Elisha & ditches 

2 Kings 3.1-27 

The theme of humanity seems to be to blame God for what's gone wrong and then ask Him to deliver us! What was God's response to Joram, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom?

They had to dig ditches throughout the valley. God will deliver, but we have to dig the ditches. I would prefer not to have difficulties. Second to that, I would prefer that God would just supernaturally make everything okay. I prefer NOT to have to dig ditches to see good things happen!

Okay, first things first...most of the difficulties I find myself in, I definitely brought directly on myself. It is called 'cause and effect!' Unfortunately, God doesn't go around, daily, keeping me from being typically myself. 

It doesn't matter how many disclaimers we might come up with, bottom line is - we reap what we sow! Then when the crop comes in, the bill comes due, the buzzard comes home to roost...you know what I mean, we want God to bail us out.

I have heard 'compassionate' Christians (and family members) say things like, "You got yourself into it, get yourself out!"

God doesn't say that, but He does expect our participation in our deliverance. To the three kings who had made the decision to attack Moab then found themselves dying of thirst in the desert, He said, "...make this valley full of ditches."

He is undoubtedly giving specific instructions today that will require something of you. Whatever your need or dilemma, God does require something of you. Sometimes we can't hear our responsibility because we are too busy begging Him for deliverance.

I seem to remember God saying to David, "BE STILL and know that I am God." (Psalms 46.10) Perhaps we need to quite crying, whining, complaining, blaming and begging God or someone else - and start digging ditches for water to flow, vessels to be filled, relief to be wrought. As James said, (James 2:17) "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." 

(Ecclesiastes 9:10) "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." 

Yep, you are going to die - but what are your plans for living until you do die?!