(2Kgs 7:3 [ESV2011])
Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?
(2Kgs 7:4 [ESV2011])
If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.”
Premise: The entire Old Testament in some way points to Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: These 4 men, in some way, are a 'type' of Christ.
Note that being a 'type' of Christ does not mean that these men necessarily shared any of the attributes of Christ...it is simply that they, in some way, foreshadowed Christ.
Here is a very brief sketch of my thoughts on these verses:
1. These men were, in accordance with OT Law, unclean because of their leprosy and therefore were sent 'outside the camp', i.e. outside the city walls, where they were in suffering. Likewise, when Jesus was crucified, He was sent outside the gate of Jerusalem. Hebrews 13:12. He was also unclean: 2Cor 5:21
2. The four lepers had 3 choices: Return to the city and die, stay where they were and die, or venture into the unknown circumstances of the Syrian camp where they might well die but with a chance that they might live. Likewise, Jesus could return to Jerusalem, where He would certainly die, stay where He was, on the Cross, and die, or venture into the enemy camp, which was Death, where He could find life.
3. The 4 men entered the enemy camp of the Syrian Army with God going ahead of them. Jesus entered the enemy camp of Death with God with Him...of course, Jesus is God so the point is not exact, but you get the drift.
4. The four men plundered the wealth of the deserted camp. Jesus plundered, and still does plunder, the camp of Satan and Death.
5. The four men could have made the case to themselves that they could have kept all they found in the Syrian camp for themselves...but they chose to share it with the people in the city. Jesus could have kept all He gained for Himself, and would have been justified in doing so...but instead He chose to become the first of many brothers and share the wealth of His treasure. Eph 4:8
Some closing thoughts:
1. The four men were outside the gates of the city during a siege by the Syrian Army...which means there was nothing keeping the Syrians from killing them. Nothing at all. I believe it is a sign of God's providence that these 4 men were spared and left to live in order to become the instrument of the city's salvation. How many times did Jesus escape death at the hands of the Jews? Many times, to be sure, until, that is, the time had come for Him to sacrifice Himself for us.
2. The city was spared. Those who survived the siege came out of the gates and helped themselves to whatever the Syrians had left behind. Did this happen because of their repentance? No. It did not. They received this blessing because God was faithful to His promises to the nation of Israel. They were recipients of unmerited and undeserved mercy and grace. As are we.
(Rom 11:33 [ESV2011])
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
(Rom 11:34 [ESV2011])
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
(Rom 11:35 [ESV2011])
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
(Rom 11:36 [ESV2011])
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Even as the Syrians approached the city, God had already provided its redemption. He saved it, not because they asked for it, and certainly not because they deserved it...He did it for His own reasons to the glory of His Name alone.
