July 9, 2026; 2 Kings 7

Daily Dose of Hope July 9, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 7   Prayer:  Lord God Almighty, You have given us everything.  Not only did you create the world, but you created us.  Everything we have is a gift from you.  Forgive us for when we begin to think that things are "ours."  Soften our hearts.  Help us become more generous.  Lord, I give you my whole self.  I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice; may I be pleasing in your sight.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We have been working our way through the Old Testament books of 1 & 2 Kings this summer.  Today, our reading is 2 Kings 7.   At the end of yesterday's chapter, we read about how the king of Aram and his large army laid siege to Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This led to a famine and a great deal of anguish among the people. People were desperate, going so far as to resort to cannibalism.   The king of Israel is horribly distraught and seeks out the prophet Elisha.  At the beginning of today's chapter, we hear the prophet's response.  Elisha says that the Lord has spoken and that by that time tomorrow, there will be fine flour and barley available at affordable prices.  The officer who was present with the king was highly skeptical and you can see his response. He says, "...even if the Lord should open the floodgates of heavens, could this happen?" Elisha declares that it will but that because of his cynicism and lack of faith, he wouldn't get to enjoy any of it.   As we read through the chapter, we begin to see how God takes care of the situation. The Aramean army is scared off and the Israelites get to enjoy the plunder. Food becomes readily available and the siege is over. Once again, the Lord has spoken through Elisha.   Over the next few days, we will continue to see Elisha at work. What's fascinating to me is that Elisha served as prophet of Israel for six decades. His words were often unpopular and not always heeded, but he persevered. It takes a strong person to be a prophet. I wanted to mention that God is still giving people the gift of prophecy; certain people bring a message from God to his people. Just like in Old Testament days, prophets are often ignored, maligned, and/or pushed to the fringes. The reality is that rarely do prophets bring a message of approval. They typically bring a word from God that challenges the faith community and the religious leaders.  I have known several people with the gift of prophecy and they typically have a difficult time finding a church that accepts them.   Have you known someone with this gift? What's been your reaction to it? If you haven't known a prophet, how do you think you might respond? How does reading about Elijah and Elisha affect your view of prophets?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki