2 Kings 8:7-15

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Elisha’s Announcement to Hazael

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Unbelievers are definitely affected by a believer’s testimony.

  2. Biblical ends do not justify unbiblical means.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Are you emotionally involved concerning the future?

  2. Don’t be deceived by the mask of an unbeliever.

QUESTIONS

  1. Why did Elisha go to Damascus?

  2. Who was Hazael?

  3. Discuss the conversation between Elisha and Hazael, then between Hazael and Benhadad. What did Hazael do to Ben-hadad after he gave him the message?

  4. Why did Elisha weep?

  5. Are unbelievers affected by a believer’s testimony? Is this always a positive thing?

  6. The end justifies the means, if biblical.

ANSWERS

  1. To announce to Hazael that he would replace Ben-hadad as king of Syria.

  2. King Ben-hadad’s servant.

  3. Elisha told Hazael to tell Ben-hadad that he would recover, but he also told him that he would die. Hazael only told Ben-hadad the first part of the message. Hazael suffocated the king.

  4. Because he knew the horrible things that Hazael would do to Israel when he became king.

  5. Yes. Ben-hadad was not a believer, and he worshipped pagan gods, but he referred to the God of Israel as Lord, likely because of Naaman’s testimony. The testimony of a believer can be positive, but the negative side in this case was that Ben-hadad thought he had to send gifts, probably because of Gehazi’s actions with Naaman.

  6. No, the end, according to Scripture, was that Hazael was to become king (1 Kings 19:15), but that did not justify Hazael to take things into his own hands and murder Ben-Hadad. Trying to accomplish biblical ends by unbiblical means got Abraham into a lot of trouble, the consequences of which are felt even to this day. See Genesis 17:1-8, 15-17; 18:10-14; 16:1-16; 21:1

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. When you receive a message from the Lord, do you pass it on in its entirety? Or, do you present only half the message, like, “Saved people go to heaven.” But you fail to present the fact that judgment will come, and unsaved people will go to hell.

  2. When you receive a message from the Lord, do you let Him accomplish what He has purposed, or do you tend to take matters into your own hands to accomplish it? Is it difficult for you to wait on the Lord?How are unbelievers affected by your testimony – negatively or positively?

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you ever wept when you realized what the future holds for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as their Savior?

KEY VERSES

  • ”...the man of God wept…because he knew the evil that Hazael would do…” 2 Kings 8:11-12

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 8:7-15