Keep Digging Ditches

”So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphat 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.” Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.” So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ NKJV‬‬

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Jehoram, the king of Israel, decided to put down a rebellion in Moab, then got Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, involved.

Jehoshaphat asked Jehoram which way they should go. No one bothered to ask God for His direction. Seven days later they are about to die of dehydration.

”But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” 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. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 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, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.“

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭18‬, ‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So, finally they seek God. I’m often guilty of asking God to bail me out of situations that He never told me to get into. Thank God for His mercy.

Of course, Elisha was not thrilled to consult God on their behalf. When you need a word in a pinch, sometimes you get a prophet with an attitude. (Side note: Put some good worship music on if you are having trouble getting that word from God.)

The answer they got is interesting. Dig ditches. No water. No clouds. No rain. But God wanted them to dig ditches. God has a way of filling the room we make for Him in our lives. They decided how deep, how wide, and how many ditches. God filled them all. Our capacity to receive God's blessing is increased with our obedience to His word. The more ditches we dig, the more He fills.

We make room for God to move in our lives by getting in the word and prayer, By meditating on His promises and waiting in His presence to hear from Him. We also make room for God in our sacrifices: Our offerings of money, time, and labor, and obedience. The ditches began to fill at the time of the evening sacrifice. Thank God they were faithful to keep His sacrifice going, even in such a hard time. If you are in a desert place right now, begin to seek God for His direction, then make room for Him to move. Keep digging that ditch!