A Missed Opportunity

“Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.  Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 2 Kings 13:17-18

Years ago, I read the story that surrounds today’s passage, and the deeper message has always stuck with me. At first, it seems like a strange request from the prophet Elisha to have the King shoot some arrows, but it was not only a message from God, but an opportunity for the King to demonstrate his faith.

In ancient history, shooting an arrow towards your enemy’s territory was a declaration of war. The Lord, through the prophet Elisha, told the King to declare war, and the victory would come by faith. The arrow would go through the window and strike the ground. Shooting the arrows represented the King’s faith that his efforts would mean something in the greater scheme of things.

All the king had to do was shoot arrows. “He struck it three times and stopped.  The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” 2 Kings 13:19

The Lord, through Elisha, presented the king with an open window and an explicit connection between his actions and the results the Lord would bring about on his behalf. The king struck the ground three times and stopped. Why? Was he worried about the futility of his actions? Was he worried about looking foolish? Was he afraid he would lose his arrows or that he would waste time and energy picking them up later?

How many times does the Lord place an open window before us and we stop short of all that God has for us? God gives us many opportunities to minister, to serve, to see someone, and make a difference, but we stop short. We fear looking foolish or not speaking well. We don’t put in all the effort that is required and get tired of trying, and our minimum efforts limit the rewards.

We forget that when God calls us, He also equips us, and much of the outcome rests on our decisions along the way. “Shooting arrows” is an opportunity to work alongside God and experience Him in ways that far exceed anything we could ever imagine. Who cares if we look foolish to the world. Whatever effort or sacrifices are required will always be worth being obedient to God. I want to shoot all my arrows! I don’t want to miss opportunities to be available for God and the work that He has invited me to join Him in doing. I don’t want to stop shooting until God says, “Enough.”