In 1988,my wife and I decided it was time to start our family. But for two long years we wondered if that was ever going to happen. One evening,while enjoying the stillness of what I called my Jamie Room,the Lord revealed to me that a new baby was going to require me to give up that room so it could become a nursery. The thought had never crossed my mind and the prospect was a bit disturbing. Why,this room belongs to me,I distinctly remember thinking.
I knew God was preparing to challenge my selfishness as we prayed more diligently for a baby. In time,it became clear to me what God was requiring – I would have to relinquish my room so it could transition from Jamie’s Room to Baby’s Room. Some transitions are harder than others.
In little ways we began to establish a nursery. We bought little baby knick-knacks and trinkets and placed them around the room. We also began relocating my stuff to other rooms in the house. It was a long,tedious process of dying to self. Believe it or not,within weeks we learned we were pregnant.
It was during this period in my life that I became acquainted with a wonderful story in the book of Second Kings. It seems King Joram,King Jehoshaphat and the King of Edom had joined their forces to battle the King of Moab who had recently reneged on a livestock deal he’d made with Joram’s father.
Seven days into their battle journey the three kings realized they had not packed enough water to sustain their military conquest. In desperation,the cynical,godless Joram declared,“What! Has the Lord called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab?” In other words,“It’s just like God to strand us out here in the dessert so we can be sitting ducks for the army of Moab.” Joram serves as an example of how sneering and suspicious a man can become when he blatantly disregards God.
Jehoshaphat,conversely,had the presence of mind and humility of heart to ask,“Is there no prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of the Lord through him?” Jehoshaphat’s inclination wasn’t to blame God for their predicament but,instead,to inquire of God as to what they should do.
These kings were desperate and needed water immediately. If the water didn’t materialize it was game over. Have you been there? Have you desperately needed something only God could supply? In time they learned the prophet Elisha was among them and he was quickly summoned to a meeting.
In his fiery style,Elisha rebuked the godless Joram and noted he wouldn’t even give him the time of day if it weren’t for Jehoshaphat standing there. After a few more pleasantries Elisha agreed to inquire of the Lord on their behalf. After instructing a musician to play,Elisha began hearing the word of the Lord. I suspect the three kings anticipated Elisha’s words to sound grand,lofty and King James like in tone. But to their amazement,Elisha’s words were mundane,practical and straight to the point,“This is what the Lord says:Make this valley full of ditches.”
I can just hear Joram’s sarcastic response,“Dig a ditch? You’ve got to be kidding me. So now God wants us to exhaust the little strength we have left by having us dig in the sand?” But Jehoshaphat knew this was the word of the Lord and they began digging ditches. Once the ditches were dug,it appears the men simply went to bed and waited for the morning. When they awoke,the valley,and the ditches they had dug,were full of water. God had miraculously met their need.
So why did they dig ditches? The ditches provided a place of reservoir where God’s life-sustaining water could be poured. The ditches retained the water and kept it from being quickly absorbed into the barren dessert floor.
I learned a number of different things from this story. I learned about a God who desires to meet my greatest needs and about a God who calls me,by faith,to engage in the process by preparing to receive what He longs to send.
When I began asking God to send us a baby,He first told me to dig a ditch. Digging a ditch meant I had to cut-away some of the selfishness in my heart. Digging a ditch meant I had to give up my room in preparation for His coming blessing. I’ve never forgotten that lesson.
How about you? Are you in a place of need? I wonder,is God telling you to dig a ditch? Don’t be cynical like Joram;instead,like Jehoshaphat,ask God what you should do. Once he speaks,obey Him and,in faith, prepare yourself for His coming answer. After you’ve done what He’s told you to do,simply rest in His promise anticipating His perfect supply.
Go dig a ditch!
