先知學校（可能在耶利哥，2：4~5）的人數愈來愈多，以致於門徒們想擴建現有的房舍。他們先徵求以利沙的同意及上帝的認可。當他們在砍樹作建屋材料時，有一個人不小心把他的斧頭掉在水裡。對這個人的處境，以利沙表現了他的敏銳，上帝也表現出祂的關心和眷顧。掉了一把斧頭似乎沒什麼要緊，但對那人而言卻十分重要。上帝奇妙的使那把借來的斧頭漂出水面，使那人可以將東西歸還原主。上帝真的關心我們的每一件心事。

        上帝也使用以利沙來拯救以色列人，幫助他們躲避了亞蘭人多次的突襲。當亞蘭王發現向以色列人通風報信的是以利沙，他就派遣一支突襲隊去擒拿以利沙。以利沙一點也不懼怕，他的靈命成熟，與上帝有深厚的關係。他心靈的眼睛看得見上帝的軍隊在四圍安營保護他（詩34：7）。不過他的僕人還需要更多的成長，因為他感受不到上帝的保護而憂心忡忡。直到以利沙為他禱告，開了他屬靈的眼睛，他才得見上帝的大能。很明顯的，是上帝把亞蘭的突襲隊引領到撒瑪利亞，所以他們是上帝的俘擄；在以利沙的指示下，他們在以色列受到極慈悲、慷慨的待遇。

        以色列的仁慈之舉使亞蘭人有一段時間停止再突襲以色列。但不久之後，亞蘭又發動戰爭，圍困以色列的首都撒瑪利亞城。撒瑪利亞城內因缺乏食物造成嚴重的通貨膨脹，平常被視為不潔之物的驢頭，和用來作燃料的鳥糞，價格都貴得離譜。百姓飢餓到一個地步，竟然不顧一切的易子而食。當以色列王聽到城中慘絕人寰的情況，心中極為悲痛，但他不但沒有去找以利沙尋求上帝的拯救，反而責怪他是禍首。以利沙預言，撒瑪利沙的情況會在一天之內改觀。這聽起來太不可能了，所以王的軍長對以利沙宣告的拯救嗤之以鼻。由於他的嘲笑，他被判死判，且無法嘗到上帝救恩的滋味，同時作為以利沙預言之真實的記號。

        先嘗到上帝救恩滋味的是四個痲瘋病患。他們是遭社會遺棄的人，早已身無長物了，所以他們敢冒著生命危險到亞蘭軍營一窺究竟，那真是一個極不尋常的神蹟。上帝沒有派遣滅命的天使，祂只是使亞蘭人聽到大軍逼近的聲音。這使得亞蘭人誤以為北方的赫人和南方的埃及人來幫助以色列人攻打他們了。亞蘭人於是顧不得收拾財物就棄營而逃。

        同時，我們也看到上帝如何拯救祂的百姓。上帝用這四個被人輕視的痲瘋病人向撒瑪利亞城內的以色列人報好消息（林前1：27~29）。當他們四人一面吃、一面收藏從營中收括的財物時，他們的良心開始不安，因為他們曉得城裡的人快要餓死了。出於愛和關心，他們同心進城向撒瑪利亞人報告敵人逃亡的好消息。他們所帶來的自由訊息使所有的人得著新生，不再有死亡的恐懼。這四個痲瘋病人首先經歷了滿足和喜悅，然後他們與人分享佳音，這樣一來，也使上帝得著榮耀。

        我們有一個更偉大的信息可與這個奄奄一息的世界分享。那是有史以來最美的佳音：透過耶穌基督，我們出死入生，得到救恩、滿足、喜樂、和自由。讓我們像那四個痲瘋病人一樣，將生命的信息帶給那些被撒但魔鬼壓迫的人，使人人都能嘗到主恩的滋味，便知祂是美善（詩34：8）。如果我們不和人分享福音的好消息，那就是違背耶穌的大使命，所以也就是罪。我們應像那四個痲瘋病人一樣，想到不傳福音的危險（7：9；結33：8）。所以，讓我們趁著白日趕緊工作（約9：4）。

