Tuesday, September 21, 2021 Some material taken from Preparation Precedes Blessing by Van Houser
He said, "Thus says the LORD, 'Make this valley full of trenches.' "For thus says the LORD, 'You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts. It happened in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. II Kings 3:16-17,20
Believing God's Promises in the Middle of A Drought
In II Kings chapter 3, we see the kings of Judah, Samaria, and Edom going to battle against Moab. But there was a drought. The armies had no water for their animals or themselves and they could not go on. Instead of going out and searching for water, they called on the prophet Elisha. In the scripture above, Elisha told them what God had promised – that God would supply enough water to meet all their needs – but they must dig trenches first.
In the middle of a drought – go dig a trench. At this point, there is not even a hint of humidity in the air. It is miserable. No rain in the forecast and not a could in sight. But we know that faith is not based on what we see – it is what we cannot see, it is what we think is impossible. It is the problem with no answer; the situation with no way out; the empty bank account; the husband that walked out. For every impossible situation, God’s has many possibilities.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
In the droughts in our lives, we are the dry, cracked, parched souls yearning for the quenching of the most desperate thirst. That is what it feels like when we are waiting on a miracle, or even just an ordinary blessing, or just an answer. The need for the quenching of thirst is a desperate need. When we are in the middle of the drought, everything feels impossible. But in the middle of the drought – God promised the impossible. Trusting God and having faith requires us to prepare for the blessing that seems impossible – to dig trenches in droughts.
True faith is based on the promises of God, not what we want the outcome to be. God does not promise to meet all of our wants, but all of our needs in the way He deems best – His way and His time. When God has promised, act like it is so even when it is not so, in order that it might be so, simply because God said so.
God always wants to see that we trust Him. Part of this is just common sense and being prepared – if the rain comes and we can’t catch it, then we lose the blessing. But the other part was that God wanted them to take the step. There is always a step required – you can count on it. Just like the children of Israel had to step into the raging river to get across to the promised land – the blessing – the promise of God.
Charles Spurgeon wrote on preparing for God’s promised blessing:
If we expect to obtain the Holy Spirit’s blessing, we must prepare for his reception. ‘Make this valley full of trenches’ is an order which is given me this morning for the members of this church; make ready for the Holy Ghost’s power; be prepared to receive that which he is about to give; each man in his place and each woman in her sphere, make the whole of this church full of trenches for the reception of the divine water-floods
“But the most of people say, ‘Well, you know, of course, if God sends a blessing, we must then enlarge.’ Yes, that is the way of unbelief, and the road to the curse. But the way of faith and the road to the blessing is this: God has promised it – we will get ready for it; God is engaged to bless, now let us be prepared to receive the boon. Act not on the mere strength of what you have, but in expectation of that which you have asked.” - Charles Spurgeon
God did fulfill His promise to the nations in drought – as He always does. It came by way of an intense downpour that caused a flash flood through the desert of Edom. If they had not dug the ditches, they would not have been able to collect the water from the flood. It didn’t make sense to those watching them dig trenches in a drought, but if they had not, the blessing would have passed them by. When God promises, if we obediently prepare, we will be ready for what He is sending our way. Are there trenches you need to dig in preparation for what is coming?
