In Second Kings, chapter seven, verse sixteen, the Israelites understood that the word of the Lord was indeed valid. That His mercy, God has saved the apostate nation from calamity so that they might repent and turn to Him, and that unbelief and failure to follow God’s Word would result in further judgment.
When the discovery of the camp was empty, the news came back into Samaria while a portion of the exploring party advanced on the road to the Jordan. The whole population was encouraged by the word and went out, as they were likely to do after so long pent up in numbers. There was food and other things to gain.
The whole population of Samaria quit the town and threw themselves upon the spoil – the rich garments, the gold and silver vessels, the horses and asses, previously in verses eight through ten. At the same time, they feasted on the abundant treats they found in the tents. Having satisfied their immediate wants, they lay in a store of corn for future use and crowded tumultuously into the gate to find it.
Here, the wants of Israel came in a way they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God’s promise may be safely relied on, for no word of His shall fall to the ground. The nobleman questioned the truth of Elisha’s word, saw the plenty to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his folly. But he did not eat of the plenty he saw. Justly do those who find the world’s promises fail them, who think that the promises of God will disappoint them. Learn how deeply God resents distrust of his power, providence, and promise: how uncertain life is and the enjoyments of it: how sure God’s threatenings are, and how sure to come on the guilty. May God help us inquire about the exposure to his threats or interest in his promises.