Open the Windows of Heaven
By Elin Henderson
“So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, ‘Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?’”
II Kings 7:2 (NKJV)
What do you think? Are there really windows in heaven where God peers down on the earth below and pours out His love and resources? I don’t know whether they are avenues for us to see little glimpses of this amazing God we serve, or avenues for Him to pour forth His love and resources, but I am thankful for the word picture this verse provides.
Sometimes though, like in this story in II Kings 6 & 7, the windows of heaven only swing open when we come to the end of ourselves and our human resources. Samaria is under siege by the Syrians, hopeless and helpless. Then, the prophet Elisha comes along and says to the main officer in Samaria, “Tomorrow your salvation will come!” Obviously the officer on duty questions the validity of this statement and incredulously says (basically), “God will have to open the windows of heaven to do this, there is no other way!” Elisha then responds with, “You better bet He will!”
Sure enough, the Lord sends out four lepers and the entire Syrian army flees. The windows of heaven swing open and the people of Samaria not only get a little glimpse of the power and might of the God of Israel, but also experienced His wonderful provision. They went from the brink of starvation to having abundance!
It is often when we too are in desperate straits that we finally look to Him and realize He is sitting there with His hand on the shutters, ready to throw open the windows of heaven, show us Himself and provide in abundance for our needs. In Malachi 3:10b we are reminded that it isn’t a trickle or a token provision, but a pouring so great that “there will not be room enough to receive it.” May we always keep our eyes looking heavenward, waiting the moment when the shutters swing back and love pours down!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you ever had any glimpses into the windows of heaven? How has the Lord shown Himself strong on your behalf and provided in miraculous ways for you…and who have you told?
2. I love the old song He Giveth More Grace. One of its verses says, “When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father’s full giving is only begun.” What does that mean to you today?
FURTHER READING:
Philippians 4:19; Acts 2:17
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and eight-year-old Elias.
