In this story three kings, Judah, Israel, & Edom, joined together to fight the Moabites who had quit paying the King of Israel the agreement that had been made with King Ahab.  These kings were:

1. King of Israel ~ Jehoram
2. King of Judah ~ Jehoshaphat
3. King of Edom

2 Kings 3:9 says, “So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey, and there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.”  [They made a seven day journey and there was NO water for the army or for the cattle that followed.]

Vs. 10 says, “Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! For YHVH has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”  [in other words, “Oh Great!  The Father is going to give us into the hands of the Moabites by having no water to drink.”  How many times has the Father used the issue of water to cause His people to cry out to Him?  From having too much such as in the flood or having too little as in the wilderness…actually example after example could be given.  Spiritually speaking, many of us are in Hebrew roots because we realized that we were not being given the whole Word of Yah and He led us to the water.  As we move along in the story we’re going to see that we have to do something.]

Vs. 11 says, “But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of YHVH here, that we may inquire [Counsel] of YHVH by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” [Notice what Jehoshaphat asked… “Is there not a prophet here?” It is vital and important to have the five-fold ministry operational in each assembly.  There is safety in this council that Abba has set up for us when we need wisdom and counsel.

2 Chronicles 18:3-7 says,

 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”
4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire [Counsel]  first for the word of YHVH.”

5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for Elohim will give it into the hand of the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of YHVH here that we may inquire of him?”

7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of YHVH, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 

Listed are some valuable principles that have benefited my life; however, some came from learning the hard way.

• Vs. 4 First inquire for counsel from the Word which is from YHVH [Rhema from the written Word or His people]
• Vs. 5 Do not seek out those who will agree with you [When I was younger in YHVH, I would want to do something, something that required a decision, and if I knew someone would not give me the answer that I was looking for, I would not mention it to them…I would not counsel with them.  I knew ahead of time what they would say.  This is VERY dangerous.  I cannot tell you how many times that cost me when I did this.  I learned the HARD way to always seek the truth and will of the Father and surrender my desires to His desires and line myself and thoughts up with that.  I NEVER had true peace until I learned that His will is the ONLY way to have it.  So…I must seek wise counsel, usually from those I really don’t want to go to.]
• Vs. 6 Again, seek counsel from the wise

Now back to 2 Kings 3:12-15

 12  Jehoshaphat said, “The word of YHVH is with him.” [The counsel is with him.] So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for YHVH has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.”

14 Elisha said, “As YHVH of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.

15 But now bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of YHVH came upon him.  

The first thing that Elisha the prophet calls for?  A minstrel or musician.  Is this what we would think to do?  It would be wise to follow this pattern.  IMPORTANT: As they worshipped the Father their counsel came.  On the other side of worship is where our answer lies. 

2 Kings 3:16 “He said, “Thus says YHVH, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’  

A valley is a DRY riverbed!!!  A place where water once flowed.  Is this where we are today…dry, thirsty, and can’t “feel” the presence of YHVH?  Here’s our answer, “GET OUT OUR SHOVELS AND MAKE OUR VALLEYS FULL OF DITCHES!”  This verse didn’t say to just dig one or two ditches, but to make it FULL of ditches.  Prepare for the water.  We must open up the dry places of our heart and get it ready to receive the outpouring that the Father DESIRES to do in us.  I’ve heard it wisely said before, “It’s not about a visitation but a habitation, nor about information but an impartation.”

Remember, it had been seven days traveling into this journey [seven is the number for completion…so they were at the end of their journey] it was dry and hot and there was NO water for the men or the cattle.  For those of us who are able to do Yom Kippur fully with no food or water knows what it’s like at the end of the 24 hours without water; well, add the fact that we’re not laying around in air conditioned houses, but we’ve been traveling in a hot and dusty terrain for seven days with no water, then we can somehow get the feeling of what they might have experienced.

