Big Lots
At six thirty I was mad. I hadn’t slept well, so I was Big Lots tired, but…
—as happens at that juncture I didn’t want to go back to sleep and I didn’t want to get up either one.
I wasn’t honestly sure what mind I had left. Although I was very sure if there was a mind in my head no one would have any inclination for it.
And still, Big Lots stuck with me as an idea.
“Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he (Elisha) said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”
(2 Kings 7:1-2)
This is a story from the Old Testament about the Prophet Elisha’s prediction of the end to a siege caused famine. The Kingly city of Samaria (Northern kingdom) was in siege and the circumstances were very bad. The king himself was so distraught he came after the Prophet, to take off his head. But Elisha was ready for him before he arrived, and Elisha had good news. —But the old soldier on whom the King leaned was astounded at the news.
The man actually said: Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?
The man’s idea was God would need to open the windows of heaven in order for God’s prediction to take place—Windows of heaven? That’s a big lots.
For the rest of the story and how God provided read the rest of the account of 2 Kings 7:3- 20 (beginning with the four leprous men deciding to throw themselves on the mercy of the besieging Syrian army. We’re gonna die if we remain like this anyway… they could die just as easy one place as another.
***
Here’s another tidbit from the book of II Kings:
“Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God (prophet Elisha again) sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber…”
(2 Kings 6:8-12)
The account of this big lots is funny to me. There are a number of lessons one of which is the long-suffering and patience of God and that God had not cast off his Northern kingdom yet. This narrative tells—again—of Elisha sending messages to the King of Samaria to watch out for the Syrians. But the ending of the affair always tickles me. The opposing king decides he’s going to capture Elisha and here he sets out to do so…
“And when the servant of the man of God (Elisha’s servant) was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he (Elisha)answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them…”
(2 Kings 6:15-16)
To finish the story of that ‘big lots’ go to 2 Kings 6:16-23 and read it there.
***
There are so many big lots types of windows of heaven. But this next one is awesome. It is so amazing when a sinner such as myself, even tries to comprehend it, it’s like the term, “gobsmacked”. Without the courage of Christ who came to earth, to live, and suffer the agony of the cross we would still be condemned to eternal punishment.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light…” (John 1:1-8)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried… And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:14-18)
That’s a whole dimension of Big Lots.
“The other disciples therefore said unto him, (Thomas) We have seen the Lord. But he (again, Thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe… “
(This time Thomas is with them when Jesus comes:) “then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him,
My Lord and my God.” (John 20:25-28)