Windows To Heaven

There is an amazing display of unbelief in the words of a trusted advisor to the King of Israel recorded in 2 Kings 7.  The context is that the city of Samaria has been besieged by enemies for a long time and has undergone substantial economic distress.  The King is frustrated and even wants to kill Elisha, blaming him for the disaster that has come upon his city.   But Elisha has a surprising word for the King from God:

 

Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”  

Apparently rescue from this disaster is planned for the very next day; the marketplace will be open for business as usual, prices for grain and other goods will drop, and the economy will be restored.  Good news indeed.

But one of the King’s closest advisors voices great skepticism that this “good news” can happen overnight: 

“Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, ‘If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?’ But he (Elisha) said, ‘You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.’”

There is undoubtedly a connection between this man’s unbelief and the punishment which follows. For there is a great victory the next day - the opposing army flees unexpectedly, leaving behind wonderful provisions for the starving people.  While the disbelieving captain does indeed “see” this wonderful rescue, he doesn’t see it for long:

“And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died.”  

Matthew Henry sees this connection between unbelief and punishment in very stark terms:

“Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselves of the favours he designed for them. The murmuring Israelites saw Canaan, but could not enter in because of unbelief. Such will be the portion of those that believe not the promise of eternal life; they shall see it at a distance—Abraham afar off, but shall never taste of it; for they forfeit the benefit of the promise if they cannot find in their heart to take God’s word.”

This insight should cause us to fight all the more the great sin of unbelief in our own lives.  How can we disbelieve the great promises of God and still think that we are worthy to inherit them?  When we are tempted to doubt the Word of God we should be like the father of a son tortured by evil spirits who cries out to Jesus: “I believe; help my unbelief!”  (Mark 9)

Therefore, let us repent of our unbelief, and by doing so, we will honour and please God.  It turns out that this advisor did speak some truth with the imagery of God “...making windows in Heaven.”  God has graciously given us many glimpses into eternal life in His Word.  Why should we not believe Him?