8 The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also. 2 Kings 7
The four men who initially discovered that the Arameans had fled and left everything had first pick of everything for themselves. However, after they’d met their immediate needs they began to think of the others starving inside the city and they had a change of heart. Many people start by thinking only of themselves, but then something shifts inside and they want to bless others. God alone knows those who will break free from the, ‘Me, Me, Me attitude’ and reach out to help others.
9 Then they said to each other, ‘What we’re doing is not 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 this to the royal palace.’ 2 Kings 7
The men’s consciences began to rebuke them and they knew that they must go at once and tell their starving countrymen that the enemy had fled leaving everything in their camp, food and riches, all lying around for the taking. They knew that everything had changed, but the king and the guards in the city were afraid to believe their message of deliverance. The same thing could easily happen again today when God finally gives people the freedom they’ve longed for.
12 The king got up in the night and said to his officers, ‘I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide in the countryside, thinking, “They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city.”’
The king sent out scouts to investigate that the enemy had gone and it wasn’t just another cruel trap, but news came back that they’d followed them as far as the Jordan river and the ground was covered with valuables all the way. We shouldn’t be surprised that God gives the enemies over to His people as plunder, Israel didn’t just leave Egypt, they plundered it. Exodus 12:36 The Egyptians were willing to do anything to stop God’s judgement coming on their homes again. The Arameans also fled in such fear leaving everything behind them.
16 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, AS THE LORD HAD SAID. 2 Kings 7
At the darkest hour, when hope was almost gone, the Lord stepped in and delivered His people. What God has done before, He can and will do again. Those who’ve been misusing their power to hurt God’s people may soon find they are the pursued and their wealth is gone. Amen, do it Lord.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.