WEBVTT - Jack Graham - Oct 16 - 9:30 pm

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<v Speaker 1>And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley

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<v Speaker 1>full of ditches. 2 Kings 3.16 Heavenly Father, as I

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<v Speaker 1>take my new breath today, I am also taking in

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<v Speaker 1>today's reading of 2 Kings 3. I am taking in

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<v Speaker 1>the fact that the completion of my assignment has everything

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<v Speaker 1>to do with my alignment. When moments arise in my

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<v Speaker 1>life when I have to fight for the territory you've

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<v Speaker 1>given me, surround me with men and women who have

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<v Speaker 1>faith to help me stand tall and conquer the obstacles

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<v Speaker 1>in front of me. Like Elisha and Jehoshaphat, I will

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<v Speaker 1>turn to prayer and worship to receive today's marching orders.

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<v Speaker 1>For I know that in your presence is the plan

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<v Speaker 1>to overcome the enemy that stands in the way of

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<v Speaker 1>my promise. I declare that I will not worry or

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<v Speaker 1>be dismayed because you are with me in the battlefields

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<v Speaker 1>of life. You are with me through the ups and

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<v Speaker 1>downs of walking out my calling. With this as my truth,

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<v Speaker 1>I will not retreat, but will move forward and take

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<v Speaker 1>the land and opportunities you have for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for making prayer a priority in your day.

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<v Speaker 1>To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story.

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<v Speaker 1>Brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.

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<v Speaker 2>Three Kings vs. the Moabites In our last story, we

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<v Speaker 2>learned about the departure of Elijah. The faithful prophet was

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<v Speaker 2>taken up into the clouds by chariots of fire. Elisha,

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<v Speaker 2>his faithful student, took his place as prophet over Israel.

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<v Speaker 2>Now he watches over the people, ministering to them in

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<v Speaker 2>times of trouble. Now we witness the rebellion of the

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<v Speaker 2>Moabites against Israel. The new king of Israel bands together

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<v Speaker 2>with other nations to crush the rebellion and for the

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<v Speaker 2>first time witnesses the faithfulness of God. Inspired by the

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<v Speaker 2>book of 2 Kings.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm so glad you joined us on the Bible in

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<v Speaker 3>a Year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode,

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<v Speaker 3>I want you to know that I would absolutely love

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<v Speaker 3>to send you my daily devotional that will give you

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<v Speaker 3>fresh encouragement every single morning and day. From the moment

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<v Speaker 3>we wake up to the moment our head finally hits

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<v Speaker 3>the pillow, there are thousands of things demanding our attention.

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<v Speaker 3>But it's in the midst of all this crush and

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<v Speaker 3>hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and

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<v Speaker 3>truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help

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<v Speaker 3>you spend time each day growing in God's life-giving, life-changing

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<v Speaker 3>Word by sending you my free daily email devotional, PowerPoint Today.

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<v Speaker 3>So visit jackgram.org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional.

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<v Speaker 3>That's jackgram.org, jackgram.org. In yesterday's episode, we heard how God

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<v Speaker 3>took Elijah home to heaven in a whirlwind and chariot

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<v Speaker 3>of fire. Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit,

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<v Speaker 3>the spirit of God that was upon Elijah, knowing that

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<v Speaker 3>the task at hand would require a great measure of

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<v Speaker 3>God's strength, his power, and his presence. The Lord gave

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<v Speaker 3>him his request. And now Elijah takes on the mantle

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<v Speaker 3>and the ministry of Elijah. Today, We'll hear about the

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<v Speaker 3>rebellion of the Moabites who had lived under Israel's protection

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<v Speaker 3>since the time of David. As they rebel and strike

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<v Speaker 3>against Israel, we'll see how Joram, Israel's new king, will

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<v Speaker 3>join with other nations to fight the Moabites, and in

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<v Speaker 3>the midst of it, despite his wayward heart, we will

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<v Speaker 3>witness God's faithfulness. Let's listen now to today's reading.

