Gracious Authority

Dear reader,

I realised that I actually do like making announcement videos for these blogposts despite the amount of creative juice they take. So the videos will continue.

Kind regards,

Management.

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In the Bible, there's this guy called Elisha. Elisha's spiritual father was Elijah. When Elijah was taken to Heaven (literally), Elisha got a double portion of his power and authority. The first thing Elisha did with this power was kill some youths that were mocking him by calling him a bald head (2 Kings 2:23-25). If only Elisha lived in the 21st century where all the cool guys are bald – Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, me etc. etc.

Elisha was probably just unconsciously imitating Elijah. If we like someone, we tend to imitate them. One of his last memories of Elijah was probably him sending fire down on 100 soldiers for attempting to capture him (2 Kings 1:9-15). This incident happened after God gave Elijah a kind rebuke on mount Carmel when He showed up not in the strong storm, great earthquake or raging fire but in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13).

Elijah was probably too tired, stressed out and frustrated because of Jezebel's witchcraft words to understand what God was trying to communicate at that time. He had just taken on a whole country. He was focused on boldness and repentance, not kindness and grace. God was looking for the balance or rather the leaning towards His kindness. As James said “Mercy triumphs over judgement.”

I think God knew that Elijah was a pioneer in what he was doing and understood all that he was going through, so He let him continue in fire and brimstone mode. But I don’t think this was the case with Elisha perhaps because to whom much is given, much is required. I remember reading about how ancient rabbis thought that Elisha was chastened in some way for this act because we see nothing like it later in his life.

In fact, later on in 2 Kings 6 we see the exact scenario Elijah was faced with but this time we see an Elisha that has matured more into the image of Christ. Aramean soldiers come after him, his servant is scared, Elisha prays for his eyes to be open to see the angelic army backing them up then proceeds to ask God to blind the Aramean army and leads them to the king of Israel who asks to kill them but Elisha tells him to prepare a great feast for them.

I think that’s another way of looking at the verse “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” Psalm 23:5. Currently, Stephen may be munching on some Mediterranean Shrimp Kabobs with the man who was once his enemy, Paul (formerly known as Saul). Hosea 3:5 says “they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.” It will be the goodness of God that will make us tremble in the days to come.

When the sons of thunder wanted to annihilate a city, Jesus asked them in Luke 9:55 "Do you not know what spirit you are of?” Jesus, like His Father are full of grace and truth. Grace and truth. Grace and truth. May that be a song in our hearts all our lives. Amen.

Proverbs 22:11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

That was a good place to end it, but I just wanted to say; grace and truth with some judgement though. Like grace 9 times out of 10. The fire and brimstone judgements in Revelation will come to pass. God has been gracious for thousands of years. So as some tremble at His goodness, others will be trembling at His judgement. Okay, nice balance. Bye.