?
My challenge for you is this, whenever you need God to work in your life, whenever you’re hurting, desperate or afraid, tell yourself, “I know what I see. I know things are bad. But I know who I believe. I believe in God and his goodness and his power.” Let’s practice that together! Say after me, “I know what I see. But I know who I believe.”
If your bills are piling up, you know what you see, but believe in God who richly provides. If you feel guilt and shame about the past, the word of God says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Don’t dwell on the past. Because three kings had a problem. They ran out of water. And they weren’t the best people religiously, but they reached out to God’s prophet Elisha, and God worked a miracle. God doesn’t always provide according to our timeframe, or the way we expect. But he provides. Faith doesn’t deny what you see. Faith decides who you will believe! Amen.
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