To understand Barrenness
and Death, let us go to the second chapter of 2 kings which describe Elisha
has requested a double portion of Elijah’s anointing to the Lord which was granted to
him. Elijah took to heaven in a whirlwind by the chariot of fire and horses of fire in
presence of Elisha. Elisha returned by taking up the mantle which had fallen
from Elijah and stood at the bank of Jordan.
Elisha parted the Jordan with the mantle of
anointing received from the Lord. And they returned to him, and he was staying
in Jericho. “And he said to them, Did I not say to you,
do not go? And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, please, the location
of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees. But the waters are bad, and the ground is barren. And he said, bring me a new jar
and put salt in it. And they brought to him. And he went forth to the spring of
the waters and threw the salt in there, and said, so says Jehovah, I have
healed these waters. There shall not be any more death or barrenness from
there. And the waters were healed to this day, according to the saying of
Elisha which he spoke.”
(2 Kings 2:18-22).
River Jordan has got
special significance in the Holy Bible as Joshua, by parting the river at this
point received leadership from Moses and completed the move from slavery to
freedom for the Israelites. A few centuries later, at the same place, Elisha is
receiving the mantle of anointing from Elijah, as Elijah is taken up in heavens
on the chariots with fire, and Elisha is parting the Jordan river. And the
third is that of Yeshua (Jesus), almost a millennium later, is being baptized
at the same place by his cousin John the Baptist. Heaven was opened and Jesus
saw the spirit of living God (Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and coming to
rest on Him, and a voice from Heaven said: “This is my Son, whom I love; with
him I am well Pleased.”
Near to river
Jordan is Jericho a city, for which it is written (Joshua 6:26) “And Joshua
charged them at that time, saying, cursed before Jehovah is the man who rises
up and builds this city of Jericho. He shall lay the foundation of it in his
first-born, and in his youngest son he shall set up the gates of it.” Jericho city was cursed due to disobedience
and rejection of Israelites on their exodus to the promised land.
Prophet Elisha instructed to bring New Jar
something fresh which is empty so that it can be filled. To
understand the concept of Jar, the book of Romans 9:21-23 “Does not the potter have power over the clay,
from the same lump to make one vessel to honour and another to dishonour?
What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power
known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction; and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the
vessels of mercy which He had before prepared to glory;”
Unless we submit our whole self to living God, we
cannot be empty. We will not receive the
anointing of the Lord. How to become empty is a million dollar question? The
simplest answer is given in Isaiah 30: 15 but we resist it without
understanding the curse of Sin upon us. Sin
causes barrenness and death in our lives.
If we keep on resisting, we harden being devoid from
mercy & grace of the Lord. On the other hand if we allow Holy Spirit to
work in our life through our Master and Saviour Lord Yeshua. Our Anger, rage,
fear of Unknown starts to disappear we are transformed into a new vessel ready
to be used by living Yeshua.
Only becoming a new Jar is not sufficient in Christian
life, we need to have salt of God in our lives. As explained in Mark 9:49-50 “For
every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Salt is good; but if the salt becomes saltless, with what will you
season? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The presence of slat brings
the fruits of Holy Spirit in our lives as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy,
peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.”
Presence of these fruits confirms
our reservation in Heaven. Remember our struggle with SIN is everyday business on
our earthly journey.
Apostle Paul explained in his letter Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.
Adonai Lord Yeshua our Messiah is coming
Soon!
By: Dr. Shine David
