Isaiah- Tell King Ahaz, All is Well

By Mary Vee
Isaiah 7

From the Journals of Isaiah

One day as I prayed the Lord sent me a message to take to Ahaz, king of Judah.

At the time Pekah was the king of Israel and Rezin was king of Aram. 

The people of Israel are our brothers. Our country has been divided many years, but we still are all one people, a chosen nation of God.

Aram has been evil to us ever since I have lived. The king has attacked Israel and Judah so many times. Some times they win. Sometimes they don't.

This why I don't understand why Pekah, king of Israel chose to join armies with Rezin, king of Aram to attack Judah. 

The Lord told me to take my son and go meet Ahaz, king of Judah at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool on the road to the Washerman's Field. God told me to tell him this message: 

"Be careful. Keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart and become discouraged because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood (Pekah from Israel and Rezin from Aram). In his fierce anger, king Rezin and Pekah have plotted to destroy you. 

"They have said to each other, 'Let us invade Judah. Let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king over it.'"

Ahaz eyes widened with fear. 

"Don't worry," I told him. "The Sovereign Lord says: 'It will not take place. It will not happen. The capital of Aram is in Damascus and the leader of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years your brothers who live in Ephraim and are helping Rezin will be too shattered to be a people. 

The capital of Ephraim is Samaria, and the leader of Samaria is only Pekah. If you do not stand firm in your faith you will not stand at all."

Ahaz still had wide eyes showing his fear.

I said to him, "The Lord your God wants you to ask for a sign to help you understand his message. You can ask anything in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."

Ahaz cleared his thread and finally spoke. "I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test."

This man angered me so. How dare he not do as God asked? "Ahaz, you are from the house of David. Your disrespect for the men of Judah is bad enough, trying the patience of all the citizens. Now you also are trying the patience of my God?" 

I huffed. "The Lord himself will give you a sign anyway and this is it: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he know enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before this happens the king of Assyria will come and destroy this land."

This man will bring the country of Judah to ruin if he doesn't change from his wicked ways and do what God says.

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1. Two kings decided to attack Judah. ____________ and ____________
2  God sent ___________ to warn Ahaz, king of Judah.
3. God said not to ______________.
4. God asked Ahaz to request a __________ to help him believe the words.
5. Ahaz said, ____________
6. God gave Ahaz a ____________ anyway.
7. Who was angry with Ahaz?

Elisha-Listen to the Lepers

By Mary Vee
II Kings 7

From the Lepers Journals

Photo Courtesy

Men, women, and children who have leprosy were not allowed in the city gates.

We go about begging for food, wherever we can whether in the field or the city. 

We knew the people of Samaria had mostly run out of food and how they suffered. The evil king Ben-Hadad planted his army around the city to prevent anyone from leaving and any supplies from getting inside. 

Still, we were hungry. Really, hungry. There were four of us who chanced going to the city gate to beg for food. Of course no one from the city would give us any. 

We looked at each other and thought for a few minutes. One of my friends said, "If we stay here, we will starve and die. If we try to sneak inside the city, we'll starve and die because there is a famine there. I think we should go to the enemy's camp and surrender. If they spare us, we'll live and will get food. If they kill us then we'll die.

As crazy as the idea sounded, we all agreed with what he said. We waited until the sun had mostly set, the time when the little bit of light confuses what people see. We crept from our hiding places and moved from one bush to another until we reached the camp. 

Strange. No one from the camp made a sound. There wasn't a party, talking, or even snoring. We walked closer to the first tent and listened. Not a sound. Then we became really brave. We opened the tent flap and peeked inside. No one was there. We found food and drink, silver, gold, clothes. 

It was amazing! We sat down and ate and drank until our stomachs filled. Then we gathered the clothes, gold, and silver and hid them. Afterwards, we returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and put them in the same hiding place. 

We brushed the dirt from our hands and prepared to walk back to the next tent. That's when I felt guilty. "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let's go at once and report all that we've found to the royal palace."