        全能的上帝，聖經告訴我們，您的天使在那些敬畏您的人四圍安營。當我們讀到您為以色列人所行的大事，敬畏之情油然而生。今天求您也賜下您的保護和供應。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        The school of the prophets (probably located in Jericho, 2:4-5) had grown so much that they needed a larger building and were ambitious to expand. They first sought God's approval by going to Elisha for his consent. While they were cutting trees for the building, the axe head being used by a man fell into the water. Elisha showed his sensitivity, and God showed His care and concern for one individual's predicament. The loss may seem insignificant, but to the man it was very important. Miraculously God caused the borrowed iron axe head to float so it could be retrieved. Truly He cares about our every concern.

        God used Elisha as Israel's deliverer by helping to prevent many raids by the Arameans. When it was discovered that Elisha was the one who warned the Israelites, the Arameans sent a band of radiers to get him. Elisha had no fear, for as a mature spiritual believer having deep fellowship with God, he had the spiritual insight to see the army of the Lord around him to protect him (Psalm 34:7). His servant, however, still needed to grow in the Lord, for he could not perceive this and was in fear until his spiritual eyes were opened through Elisha's prayer. Then he saw the mighty power of the Lord. It was clear to all that God had led the raiders into Samaria; therefore, they were actually the Lord's captives, and upon Elisha's instructions they were treated generously and mercifully.

        This act of mercy caused the raids to stop for a time, but then the king of Aram waged a more conventional warfare upon the capital city of Samaria in the form of a seige. The lack of food led to great inflation: an unclean donkey's head was normally not eaten, and bird droppings for fuel sold for exorbitant prices (6:27). The starvation even led to the point of insanity which, out of desperation, caused cannibalism (6:28; Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:15,53). Upon hearing of this, the king was greatly distressed, but rather than going to Elisha to seek deliverance from the Lord, he blamed him. Elisha predicted that within one day the whole situation would be totally turned around. This seemed impossible; therefore, the royal official mocked Elisha when he spoke of this great deliverance. That mocker was judged to die without tasting the deliverance of the Lord as a sign of the truth of Elisha.

        Four lepers, outcasts because of the nature of their unclean disease, would be the first to taste the salvation of the Lord. They had nothing to lose, so they risked their lives by going to the camp of the Arameans. It was truly a marvelous and unusual miracle. God did not send blindness nor an angel of destruction, but He caused the army to hear the noise of a great approaching army. This brought great confusion upon the enemy, for they imagined that the Hittites from the north and the Egyptians from the far south were coming to aid Israel in an attack against them. They fled, leaving all their possessions behind.

        Meanwhile, we see the providence of God at work for the salvation of His people. God used these four despised lepers to be the carriers of this good news to the city (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). While they were eating and hiding the goods, their consciences began to bother them, for they knew that the townspeople were starving. Out of love and concern for the dying, they unselfishly went in unity to tell the wonderful news of the enemy's flight. This news of freedom from oppression and abundance would bring life to all, casting away their fear of death. These lepers first experienced the satisfaction and joy, then they shared it. In such a way God was glorified.

        We have even greater news to share with a dying world. It is the greatest news of all: the salvation, deliverance, satisfaction, joy, and freedom through the Lord Jesus Christ, who brings us from death unto life. Let us, like the lepers, bring the news of life to those who are oppressed by the enemy, Satan, that all may taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). If we are not sharing this good news, it is disobedience to the great commission of Jesus and therefore is sin. We, like the lepers, must consider the danger of not telling the good news (7:9; Ezekiel 33:8). Therefore, let us work while it is still day (John 9:4)!

        O mighty God, Your Word tells us that Your angel encamps around about them that fear You. We are in awe before You when we read about Your Works for Israel. Please grant Your protection and provision today.