MAKE THIS VALLEY FULL OF DITCHES—CAPABLE OF HOLDING WATER.
And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches!’” (2 Kings 3:16)
The valley mentioned in this verse was probably NE area of the Arabah, W of the highlands of Moab and SE of the Dead Sea (see v.8).
The King of Israel laments their distress and the danger they were in. He called three kings together, (see 3:6-19), yet he charges it upon Providence. Thus the foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the Lord, Proverbs 19:3. It was well that Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord now, but it had been much better if he had done it before he engaged in this war. Good men sometimes neglect their duty, till necessity and affliction drive them to it. Wicked people often fare the better for the friendship and society of the godly. To try their faith and obedience, Elisha bids them make the valley full of pits to receive water. Those who expect God’s blessings must dig pools for the rain to fill, as in the valley of Baca, and thus make even that a well, Psalm 84:6. We need not inquire whence the water came. God is not tied to second causes. They that sincerely seek for the dew of God’s grace, shall have it—and by it be made more than conquerors.
Do we say, “Lord, I want my life to be a channel through which your power may flow?” Then let the spade of His word go down into the depths of your heart, that the hidden things may be revealed. Blessing must be prepared for. You can hinder it, and shirk it. You can shut your ears to His voice; or you can get alone with the Lord Jesus and let Him have His way. God has a glorious work to do in every yielded life; He has a glorious fullness to bestow. But there is also a work for us to do; there must be digging down into the depths of our heart; we must resolve to get rid of all the rubbish, and to prepare for the living water.
God is so good. He loves us, and turns impossible situations into opportunities for miracles. But notice that He does not always tell us to sit still and wait for the miracle. Often we are given the responsibility of working while waiting for the miracle. They had to dig trenches for the water to fill. If they dug no trenches, they would get no water. If they dug few trenches, they would get little water. I think of the miracles of Jesus. Of how there were times that the person needing the miracle had to act first. You recall the account of the man who lay by the pool of Bethesda, hoping to be healed of his sickness. Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well, he said to him … John 5:8, 9 … “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk … If the man had not stood up, he would not have been made well. Of course, there are other times that the Lord directs us to do absolutely nothing. Remember Moses’ command to the people at the shore of the Red Sea: Exodus 14:13,-14 …”Do not fear! Stand by and see the Salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today … the LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” So how can you know whether to get up and dig the ditch or stand by and keep quiet? God’s precedent has been set—He does it both ways. And so the key is to hear from Him which He desires to do in your situation. And then be dogmatically obedient to do as He instructs.
Also understand that there will be times in your Christian walk where it seems you have entered a desert. Things are dry. Things are lifeless. You read the word of God and it seems dry and lifeless. You pray and it seems like you are talking to yourself. Nothing seems to be happening and as far as you can see, you only see more and more desert. No life at all. We all have experienced this from time to time. So what should we do? Dig ditches. That is, continue to read God’s word and ask Him to make it living and powerful in your life. Ask Him to make the word apply to your life and that you would be faithful in heeding what He has to say to you. Continue to pray, as difficult as it may be. If you continue to dig ditches, not giving up, God will supply the water and fill those ditches. God will bring forth life during times of lifelessness. He will bring forth the waters of refreshing during times of dryness. He will refresh and replenish you, if you dig those ditches.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “The sentence which has most influenced my life is, ‘Some persons grumble because God placed thorns among roses. Why not thank God because he placed roses among the thorns?’ I first read it when but a mere lad. Since that day it has occupied a front room in my life and has given it an optimistic trend.”
The kings and Elisha had the men dig ditches. They were thirsty, near-dead in the middle of the desert and these men did not look forward to the hard work of digging ditches in dry ground. Yet this work was essential. This demonstrates the principle that God wants us to prepare for the blessing He wants to bring. Listening to Him, we are to anticipate His working and to get ready for it. Digging ditches was something the people of God could do. God didn’t ask them to do more than they were able to do. When God wants us to prepare for the blessing He will bring, He gives us things that we can really do. They that expect God’s blessings must prepare room for them. The Lord ever honors those who honor Him.
Although the Lord sent neither cloud nor rain, He supplied an abundance of water. He is not dependent upon ordinary methods—He often surprises us. I know that if you dig the pits, the water of the word will be retained in your heart. Not just satisfying your temporary thirst, but giving you the ability to go and draw from the pool yourself, anytime you need that drink.
