Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
Silver and gold as well as items of silver and gold are
mentioned severally in the Bible. Significantly, the connotations of articles
of silver and gold and their relationship to wealth, prominence, significance, relevance,
affluence, influence, promotion and royalty is further attested in the Bible. Please
read Genesis Chapter 13 verses 1 to 2. Several wealthy biblical personalities
such a Kings Solomon, David, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat were blessed with gold,
silver as well as numerous articles of gold and silver. In many respects they
were lenders to the nations as they owned and controlled great wealth.
Wealth is of God, comes from God and to as many people who
are willing to receive the wealth from God. Please read Deuteronomy Chapters 8
verse 18, 15 verse 6 and 28 verses 11 to 13 and 2nd Corinthians
Chapter 8 verse 9. Ironically wealth does not drop on anyone like a bag of
cherries. It has to be earned through divinely endowed abilities which range
from divine wisdom, knowledge, understanding, uncommon skills and expertise,
brute physical strength as in the cases of Goliath and Samson, etc. All of
these however have to be traded for and multiplied in the marketplace. In the
light of these, it is possible that certain people would to some extent be
excluded, either by the personal restrictions and limits which they place on
themselves or by societal restrictions and limits.
The unnamed four lepers of Samaria fall into this latter
category. They could not engage in economic activities on account of their
physical disabilities as well as societal restrictions and limitations which
forbade them from participating in the marketplace of economic activities. In
essence, they appeared to lack the power to get wealth. So they confined
themselves to begging on a daily basis for sustenance at the entrance of the
city gates of Samaria living on the mercy and generosity of passersby.
Like everyone in Samaria, they had also experienced the
pangs of hunger and famine in Samaria because the people who hitherto supported
them also presently lacked the resources to help them. So the lepers
became strategic on surviving beyond the walls and gates of Samaria. While they
contemplated on what next to do and where next to go, they eliminated the
option of entering into the city of famished Samaria which spelt certain death
from hunger. So they weighed the option of surrendering to the Syrians hoping
that they would obtain mercy from the Syrians. So to the Syrian camp they went
and got the most pleasant surprise of their lives. There was no one, no army to
surrender to. Rather it was a camp bereft of soldiers but loaded with booties
that they found.
Suddenly, a people who seemingly lacked the power to get
wealth stumbled on wealth because they took a quality decision to take on their
Goliaths – surrender to the Syrians and ask for mercy so they could access food
and live; or if the Syrians refused to grant them mercy, then die gallantly.
But God intervened ahead of the four lepers because His word which does not
return to Him void had gone forth from the mouth of His servant Elisha and God
would honor that word that there would be abundance of food in Samaria that
day. Significantly, the four lepers were not aware of the word of God that had
gone forth. Yet, they were the first partakers of the blessings which
accompanied the sent word of God. You can also become a beneficiary of the blessings
of the sent word of God that you are a lender to the nations if only you
receive, accept and believe the word of God.
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