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<v Speaker 2>Sadly, the nation of Israel was given yet another king

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<v Speaker 2>that pursued selfish desire and greed over the needs of

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<v Speaker 2>his people. King Ahab's son, Urom, began his rule over

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<v Speaker 2>the land. For twelve years he established his kingdom in

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<v Speaker 2>his own name. Although he tore down a few pillars

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<v Speaker 2>of Baal erected by his father, he replaced them with

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<v Speaker 2>institutions of self-importance. His darkened soul was a stench to

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord. and he led his people astray. Towards the

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<v Speaker 2>coastlands of the Jordan, a stirring in Moab was taking place.

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<v Speaker 2>They had rebelled against Israel during the rule of Ahaziah.

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<v Speaker 2>They were once again under the care of King David

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<v Speaker 2>and a unified Israel. However, in the past few generations,

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<v Speaker 2>they had grown restless towards Israel. Now was their time

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<v Speaker 2>to rise up as their own nation and press against

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<v Speaker 2>the people of God. A shepherd by the name of

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<v Speaker 2>Misha rose up as a leader of men in Moab.

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<v Speaker 2>His charismatic demeanor stirred up the Moabites, and they eventually

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<v Speaker 2>made him their king. There was nothing noble about either kingdom.

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<v Speaker 2>Both were determined to establish their own rule apart from

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<v Speaker 2>the leading of God. Only the king of Judah remained

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<v Speaker 2>as a faithful pillar in an otherwise evil land. King

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<v Speaker 2>Yoram knew that it was only a matter of time

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<v Speaker 2>before the Moabite army organized itself as a legitimate threat.

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<v Speaker 2>He decided to call upon their neighbors in Judah to

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<v Speaker 2>fight alongside them. At that time, the faithful king Jehoshaphat

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<v Speaker 2>was still ruling in Judah. King Yoram sent a message

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<v Speaker 2>to him, saying, The king of Moab has rebelled against me.

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<v Speaker 2>We are in need of assistance in battle. Will you

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<v Speaker 2>join us? Jehoshaphat still felt a deep connection to the

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<v Speaker 2>people of Israel. Although they had strayed away from the Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>they were still family under the promises of God. The

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<v Speaker 2>king of Judah sent word back to Yoram, saying, Of

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<v Speaker 2>course we will come to your aid. You and I

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<v Speaker 2>are as one. What route shall we take to meet

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<v Speaker 2>you for battle? We will attack from the wilderness outside Edom.

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<v Speaker 2>The king of Edom has agreed to march with us,

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<v Speaker 2>Yoram replied. So the three armies, Israel, Judah, and Edom,

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<v Speaker 2>all met in the wilderness and prepared themselves for battle

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<v Speaker 2>against the rebels in Moab. For seven days they marched

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<v Speaker 2>and prepared, and resources were wearing thin. Water was scarce,

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<v Speaker 2>and Israel had neglected to provide the proper rations for

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<v Speaker 2>such a large army. Confused and scared, Yoram complained to

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<v Speaker 2>the other kings, saying, The Lord has brought the three

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<v Speaker 2>of us out here to be killed by the Moabites.

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<v Speaker 2>We will surely die here. King Jehoshaphat did not share

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<v Speaker 2>the king of Israel's concern. He was a faithful man.

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<v Speaker 2>He knew that God would never forsake him. He was

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<v Speaker 2>faithful and the commander of his armies. He was the

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<v Speaker 2>chief shepherd and guardian over their souls. Jehoshaphat stood up

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<v Speaker 2>and grabbed the panicking Yoram by the shoulders. His eyes

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<v Speaker 2>met his and Yoram felt himself beginning to calm down.

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<v Speaker 2>Is there any prophet among you that can speak with

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<v Speaker 2>us and to God? Jehoshaphat asked. King Uram shook his head,

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<v Speaker 2>unable to think of any man of God in their midst.

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<v Speaker 2>He was ignorant to how God worked. His ways were

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<v Speaker 2>selfish and uninterested in spiritual things. One of Uram's guards

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<v Speaker 2>coughed to get the king's attention. There is Elisha, my lord.

