Then Elisha said, "Listen to the word of the LORD; thus says the LORD, 'Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'" - 2 Kings 7:1 (NASB)
Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, as the LORD had said.
- 2 Kings 7:16 (NIV)
It happened as the man of God had said to the king: "About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria."
- 2 Kings 7:18 (NIV)
The man of God in the Old Testament was more than priestly. He usually stood out as a messenger of God, a prophet. Elisha was such a messenger. He was an advisor to the Hebrew kings of his generation and times. He provided spiritual insight and interpretation for the benefit and blessing of the entire kingdom based on the word of the LORD. A severe famine had struck the land due to invaders surrounding the city and placing it under siege. This same famine caused the market rates to go sky high. During this famine, a donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver and quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels ( 2 Kings 6:25, NIV). Eighty shekels of silver was the equivalent of approximately two pounds, while a quarter of a cab represented about 1/2 pint of seed pods. In such an economic crisis, no one can get much for their money due to the limited supply and a high demand. When did donkey heads become listed commodities on the open market? That's when you know things have gotten real bad.
Things had gotten so bad that a woman had agreed to cook her son and eat him with another woman. Upon hearing of this, the king becomes distraught and tears his robe as a sign of mourning. He vows to have the head of Elisha, God's messenger. Obviously, Elisha quickly fell out of favor with the king at this point due to the dire conditions of the kingdom in that day. God's messenger is His representative among the people, too. That also makes him the perfect target for outrage and criticism when things go awry.
Elisha offers a prophecy of coming profitability. God shared that the famine would end soon and things would turn around. He prophesied that by the next day a "seah" of flour and two of barley would both sell for only one shekel. When it comes true, the people are overjoyed and elated. They readily grab hold of all that they could and lived on during the economic recovery.
Keep in mind that the head of God's messenger was sought by high ranking officials just hours before things turned for the better. Even though he believed it to be so, others did not readily believe it until they saw it for themselves.
Today's financial conditions will not remain the same always. Hear where God is directing you and see where He is making swift changes and movements that impact our global economy right before our eyes. You may need to prepare for today's prophecy becoming tomorrow's reality quick and soon.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
- Matthew 5:12
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