The others agreed with me at once. We walked back to the city gate and called to the gatekeepers. "We went into the Aramean camp. Not a man was there! Not a sound of anyone, only tethered horses and donkeys. The tents left just as if the Arameans had left unexpectedly."

The gatekeeper shouted the news, passing it on from messenger to the next until the news reached the palace.

The story will continue next time.

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1. What did the lepers ask the city people for?
2. Why didn't the city people help them?
3. What did the lepers decide to do?
4. What did they find at the camp?
5. What did did the lepers do with what they found?
6. Who did the lepers tell?
7. Do you think the king will believe them?

We Want a King!

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 8

Samuel's Journal

Many years have passed since I became the head priest of Israel. God had granted us a blissful time of peace. I loved each day.

The time had come, though when I needed to appoint my replacement. I couldn't do the work any more...not all of it. I chose my two sons, Joel and Abijah to judge over the people in my place.

Sigh. Joel and Abijah didn't have the love for God that I had hoped. I had to speak to them on many occasions regarding the wrong things they did and said to the people. I tried to show them by example and teach them how to lead the people, but they didn't want to. They didn't see or know God the way I did.

The Israelites grew frustrated as well. Several came to me to report Joel and Abijah's wrongdoings. My sons stole from the people, took bribes, and judged for the side of the people they liked instead of the one who was innocent or just.

Ever since my sons had been appointed judge the people grumbled. They looked at the other countries near us and how their governments were run. All of the countries in our area had kings...except ours. 

I knew we needed a solution but not what the people asked of me. Perhaps God would appoint a new priest. When Eli's sons did not follow God's ways he sent me to the Temple to take his son's place. Maybe God will either change my son's hearts or appoint a new priest. He knows best.

The elders called a meeting here in Ramah to discuss Joel and Abijah's behavior. Their decision involved me. 

After they met, a messenger arrived at my door. "Samuel, the elders would like to meet with you."

I invited the men to come to my home, sit down, and share their concerns. "Samuel, you have judged our kingdom--well...for a long time. Now, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. We, all of us, think it is time our country appoints a king as judge over our people, like the countries around us. We would like a king."

I looked at the eyes of the all the elders seated before me. They nodded in agreement to each other and at me. My muscles tightened with anger. I closed my eyes because I didn't want to look at them--how could they want a king instead of God?

I stood and pointed to the door. "If you will be so kind to leave. I will pray about your request and let you know what God has said."

The men filed out of my house, not saying a word. I wanted to slam the door, but chose not too. I went out to the field...to the open sky and breathed in His air. I needed God to calm my spirit...I couldn't speak with all the anger raging in my heart. 

Soon I felt God's peace, His love softened the tension. My eyes looked toward heaven and I prayed. "Oh Father, great God Almighty. You have heard the words of the elders. They've asked for a king." A tear drip down my cheek and I fell to the ground. How my heart ached.My head flopped against the earth. "I don't know what to say, God. I am empty of words--my heart is ripped in two." 

I laid there silently and wept...letting my tears fall to the ground. My body sobbed until there was nothing left to cry. Then the Lord said, "Samuel--."

I sniffed and took a deep breath.

I wiped the tears and answered as I had when God called to me as a child in Eli's care. "Speak, for your servant hears."

The Lord said, "Follow the voice of the people in all that they say to you. The Israelites have not rejected you... they have rejected Me and have decided I should not reign over them. Samuel, they have rejected me from the day I brought them out of Egypt...choosing to worship other gods rather than Me. It is time. Follow the voice of the people. However, you must solemnly forewarn them, and show them what a king will do to this country."

I lay on the ground a while longer, weeping for the people and the decision they made. Life will not be peaceful without God as their king.

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1. Who did Samuel choose to help him with his duties?

2. What did his helpers do wrong?

3. What did the elders say to Samuel?

4. What did Samuel do?

5. What did God say?