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<v Speaker 2>He travels with us, he suggested. Jehoshaphat nodded to him

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<v Speaker 2>in thanks. Yes. I know Elisha. The Lord speaks to

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<v Speaker 2>him and through him. So the three kings went to

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<v Speaker 2>go meet Elisha. The three kings went to the outskirts

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<v Speaker 2>of camp where Elisha stayed distant. They came to his

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<v Speaker 2>camp where he was tending to his fire. Without looking

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<v Speaker 2>at them, his eyes fixed on the flames. He said,

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<v Speaker 2>Why have you come to me? He then looked up

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<v Speaker 2>at Yoram. Don't you have pagan prophets given to you

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<v Speaker 2>by your father and mother? Yoram did his best to

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<v Speaker 2>feign ignorance. He shook his head and said, No, the

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<v Speaker 2>Lord has called us here to the wilderness only to

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<v Speaker 2>be defeated by Moab. Panic could be heard in Yoram's voice.

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<v Speaker 2>His throat quivered when he spoke and his hands shook

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<v Speaker 2>in their place. Elisha could sense his nervous energy. I

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<v Speaker 2>would not even speak to you if it were not

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<v Speaker 2>for King Jehoshaphat who stands next to you. He is

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<v Speaker 2>the only faithful king in this land, Elisha said matter-of-factly. Go,

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<v Speaker 2>get me the best harpist you can find. Luckily, King

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<v Speaker 2>Jehoshaphat always had a harpist traveling with him. He found

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<v Speaker 2>the music to be soothing and helpful during prayer. The

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<v Speaker 2>harpist played next to Elisha. The music seemed to make

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<v Speaker 2>the fire dance. It was a beautifully peaceful sight. Beside

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<v Speaker 2>the three kings, Elisha prayed. His brow furrowed and his

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<v Speaker 2>forehead began to sweat slightly. Although he was praying intensely,

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<v Speaker 2>he seemed at peace. The harp continued to play and

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<v Speaker 2>the power of the Lord met Elisha in prayer. Elisha

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<v Speaker 2>stirred slightly and then looked up at the kings. This

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<v Speaker 2>dry valley will soon be filled with pools.

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<v Speaker 1>Of water, Elisha whispered.

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<v Speaker 2>The cracks of the fire popped as the harp continued

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<v Speaker 2>to play. You won't see rain nor wind. Nevertheless, water

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<v Speaker 2>will emerge and you will have plenty to drink. The

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<v Speaker 2>three kings sighed in relief and laughed. God will give

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<v Speaker 2>you victory. Elisha continued. Be sure to conquer the land

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<v Speaker 2>he gives you. The next day, as the sun was

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<v Speaker 2>beginning its rise above the distant hills, Elisha made a

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<v Speaker 2>sacrifice to the Lord. As the darkness of the land

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<v Speaker 2>was filled with new light, pools of water emerged from

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<v Speaker 2>the ground. The water was fresh and still. They reflected

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<v Speaker 2>the rising sun above them and glistened for all the

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<v Speaker 2>people to see. Soon the water was flowing in every

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<v Speaker 2>direction and the soldiers of the three armies had their fill.

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<v Speaker 2>In the distance, the armies of Moab were growing larger.

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<v Speaker 2>Every able-bodied man was assembled to wage war against the

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<v Speaker 2>three armies. They stationed themselves at the border and awaited

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<v Speaker 2>their attack. In the distance, they could see the red

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<v Speaker 2>sun rising. However, something different.

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<v Speaker 3>Caught their eye.

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<v Speaker 2>Red pools filled the once-dried valleys. The morning sun reflected

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<v Speaker 2>against the waters and made the pools look like a

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<v Speaker 2>deep red. It's blood, the Moabites exclaimed. The three armies

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<v Speaker 2>have killed one another. We should go and collect the

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<v Speaker 2>spoils of war. So the Moabites ran towards the valley

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<v Speaker 2>with no battle plan or expectation of fighting. When the

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<v Speaker 2>Moabites drew closer, the Israelite armies launched their first attack.

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<v Speaker 2>They ambushed them and sent them into a mass confusion.

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<v Speaker 2>Hundreds of Moabites fell before tucking tail and running back

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<v Speaker 2>for their city. Israel chased them, destroying everything in their path.

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<v Speaker 2>They burned the towns, blocked the springs, and chopped the trees.

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<v Speaker 3>Then.

