A GREAT feast

Sunday, October 13:  Emma and I studied such a beautiful story today. I'm going to try to summarize it here. We've been learning about the Old Testament kings and prophets for quite awhile now, 31 lessons so far! This week we resumed with Elisha, that great prophet who followed Elijah. It seems as though Elisha was NEVER afraid. God had answered Elisha's prayer and was given a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit and then God used Elisha in mighty ways. In our story today, the enemy army kept trying to ambush Israel inside their territory; but everytime they set up camp in Israel, not one single Israeli soldier fell into their trap. The enemy king accused his men of treason--there must be a soldier in their ranks who was a traitor! But one of his men told the king that there was a prophet in Israel, Elisha by name, that could hear everything the king said--even in his bedroom! Elisha was the one that was giving the king's secrets away! So the king decided Elisha MUST BE FOUND and stopped. He sent out chariots and his entire army to find Elisha and capture him. They found Elisha in a place called Dothan, surrounded it, and were ready to complete their mission.

Meanwhile, Elisha's servant got up in the morning (inside the walls of Dothan) looked over the walls and saw that they were surrounded by the enemy. The servant was terrified, but Elisha told him not to be afraid because "those who were with them" were far greater than those who were in that enemy army. Elisha asked that the servant's eyes be opened, and low and behold, he saw "chariots and horses of fire", lots and lots of them ... everywhere! What couldn't be seen by the human eye was out there protecting Elisha and his servant. Elisha asked that God strike the enemy troops with blindness, and then Elisha told them they were at the wrong city and that he would lead them to the right place! Elisha walked ahead of an entire blind army at least 10 miles to Samaria, led them inside the fortified city, and then asked God to open their eyes. Talk about a shock to their system! They were sitting ducks, all of them. Israel's king asked Elisha if these soldiers should be killed on the spot. It was Elisha's answer that completely dumfounded me ... at least at first.

Elisha told the king to prepare a feast for his enemy, to set it before them, and once they had eaten and had been refreshed with water, they could go back to their master (the enemy king). That's exactly what happened! 

And so I began to think about that great feast that was prepared for the enemy ... and God reminded me of some beautiful passages of Scripture:

Psalm 23:6    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies ...

Emma and I talked about being once BLIND ourselves and how "God has brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light" ... and the fact that we were once His enemies, but out of the kindness of His heart, He gave us the gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life. 

But just as I am writing this, I remembered there is a future feast we have been invited to enjoy. I need to share this with Emma ...

Luke 14:15    Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.

Isaiah 25.6    On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine--the best of meats and the finest of wines.

Revelation 19.6-9   "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear ... " Then the angel said to me ... "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB."  

One day come to the GREAT FEAST where we will eat with Christ as His bride, holy and unblemished by His own blood. I'm praying that day will be very soon.