Benhadad, the king of Syria, was sick and wanted to know if he would recover. So, he sent his right-hand man, Hazael, with forty camels loaded with provisions, to ask Elisha about his fate. He told Hazael that he would recover but would surely die, and Elisha began to weep because God also told him Hazael would become king and would hurt the men, women, and children of Israel. Back in 1 Kings 19, Elijah appointed Hazael king over Syria. God’s prophecies are falling into place. Hazael went back to the king and told him he would recover. However, he suffocated him with a wet rag and began to reign over Syria. We might see Benhadad again because he seemed to trust God and made Elisha his oracle. After all, he knew of the healing of Naaman. Remember Naaman? He was leprous, and Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan River seven times. He did what Elisha told him to do, and God healed him. This account of Benhadad, who was once Elisha’s enemy, now called him a man of God and sought healing, such as Naaman, while no longer trusting in his idols. Sickness will sometimes bring people who otherwise would continue in their evil ways to their knees and seek the prayer and counsel of the godly. If an unbeliever asks you to pray for them, pray. It could mean the difference between them going to heaven or hell because for them to ask means they are seeking God’s intervention with a tiny amount of trust.
And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? 2 Kings 8:8
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