5/24 2 Kings 2:21

21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."


The spring of Jericho is near the Dead Sea. The water was most likely like that of the Dead Sea, salty and full of minerals. Every town needed a water source. In Israel, water is life.

Elisha had seen his master Elijah ascend into heaven in a chariot of fire. He had received a double portion of his spirit. He could hear the voice of the Lord. The first test of that anointing came when the local prophets asked him to heal the spring of Jericho. Centuries before, Moses had thrown a log into a well and healed the water (Exodus 15:25). What would Elisha do?

He asked for a new bowl with salt. Who would have guessed he would heal salty water with salt? Of course the salt itself did nothing to the spring and quickly flowed away, but the symbolism stood for what God had done to purify the spring. Salt preserves and keeps decay from starting. I have seen this very spring in Jericho and the water is still fresh and drinkable today.

I wonder what Elisha thought when he heard the Spirit's instruction. Sometimes the Lord seems to tell us to do the craziest things. But if we obey in faith, we will see that He had His reasons. His ways are not our ways.

Consider: God is always stretching our faith and teaching us to obey His still small voice. Are you ready to do whatever He asks, regardless of how it strange it may seem?