The Siege
“Some time later, King Ben-hadad of Aram brought all his military units together and marched up to besiege Samaria. So there was a great famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for 80 silver shekels, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five silver shekels.”
2 Kings 6:24-25 HCSB
Often times when disaster strikes we will look to the scriptures and find familiar passages on the need to repent and cry out to God. Also, because we know God is in control we will see these events as judgments or God telling us to get our life straight. However, we can also find comfort in stories like this one to know and understand the nature of God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Not every event is a God’s judgment. God is also a deliverer, and will deliver us from our trouble. So let’s review the above passage and learn how to view our current situation.
Background
2 Kings Chapter Six continues with stories about the King of Israel and the prophet Elisha. The King of Aram has waged war against a Israel. Elisha warned the King of Israel about the plans of the King of Aram. This king was so enraged by Elisha he sent men and chariots to where Elisha was staying. When Elisha’s servant saw the men, he was afraid and told Elisha. Elisha told him not to fear because there were more of those with Elisha than with the King of Aram. The servant’s eyes were opened and he saw the army of horses and chariots of Fire surrounding them. Elisha prayed God would strike the Aram army with blindness and then Elisha led them to the King of Israel. Elisha told the king of Israel not to kill them but feed them and send them back to their master. Israel did this and the Aramean raiders did not return. (2 Kings 6:6-23)
The Siege
As noted in the above verse King Ben-hadad of Aram and his whole military marched up and besieged Samara. The impact of the siege created a famine in Samara. A siege is a military tactic when the military surrounds a fortified area. A siege can lasts months or even years. The attacker will try and prevent supplies from entering the area so the people will starve or surrender.
In this story the famine was so bad and lasted so long that Samaria ran out of food. A donkey’s head was selling for 80 silver shekels and pigeon poop was sold for five silver shekels. People had also resorted to cannibalism. A woman approaches the king and tells him that she made a deal with another mother to eat their babies. They had already ate the baby of the woman complaining but the mother of the other baby refused to give her baby up to be eaten. Just imagine the woman was complaining about eating babies. How horrible!
Are you currently under siege? Does it seem in some area of your life you are surrounded by an enemy you don’t know and the blessings of God are hindered? Currently many nations are under siege with this pandemic. People are being told to stay home, businesses are shutting down, and people do not know when it will end. There are also people being infected by the disease and dying. The situation looks bleak just like in this story.
What is God saying? God did not bring about the siege against Samaria. Samaria is surrounded by an enemy. God already delivered them once. Will He do it again? God will rescue you from the siege.
To be continued…Part 2 The Siege is Over
Reflections 