Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, agreed to join Jehoram, the son of Ahab of Israel to fight against the king of Moab, who rebelled and stopped paying the sheep and wool as a tribute to the king of Israel. After a seven-day journey in the wilderness, both armies found themselves with no water supplies and without an imminent chance of survival. The evil king of Israel started to blame God for the situation that he initiated in the first place, without asking God’s permission to start the war.

When Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, asked for a prophet to enquire God’s assistance in that terrible crisis, Elisha came, and after rebuking the idolatrous king of Israel, he asked for special preparation before a miracle can happen.

“Make this valley full of ditches. For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink’” 2 Kings 3:16-17.

They had to work hard before their need was supposed to be met. Digging ditches is not an easy task when you are thirsty and exhausted. Waiting until the morning offering it was another difficult task. But here we find a formula for success in a time of crisis: desperate prayer – action – a miracle.

Too often, we want God to do everything on our behalf. We expect God’s miracles to be instant and effortless. There are times when God will reward just our patience and trust, but most often, we are invited to be part of the solution.

“Dig your ditches” and then, let God do what He likes the most: to fill empty vessels! He is ready to deliver you from all the “Moabites” in your life and send the Living Water as you worship Him.

Titus Naftanaila, president