Remove the Source of Evil, Part 3

Then the men of the city (Jericho, mine) said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’”So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke (2 Kings 2:19-22).

Bad things in life don’t just disappear—they get worse. The unhealthy, cursed water of Jericho wasn’t going to get better by itself. Someone had to step in, go to the source, and heal the water. No one can ignore issues and hope they go away. Time doesn’t heal the wounds dealt by sin. For 1,000 years, Jericho had been sick. 

When these men faced the fact that barrenness and death was present in their city, they knew it was not a natural coincidence or cycle. It was a spiritual thing and a vessel filled with God’s grace had to exert authority to overcome the curse. Unhealed brokenness and bitterness in areas of our lives brings brokenness and bitterness to our lives. Stuff we don’t deal with will deal with us.

But if we reveal it to Jesus, like these men did to Elisha, Jesus will heal it.

Reflect.

List words in your life that have been spoken over you that have not been brought and submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer.

During prayer, address the power of words people have spoken over you. Reflect on the curse Joshua spoke over Jericho. Why was God willing to reverse it? Was it because the people finally turned to him?