8:1 Elisha speaks to the woman who housed him and tells her to travel and stay in another place. Elisha warns the woman that a famine is coming and will remain for seven years. This woman has already proclaimed herself a believer and follower of God. She enthusiastically hosted a His prophet and trusted God to heal her son. It is then unsurprising that she would heed the advice of Elisha to leave, even though it meant uprooting her entire life. Unsurprising, but still remarkable. God sometimes leads us away from a place or person or dream we have been committed to. It's always for our benefit, but the initial separation and the first step on the new path is often a difficult and tentative one.
8:2 The woman and her little family chose to dwell in the land of the Philistines for seven years. This is another act of faith: while her home is unsafe, she lives in enemy territory but trusts God to continue to protect. She trusts God to thicken and widen those protective barriers. As God's children, we can rest in security knowing that His defense is absolute, even in unexpected places. God protects us not only from any potential or outright enemies around us, He always protects us from ourselves.
This temporary relocation is somewhat like our situation on earth. Here on earth we live in a vulnerability we never experienced in Spirit with our creator. And within our experience on earth, similar figurative famines take place. When we are outside of the lesson, we do not experience the instruction, the purpose of the famine. Therefore, listen and learn from God. This faithful family did not have to experience the famine because their faith provided them the knowledge to avoid it.
8:3 After seven years of trusting God to protect her family and eventually restore them to their home, the woman enters back into her homeland. She now ventures to the king in an effort to reclaim her own plot of land.
8:4 As she makes her way, the king is speaking with Elisha's servant Gehazi. The king is asking about Elisha and wonders after the miracles he has performed. Gehazi tells the king about the woman whose son was restored to life.
8:5 Just as Gehazi speaks, the woman reaches the king. Gehazi excitedly introduces her to the king as the very woman in his account. The moment is revelatory of God's precision. The woman has been introduced to the king by a servant of a prophet of the Lord. This introduction causes the king to immediately restore all of her land and possessions to her.
8:7-9 Elisha is in Damascus (not present-day Damascus). The king of Syria, Ben-Hadad has become afflicted by an illness; he sends his servant, Hazael, armed with gifts to Elisha to find out if he will survive his illness.
8:10 Elisha explains that the king will live through his illness but then will die of another cause.
8:11 In this verse we are given a glimpse of the weight a prophet carries. A servant of God takes up the cross, Matthew 6:24-26. Elisha begins to weep: he sees a future that requires more emotional stamina than he has. Elisha is anguished because he cannot change events that others set into place, no matter how brutal they are. Children of God are deeply compassionate, their hearts yearn for restoration and break at the sight of destruction.
8:12 Hazael asks Elisha why he is weeping. Elisha explains that he knows of the evil that he will do to the children of Israel. Hazael might not even envision yet this future for himself. But God has allowed Elisha to see how it will unfold. We begin to understand God more, too. Elisha sees this one glimpse and it shakes him. God can see it all, generations of repercussions from choices. We begin to understand the true strength He offers us. Our God carries unimaginable burdens, yet invites us to continue to add to His load... because His main priority is lightening ours.
8:13 Hazael does not yet even see this evil in himself. He cannot even imagine have the power to make such a disastrous impact. Elisha explains that Hazael will become the king of Syria. He will acquire power and use it to do horrible things. God teaches us to value humility and simplicity because power and wealth corrupt us, corrode our values and our ability to retain them.
8:14-15 Hazael returns to tell the king that Elisha said he would recover from his illness; and he would have, but Hazael kills the king and initiates his reign of terror.
8:20-24 Edom revolts against Judah for its freedom, even electing their own king. Joram attacks Edom causing an unending and violent dispute.
8:25-29 At twenty-two, Ahaziah reigns after Joram. But is another evil king. Ahaziah joins with Israel against Syria and king Hazael.
