or Four Days to Christmas
I have never had a serious medical physical appearance issue that made me embarrassed to be seen in public. The worst that ever happened was a kind of skin infection under my nose that extended down close to my lips, but it went away in a few days. I can't imagine the lepers of Bible days, shunned out of fear, considered punished for impurity and sin, seeing looks of disgust from those passing by, never knowing a loved one's touch again, banished from your home... that's where we meet four lepers sitting outside the besieged Samaria (2Kn. 6:24).
(The famine was so bad food became incredible expensive and they began eating children. Of course this meant lepers were probably completely ignored.)
And four men, lepers, were at the gate entrance. And they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die? ...come and let us fall to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall live. And if they kill us, we shall only die. And they rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. And when they had come to the outermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, no man was there! For Jehovah had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, the noise of a great army. ...And they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents and their horses and their asses, the camp, as it was, and fled for their life. 2Kn. 7:3-7
And four men, lepers, were at the gate entrance. And they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die? ...come and let us fall to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall live. And if they kill us, we shall only die. And they rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. And when they had come to the outermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, no man was there! For Jehovah had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, the noise of a great army. ...And they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents and their horses and their asses, the camp, as it was, and fled for their life. 2Kn. 7:3-7
Four men banished to isolation from the ones they love decide to throw themselves on the mercy of their enemies instead of starving to death. I can't imagine the fear they would have felt heading toward the enemy camp, but the surprise to find no one there, only spoils, must have been shocking. God provided food, clothing, and finances for these four abandoned men (and His people). They took spoils, hid them for future needs, returned and did it again.
Eventually, the four decided to share the news with the townspeople. They went back and told the gate porter who informed the king. After verifying the information, the townspeople went out and plundered the camp (v.15). What amazes me is that these four men could have been bitter about how they were treated, nearly starved and despised, but instead they shared the good news, and helped others. Sometimes we feel justified in our bad treatment of others, but God is always good to us and so we should always do good to others.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. Ep. 4:32
And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise. Lk. 6:31
And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise. Lk. 6:31