Faith to Move a Mountain

“And he said, So, says Jehovah, Make this valley full of ditches. For so says Jehovah, You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain. Still that valley shall be filled with water, so that you may drink, both you and your cattle, and your animals.” (2Kings 3:16-17)

The back story is that Ahab, king of Israel died and his son, Jehoram began to reign. During Ahab’s reign, Moab paid tribute to King Ahab, but on King Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Jehoram. Jehoram sends for King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah to fight with him against Moab. On the way through Edom, the king of Edom joins them. They encounter no water and seek Elisha to hear from the Lord. Elisha is unimpressed with the kings except for Jehoshaphat. “And Elisha said, As Jehovah of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely if it were not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you nor see you.” (2Kings 3:14) And because of Jehoshaphat, Elisha gives them the Word of the Lord. (2Kings 3:1-17)

Now what Elisha told them to do was an act of faith. They were to dig ditches in the valley that would fill with water. God’s Word was that it would not rain, yet the ditches would fill with water. He simply said that it was a small thing for God to do. Here is the gist of this lesson. In the arid wilderness with no sign of rain, the kings could have easily dismissed Elisha’s advice, to dig ditches. James writes “My brothers, what profit is it if a man says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14) We can believe all we want, but if we don’t make an action that proves you believe, faith is useless. In the natural we believe that if we flip the electric switch, the lights will turn on. We act in faith in the home’s electrical system. We step on the gas pedal believing the vehicle will move in the direction desired. These are acts of faith. We act because we believe. In the spiritual, it works the same way. Examples: When you believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior, the act of faith is to surrender your life to Him. If you believe that by the stripes of Jesus you are healed, your words and actions will show it. You won’t complain of pain but instead confirm your faith in God and in His Word, no matter what it looks like or feels like. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him...” (Hebrews 6:11) Our faith must be so sure that we act on it. The opposite of Hebrew 6:11 is that God is not pleased by doubt, doubt in Him, doubt in His ability and doubt in His Word. When we look at doubt that way, it’s a fearful thing.

Many miracles that happen, do so because someone had believed without any doubt. “Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this miracle of the fig tree, but also; if you shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be thrown into the sea; it shall be done.” (Matthew 21:21) Now, naturally thinking a mountain will not be moved when I tell it to move. Yet, Jesus said this would be possible if I believed without doubt. I can tell you that my faith is in the developing stage, and I don’t know if it will get to the point where I can believe I can move a mountain, but there are metaphorically mountains in my life that have been moved by faith. We are all in the developing stages of faith in our lives. But the more we exercise our faith and act on it, the more it will develop.

There’s the occasion of the widow that cries out to Elisha because the lender was coming for her two children. When Elisha asks what she has in her house, she replies that she only has a pot of oil. Now the translation says pot, but the original meaning of the Hebrew word that was used means a flask. A flask of oil is not much. Elisha tells her to borrow vessels, meaning whatever to pour oil into them. He’s telling her to act in faith. What happens is that the oil in the flask fills up all the vessels then stops. She is able to sell it and pay her debt. (2Kings 14:1-7)

My question in this lesson is what act of faith can you make for your miracle? If you don’t know what an act of faith for your miracle would be, ask the Lord. He will tell you what you must do. “Therefore, I say to you, All things, whatever you ask, praying, believe that you shall receive them, and it will be to you.” (Mark 11:24) Many preachers avoid this Scripture because it’s a big claim. But Jesus said it. Do you believe it? Do you believe Him? Do you believe the Lord is able? Do you believe He is willing? If you can believe without any doubt and act in faith, you will have your miracle, the answer to that impossible thing. How can I make such a claim? I make it because Jesus said it. And I believe it.

In summary, faith requires an act that shows you believe it. So metaphorically, dig your ditches and prepare for the Lord to fill it with water. Believe and act.

Let us pray:

Father God, I thank You for Your promise in Your Word. Many times, I may ask, but I fail to act in faith. My actions and words betray me. Forgive me for doubting. Help my unbelief. Your Word is Truth. And Your Word never fails. Forgive my failure. And help me to fully act on Your Word. The world is searching for answers, and the answer is in Your Word. I thank You Lord for providing the answer to every need and every problem. Truly when I seek, I will find, when I knock it will be opened and when I ask, I will receive. You are Jehovah Jireh. You are the Provider of all I need and the answer to every problem and difficulty I may have. I rely on You. There is none Who is Good and Holy but You. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.