"Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" -II Kings 7:2 [KJV]

This is a daring reply to, “Thus saith the Lord!” The word of the Lord promises, by a great plenty, instantly to relieve his people from a great famine. Doubtless, with a witty sneer, this great peer of the earth uttered this reply to Elisha, as though he had said, “Behold, ye people, do not mind what this mad fellow says; use your reason; judge of the nature of things by your senses: do you think God will make windows in heaven, to pour down corn for you? there is no other possible way for such a supply as Elisha talks of.” Thus, with an imperious air he insults the prophet, and exalts his carnal reason and unbelief against the Lord’s word of promise. Today, he prides himself in his wisdom; to-morrow, he perishes, and is trod under foot, as an unbelieving fool. Here, see the cursed nature of carnal reason; here, behold the dreadful evil of rejecting the word of the Lord, by unbelief! Beware of the great, the noble, and the wise of this world. Not many of them are called. Those who are not, are great enemies to God’s grace and truth. Look not at the wisdom of the wise, and the judgment of the great of this world: they are fools in the things of God. “God hath made foolish the wisdom of this world.” (1 Cor. 1:20.) But, my fellow-sinner! see we not somewhat of ourselves in the judgment of this lord? O, Jesus! how does our human reason and unbelief often oppose thy blessed word of grace! When we find a famine in our souls, we think we shall perish for want of the bread of life; we look this way and that for hope; human probability shuts up every avenue. Still we have “Thus saith the Lord,” to look to: great and precious promises to trust in! ‘Ah! but,’ says carnal reason, ‘will the Lord fulfil them?’ ‘No!’ says unbelief; ‘it is impossible.’ What! after the Lord himself came down from heaven to seek and to save us; after such a miracle of love to us, can we doubt of his care for us? O! let us cry to the Lord, to enable us to trample this man of sin, this lord of unbelief under our feet; that we be not faithless, but believing. “He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him to us, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32.)

Come, let our souls address the Lord, Who fram’d our nature with his word; He is our shepherd, we his sheep, His mercy chose, his pastures keep.

Come, let us hear his voice to-day, The counsels of his love obey; Nor let our foolish hearts renew The sins and plagues that Israel knew.

William Mason (1724-1797)

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