Have you prayed without an answer? Pray again! Have you sown without fruit? Sow again!
There were ten kings between Jeroboam and Joash of Israel. Under normal circumstances, the deeds of Jeroboam would be long forgotten. If we go back that number of rulers before Queen Elizabeth, we’d come to William of Orange! But in spite of the years between, we read the oft-repeated refrain: “He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin” (2 Ki 13:11). Sin is a tenacious vine whose tendrils suck the life from a nation. But with the evil of Joash’s life recorded, the divine Author highlights one final act of grace to him through Elisha’s ministry. Near the end of the prophet’s long and fruitful life, he “had become sick with the illness of which he would die” (v 14). Joash came to visit, and wept as he envisioned the chariot swinging low to carry Elisha home. But it wasn’t outward penance he needed; God was looking for true repentance. “Take a bow and some arrows” (v 15), Elisha instructed the king. Through his east-facing window he was to shoot towards Syria. Then he explained the symbolism: “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them” (v 17). The Syrians throughout history and to this day have been the ruthless foe of Israel. Understanding what it would mean, the king was further commanded to “‘Strike the ground’; so he struck three times, and stopped” (v 18). Oh Joash! The arrows are symbolic but the number is not! Only three times? In the Lord’s battle, don’t ever quit. Did Elisha? Why, even after his death, when a body was thrown into his grave, “and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet” (v 21). Even death can’t stop persistent Spirit-led ministry!