The Valley of Drought Precedes Victory

UV 2717/10000 The Valley of Drought Precedes Victory
For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts
2 Kings 3 v 17

We should not wait for showers of blessing in our lives. Instead, we should prepare our hearts and lives to receive the rain well before it occurs. Preparation to conquer a mountain begins in the valley. We might not see any external sign or symptom of the victories the Lord is going to bestow on us as He did with Israel. The kings of Israel, Judah and Edom had formed a military alliance and were marching against the Moabites. They were discouraged by the sign of drought all around them. The armies and their horses were starved of water. The king of Israel decided to enquire of the prophet Elisha about the outcome of the war with the Moabites. Elisha, the prophet then states this uni-verse that though they would not see any sign of wind or rain, the valley would be filled with water that they and their beasts could drink to their fill. He also said that this miracle is a small thing for the Lord to do when compared with the massive victory and deliverance they would have against the Moabite army.

We may see no natural sign of victory or abundance in our lives. But as we prepare our hearts and lives as Elisha asked the kings to receive copious water by digging ditches in the valley, the Lord will bless us abundantly. The holes or weaknesses and challenges of our lives may be the very “ditches in the valley” that He will fill with blessings of abundance, deliverance and victory. On the Moabite side, the water in the valley was blood red – a sign of imminent rout by the armies of Israel.
It is literally true for in many places in Chennai this summer, the water in the pipes have dried up, water lorries delivering water have to be ordered and paid for but in the place where the Lord has asked us to pitch our tent, His tabernacle, the ground water is copious and good. The sign of abundance of blessings is also a precursor of victory. The Lord will fight our battles and give us victory. We only need to stand on the promise of the Lord and believe. He is both Jehovah Jireh, the Provider as well as Jehovah Nissi, the One who gives victory. We might have to face many struggles and challenges in our lives but the Lord will give us strength to endure these and to emerge from life – victorious, faithful and blessed. The valley of drought often precedes victory.

Prateep V Philip