After seven days, they call the prophet for counsel, which is the right thing to do, the prophet calls for a minstrel and they worship and they get their answer and the answer for a tired, dry, and thirsty people is to…DIG DITCHES.  Some of us would think that was the devil talking…surely our Elohim would not make us more uncomfortable?  However, if we’re going along in the Torah Portions we know that this is not always the case.  Especially if it means our Father showing Himself mightier as a result.  But in our society we’ve been conditioned to be addicted to comfort, therefore we don’t see these types of answers as from the Spirit, because we do everything in our power to resist affliction and discomfort. 

I received a rhema at a certain season in my life and I have held onto it all these years.  It is in Exodus1:12; This is the chapter where the Pharaoh did not “remember” Joseph and saw how the children of Israel were multiplying and sent out a decree to all the Hebrew midwives to kill all the male children that are born, however, because “they feared YHVH more than man and did not obey the decree.”  Verse 12 says, “But the MORE they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out [Hebrew meaning: broke forth], so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.” This is a good principle for us…the more we need water, the more we are afflicted, the more we’re uncomfortable, is the more we need to push forward in that which we’re trying to escape.  Did you notice in 2 Kings, they were thirsty and that which was their solution looks to make them thirstier, but it is that very thing that will bring forth the abundance. 

2 Kings 3:17 says, “For thus says YHVH, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.”  [Miracle…this was an opportunity to show Himself mighty.  And if we’re dry and thirsty, today it is an opportunity for Him to show Himself mighty on our behalf if we take the counsel that He reveals to us.]

Another promise in the Word concerning this is from Psalm 107:35-43

35 He  changes a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry land into springs of water;
36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell, so that they may establish  an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, and gather a fruitful harvest.
38 Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, and He does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, misery and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt upon princes and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
41 But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, and makes his families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad; but all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
43 Who is wise? Let him give heed [take counsel] to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of YHVH.

That which feels like affliction to us is not affliction to YHVH because He knows the greater work of glory that it’s going to bring.  True affliction is that which we allow to defeat us.

2 Kings 3:18 says, “This is but a slight thing in the sight of YHVH; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.” [He said, “THIS IS BUT A SLIGHT THING TO HIM…NO BIG DEAL” and neither is any problem that we have too big or difficult for Him.  It is HUGE IF we try to handle it on our own or run from the counsel that He is giving.]

There are things that seem humongous in our lives, but our help is found in the patterns of Scripture when we inquire of the Father through the following ways:

1. Through the people of YHVH/Five-fold ministry…get counsel and confirmation through His Word and His people before we make a move and…
2. Call for the minstrel…WORSHIP

Worship makes the way….in this case worship brought the water, when there was no wind, when there was no rain, He brought water to a dry parched people that had been traveling for seven days.  Too often we want our WAY then we’ll worship, but Abba’s pattern is WORSHIP then He’ll make the WAY.  He wants us to WORSHIP Him.

Have you ever wondered why the Father didn’t just simply fill the dry riverbed with water again?  Yet He did MORE than that!!! He not only filled the dry riverbed, but He also filled every ditch that the armies dug.  No limits!  The more ditches they dug, the more water they had.  The deeper the ditch, the more water it held.  They had to think BIG.  We need to get out our shovels and begin to DIG DITCHES all across our valleys and prepare for the water…the Father’s blessings.  Those who EXPECT the Father’s blessing must PREPARE for them.

Ways to spiritually dig our ditches:

3. If we lack wisdom and desire to know how to worship the Father, ask Him to give it to us.  He will, as this is His desire.
4. Dig out time in our schedule to worship Him.  Our morning and evening appointed prayer times are great, but some are at work during these times and can’t stay too long.  So dig out a time that we can get alone with the Father.
5. Dig out counsel and confirmation from the people of YHVH, the five-fold ministry as there is safety in a multitude of counsel.
6. Then…Have faith to believe that the water/blessings will flow.

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a