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<v Speaker 2>The king of Moab sent 700 of his swordsmen to

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<v Speaker 2>break through enemy lines. They were thwarted by the army

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<v Speaker 2>of Edom that was lying in wait. Skulls cracked and

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<v Speaker 2>flesh was torn under the swords of Edom. It was

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<v Speaker 2>an all-out slaughter. The Moabite king watched as the three

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<v Speaker 2>armies demolished his land. In a fury of desperation, the

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<v Speaker 2>king retreated back to the religion of his ancestors. He

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<v Speaker 2>turned around to find his son standing behind him. He

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<v Speaker 2>drew him in close and slit his throat. He dragged

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<v Speaker 2>his son's lifeless and bloodied body to an altar and

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<v Speaker 2>burnt him for the gods to see. He hoped to

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<v Speaker 2>gain their favor for battle. However, he was only met

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<v Speaker 2>with the righteous hand of God as his army was

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<v Speaker 2>crushed into the dirt.

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<v Speaker 3>As we begin today's reading, Israel is still plagued with

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<v Speaker 3>idol worship and self-seeking leadership. Following the death of Ahaziah,

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<v Speaker 3>who had no sons, Ahab's sons, Joram, rose to the throne.

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<v Speaker 3>He wasn't nearly as evil as his parents, but he

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<v Speaker 3>was not seeking God. And although he tore down pillars

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<v Speaker 3>of Baal, he was said to repeat the sins of Jeroboam.

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<v Speaker 3>The decisions he made were not meant to honor God

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<v Speaker 3>and lead the people of the Lord, Rather, he acted

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<v Speaker 3>in his own self-interest, trying to gain power. And as

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<v Speaker 3>far as God is concerned, there's no such thing as

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<v Speaker 3>righteousness by comparison. Sin is sin, and his actions and

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<v Speaker 3>attitudes were sinful. Joram was rejecting God just as much

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<v Speaker 3>as his predecessors. This lack of leadership was fertile ground

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<v Speaker 3>for unrest and chaos. And soon, the Moabites, who had

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<v Speaker 3>lived peacefully under Israel since David's reign, began to rise

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<v Speaker 3>up against Israel. They appointed their own king, Meshach, who

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<v Speaker 3>was no righteous man either. He too acted in his

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<v Speaker 3>own selfish interest. And so we see a conflict brewing

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<v Speaker 3>between two very unwise kings, sinful kings, neither one following God.

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<v Speaker 3>It's a recipe for violence, chaos, bloodshed, and suffering. King

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<v Speaker 3>Joram was unwise but not blind. He could see that

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<v Speaker 3>Joab would soon attack, so he sought help from the

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<v Speaker 3>king Jehoshaphat to the south. The righteous king of Judah

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<v Speaker 3>was not interested in warfare, but he understood the need

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<v Speaker 3>to assist God's people, his Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel.

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<v Speaker 3>So he agrees to help, reminding Joram that Israel and

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<v Speaker 3>Judah are as one. Joram had also enlisted the king

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<v Speaker 3>of Edom to aid, and it's from that direction that

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<v Speaker 3>he plans to attack Moab. Together, the three armies prepare

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<v Speaker 3>for battle in the wilderness. But they are growing tired

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<v Speaker 3>and thirsty and hungry. And just like the Israelites did

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<v Speaker 3>with Moses, Joram began to show his lack of faith.

0:14:41.120 --> 0:14:43.500
<v Speaker 3>He was certain God had brought him there to die.

0:14:44.560 --> 0:14:48.140
<v Speaker 3>But Jehoshaphat did not lack faith, and he was not worried.

0:14:48.540 --> 0:14:50.970
<v Speaker 3>He asked Joram if there was a prophet of God,

0:14:51.690 --> 0:14:55.630
<v Speaker 3>someone they could talk to. One of Joram's guards remembered

0:14:55.710 --> 0:14:59.990
<v Speaker 3>Elisha and suggested that they seek him out. It's notable

0:15:00.290 --> 0:15:03.310
<v Speaker 3>that the king himself did not think of Elisha because

0:15:03.350 --> 0:15:05.630
<v Speaker 3>he was so far from God and the voice of

0:15:05.690 --> 0:15:09.790
<v Speaker 3>God or the true people of God. So they did

0:15:09.830 --> 0:15:12.710
<v Speaker 3>go to Elisha and his first response was to send

0:15:12.730 --> 0:15:17.390
<v Speaker 3>them away. Joram had his own false prophets. Why not

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<v Speaker 3>seek them? But then we see God's grace extended to

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<v Speaker 3>Israel and King Joram as Elisha responds in 2 Kings 3.14.

