A Polluted Spring
Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 2:19-22
“This is what the LORD says: &lsquoI have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unpro-ductive.’”
—2 Kings 2:21
Jericho was the city whose walls had come falling down when the Lord God of Israel had led Joshua and the people into the land of Canaan. After the battle of Jericho, the city was destroyed and a curse was put on it: “Cursed before the LORD is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho” (Joshua 6:26). About 550 years later, in the time of King Ahab, a man name Hiel of Bethel rebuilt it—and lost his sons in the process (1 Kings 16:34). By Elisha’s time, people were living in Jericho again, and a company of prophets were there. The water, though, was bad. It was life-taking instead of life-giving.
Using salt in a ritual of separation, Elisha, with God’s power, restored the water permanently. This act points us to a time when every spring will be pure and every city will prosper, and “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:1-7). Elisha’s miracle points to the One who will bring complete blessing and wholeness to all people.
Prophets are like conduits, pipelines between God and the world. A prophet stands between the One who speaks and the ones who need to hear. Sometimes a prophet’s message is one of pure hope and grace, light and love. A prophet’s words can be a blessing.
What blessing has God called you to bring today?
Almighty God, thank you for the water of life that flows to us through Jesus, the Savior. Help us to bless those who need that water today. Amen.
About the author — Thea Leunk
Thea Nyhoff Leunk has been a high school English teacher, a director of Christian education, a pastor of discipleship, and a regional coach for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She is currently the senior pastor at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thea has also written courses for teens and young adults on world religions, Christian faith traditions, and science and the Bible. She and her husband have three adult children.
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