The Believer, Doubter and the Critic.

There are three types of people whom we usually face in times of troubles:

{ The Believer or the Encourager

{ The Doubter

{ The Critic who discourages us

2Kings 6:24 – 7 explains what happens to these people based on their actions.

Let’s see what happens in those chapters: There is a severe famine in Samaria because the King of Aram, Ben Hadad II had sieged the city. The head of a donkey, the least edible part of an unclean animal was sold for about 1 kilogram (2 pounds) of silver. The Samaritans clearly disregarded the laws concerning unclean foods. The famine was so severe that a mother is forced to eat their own child to survive. The sacred love of motherhood has lost its meaning.

This breaks the heart of King Joram and accuses the Lord and Elisha. When he comes to Elisha he says, “This disaster is from the Lord, why should I wait for the Lord any longer?” To which Elisha prophesies that “About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria”

Here we see that in the face of calamity, Elisha is the believer who believed in the Lord’s words. He knew that the Lord will deliver Samaria encourages the King with his good words whereas the King Joram is distraught and doubts the hand of the Lord. He gives into his doubts and fears and says that the Lord has abandoned Israel.

Then comes the critic, the officer who was with the king. On his arm, King Joram was leaning in his dazzled and upset state. He says to Elisha, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” Of course, he conveniently forgets that the floodgates of heavens had been opened before. Elisha replies to him by saying, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”

Then the narrative moves over four lepers who discuss and decide to visit the camp of Arameans. But the Lord works his miracles and makes the Arameans hear a sound of chariots and a huge army. They fled the camp thinking that the Egyptian and Hittite army has come to help Israel. The lepers hope the Arameans would show them kindness but surprise! They were greeted by an empty camp with lots of food. After feasting for a while, they decide to report it back to Samaria. The King then investigated and confirmed that the siege has lifted. So the people plundered the camp and the Lord’s prophesy came to pass.

The doubter and the believer were saved. But what happened to the critic? He was trampled to death by the crowds at the city gate. Just as Elisha said, he saw the city being delivered and the famine leave the land. But he did not live to enjoy the new freedom.

As a Christian, we face our trials and temptations. Sometimes, we stand strong in faith and sometimes, we lose our faith. Doubting is never healthy for a christian. Although doubters are forgiven, critics are not. Criticizing the Lord’s prophesies, criticizing the Lord’s anointed prophets, criticizing the Lord’s appointed leaders will lead to our own ruin. People are given power and made rulers or prophets by the Lord for a purpose known to him alone. It is not our place to criticize what the Lord has allowed to happen. Of course, it is good to voice your opinions against your pastor when you feel they are wrong. But rebelling at every opportunity and finding flaws for everything they do will not gain you anything. Rather, you could end up incurring the wrath of God.

~Lilac Blossom