0:15:24.750 --> 0:15:30.380
<v Speaker 3>And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts lives, before

0:15:30.440 --> 0:15:33.180
<v Speaker 3>men I stand. Were it not that I have regard

0:15:33.220 --> 0:15:36.160
<v Speaker 3>for Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, I would neither look

0:15:36.200 --> 0:15:41.800
<v Speaker 3>at you or see you. Jehoshaphat's righteousness enabled Joram to

0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:45.860
<v Speaker 3>experience God's blessing and protection. And this would be a

0:15:45.920 --> 0:15:49.100
<v Speaker 3>good place to stop and reflect and remember that one

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<v Speaker 3>day the king of eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ, would

0:15:52.780 --> 0:15:56.280
<v Speaker 3>come from Judah, the tribe of Judah, and his righteousness

0:15:56.300 --> 0:15:58.560
<v Speaker 3>would would open the door for all of us to

0:15:58.640 --> 0:16:04.620
<v Speaker 3>experience God's presence, salvation, blessing, and life. Elisha then called

0:16:04.660 --> 0:16:08.320
<v Speaker 3>a musician to play. And as he did, God's word

0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:11.560
<v Speaker 3>came to Elisha, who prophesied that the armies would be

0:16:11.600 --> 0:16:14.540
<v Speaker 3>provided water in a miraculous way as the pools of

0:16:14.610 --> 0:16:17.090
<v Speaker 3>water would form without wind or rain to fill them.

0:16:18.070 --> 0:16:20.830
<v Speaker 3>Not only would God meet their physical needs, he would

0:16:20.870 --> 0:16:25.630
<v Speaker 3>give them great victory over Moab. The next morning, Elisha

0:16:25.710 --> 0:16:28.530
<v Speaker 3>offered a sacrifice to the Lord and reminder that the

0:16:28.570 --> 0:16:31.650
<v Speaker 3>good favor of these kings did not come from the prophet,

0:16:32.080 --> 0:16:35.620
<v Speaker 3>but the one who spoke through him. And just as

0:16:35.660 --> 0:16:39.000
<v Speaker 3>the Lord had promised, their needs were met, and the

0:16:39.020 --> 0:16:44.040
<v Speaker 3>Moabite army was soundly defeated. Meshah, the Moabite king, saw

0:16:44.080 --> 0:16:46.800
<v Speaker 3>the defeat that was coming, but rather than turn to God,

0:16:47.120 --> 0:16:49.820
<v Speaker 3>he turned to his own false gods and even sacrificed

0:16:49.860 --> 0:16:53.760
<v Speaker 3>his son to try to gain this idol's favor. But

0:16:53.800 --> 0:16:57.390
<v Speaker 3>it was a futile effort. and God's power prevailed, as

0:16:57.450 --> 0:17:01.860
<v Speaker 3>he always prevails in the end. God, thank you for

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<v Speaker 3>your purposes and plans in our lives, the way you

0:17:05.200 --> 0:17:09.000
<v Speaker 3>lead us and guide us every single day. We thank

0:17:09.040 --> 0:17:12.480
<v Speaker 3>you for Jesus Christ, the righteous King, who leads us

0:17:12.540 --> 0:17:16.780
<v Speaker 3>from victory unto victory. Thank you for your faithfulness and

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<v Speaker 3>your favor upon our lives today and every day. In Jesus' name, amen.

0:17:23.500 --> 0:17:26.699
<v Speaker 3>Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

0:17:27.119 --> 0:17:29.920
<v Speaker 3>I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. And before we go,

0:17:30.340 --> 0:17:32.020
<v Speaker 3>I want you to know that I would love to

0:17:32.100 --> 0:17:35.930
<v Speaker 3>send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement

0:17:36.170 --> 0:17:40.209
<v Speaker 3>every single day. So visit jackgram.org to sign up for

0:17:40.250 --> 0:17:43.710
<v Speaker 3>your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's jackgram.org.