Gateway United Pentecostal Church of Raymondville
  • HOME
  • MEET
    • MEET THE PASTOR
  • GROW
    • Blog
    • Sermons
    • Bible Reading Plans
    • FREE HOME BIBLE STUDY
  • CONNECT
    • Events
  • GIVE
  • CONTACT

#7 SALVATION AND SUSTENANCE (10 THINGS YOU'LL FIND IN A VALLEY)

7/24/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
King Jehoshaphat looked across the desert valley, his brow creased with worry for the upcoming battle with Moab. The kings and armies of Israel and Edom stood alongside him. They were all stranded and desperate for water. Their battle plans would fall apart if they could not find sustenance for all three armies, along with their animals.

They had surely heard tales of a grizzled prophet who had prayed for rain during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel in Israel. Although Elijah was gone, Jehoshaphat was still determined to find a prophet in the wilderness. A servant remembered a man called Elisha, who had been the apprentice of the fabled prophet. They sought him out and he offered a very simple set of instructions:

“Make this valley full of ditches.” (II Kings 3:16)

It must have seemed insane. Three armies of fighting men, their swords and shields gleaming in the desert sun, were there for a fight – not to do the kind of work an unskilled laborer could handle. It must have seemed like a waste of their strength and training. Why bring together the armies of three kingdoms just to dig ditches? But they obeyed. They dug the Edomite valley full of ditches. And then came the morning. Although no rain had fallen, water blanketed the valley, filling the newly dug trenches. Their odd job resulted in enough water to satisfy the thirst of both the armies and their animals.

Meanwhile, the Moabite army watched the scene across the border. They saw liquid gleaming in the ditches and were convinced it must be the blood of armies that had turned on each other. Operating under the assumption that their enemies were dead, they impulsively saddled up and rushed the border, hoping for spoils. Instead, a hoard of newly strengthened warriors were ready for them. The victory was won because the armies took the time to dig.

As we wander through life’s valleys, there are times we feel all hope is lost. Dreams may be on hold. All of the things that propelled us forward seem far away and we wonder how we will survive. When we pray God asks us to do something totally unrelated to what we had originally planned. We wonder if we misunderstood – after all, why would God ask us to do something that has no possible chance of helping us?

Had the armies not dug ditches in their valley even though were there to fight a war, they would have found themselves unprepared for battle while the enemy would have been ready. Instead, God turned the tables in such a way that He alone would receive the glory. Even when you do not understand what God asks of you, rest assured that He knows what He is doing.

Sometimes it is in the digging of a ditch that we pave the way for our miracles.
VIEW OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES

Picture
    
CHERI GRISSOM

Cheri Grissom works with music and media at Gateway UPC. Read her bio here.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Series

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Author: Albert Rock
    Author: Cheri Grissom
    Author: Johnny Grissom
    Holiday: Christmas
    Holiday: Father's Day
    Holiday: Mother's Day
    Holiday: Pentecost Sunday
    Holiday: Thanksgiving
    Occasions: All Nations Sunday
    Occasions: Missions Services
    Series: 10 Things You'll Find In A Valley
    Series: Plans For Preserving The Planet
    Series: This Is My Story
    Topic: Availability
    Topic: Beginnings
    Topic: Encouragement
    Topic: Faith
    Topic: Gateway
    Topic: Gratitude
    Topic: Hope
    Topic: Identity
    Topic: Legacy
    Topic: Love
    Topic: Missions
    Topic: Perseverance
    Topic: Perspective
    Topic: Presence
    Topic: Prophecy
    Topic: Provision
    Topic: Purpose
    Topic: Restoration
    Topic: Salvation
    Topic: Story
    Topic: Strength
    Topic: Surrender
    Topic: Testimony
    Topic: Timing
    Topic: Unity
    Topic: Victory
    Topic: Vision
    Topic: Waiting

    RSS Feed

service times

contact us

Sunday Service: Sundays @ 10:00 am
Prayer: Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm
Midweek Manna: Wednesdays @ 7:30 pm
See our events calendar for special services and events.
​(956) 689-2576
Gateway United Pentecostal Church
1255 East Hidalgo
Raymondville, TX 78580
Powered by CG DESIGN COLLECTIVE
  • HOME
  • MEET
    • MEET THE PASTOR
  • GROW
    • Blog
    • Sermons
    • Bible Reading Plans
    • FREE HOME BIBLE STUDY
  • CONNECT
    • Events
  • GIVE
  • CONTACT