A mighty army of the Syrians besieged... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Elisha said, Thus says the LORD: Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria. So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be? And he (Elisha) said, You shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.
2 Kings 7:1.2

A mighty army of the Syrians besieged Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, during the reign of Jotham. Famine reached an indescribable state among the besieged. Then God suddenly had a message proclaimed through the prophet Elisha. Within 24 hours the trouble would be over. Food supplies that could not be bought with money would again be available, as previously. And so it happened.

There was one man, however, who had no benefit from it. He heard the message and experienced its fulfilment close at hand. But it was of no use to him: on the contrary, it proved to be his undoing. He was a leading officer of the king of Israel and considered himself above believing God's word. Though he spoke the Name of the LORD God; it was only to express his scepticism derisively. Even if God made "windows in heaven", he would consider the miracle impossible.

God's solution was even simpler: He made the Syrians take flight quite unexpectedly. When the crowds of people plundered the Syrian camp the next day, the mocker was trampled down in the crush at the city gate.

Today God causes the news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to be proclaimed. Would any of us risk witnessing the salvation of others, yet being lost himself?

Today's reading: Jeremiah 32:1-25 · Romans 6:1-11