With our Northeastern skies filled with smoke from Canadian wildfires, we Americans have once again been reminded of how important regular rains can be. But in spite of our immense wealth and our technological prowess, all we can do is to watch the weather reports. It is, to say the least, a humbling experience.

Jehoram and Jehoshaphat would understand. In spite of their kingdoms’ longstanding enmity, they had come together to fight a common foe: the kingdom of Moab, which lay to the east across the Dead Sea from Judah. But to reach Moab, they decided to skirt the south side of the Dead Sea, travelling through the desert that belonged to the kingdom of Edom (II Kings 3:8). As a result, they went a whole week without finding any water (II Kings 3:9).

It’s no wonder that the King of Israel came to the conclusion that they would all die of thirst (II Kings 3:10). He was, after all, a practical man. Just like his predecessor Jeroboam, Jehoram continued to believe that the people of the separate Kingdom of Israel had no need to travel into Judah to worship at the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem (II Kings 3:3). Jehoram thus wasn’t particularly interested in seeking God’s face, even after he had fallen into hopeless despair.

But Jehoshaphat saw things differently. As king of Judah, he continued to worship God in the proper way (I Kings 22:43). And so, in a time of great need, he naturally sought a prophet of the Lord for guidance (II Kings 3:11). And Elisha not only promised water for the thirsty soldiers but also victory over the Moabites (II Kings 3:17-18). And of course, what the Lord promised, He delivered.

So, as we face what may seem like impossible situations today, will fall into despair? Or will we call on the name of the Lord, the One for Whom nothing is impossible?

II Kings 3:6-18 (NASB)

6 And King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.
7 Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8 And he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey, and there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.
10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.”
14 And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.
15 “But now bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
16 And he said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
17 “For thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.
18 ‘And this is but a slight thing in the sight of the LORD; He shall also give the Moabites into your hand.