Windows in Heaven

Reading:   2 Kings 7:1-2

I only managed a couple of verses and reread them several times because my eyes refused to stay open.  Anyway, a couple of verses can be sufficient and amply feeds the soul with much more spiritual sustenance then an ignorant dosage of nothing.

Although the verses were a prophesy from Elisha of things to come on the following day, there was still a phrase that tickled my mind, "...if the Lord would make windows in heaven."

2 KINGS 7:2

2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 

I'm not going to spend time on the meaning of the verse as it wholly pertains to the realization of Elisha's prophecy; but, in regards to the "windows in heaven," I discovered a very applicable General Conference talk by James E. Faust entitled, Opening The Windows of Heaven (October 1998).  The talk is primarily concerned with the importance of tithing and how the windows in heaven will be opened to those who commit themselves to providing that which is God's portion.  I don't think it too far fetched to stretch this promise back to the days of Elisha and, on the flip side, see how the opposite might occur.  What I mean rests with the decided lack of faith and tithes being observed by the Samarian people and the subsequent famine which plagued them as a result.

Basically, the man hoped that there were windows in heaven so that the miracle of sustaining provisions might come to pass.  The windows were there and the miracle did come true but I am saying, if the Samarians were faithfully giving The Lord his due portion, the windows would have already been opened and the famine never realized.

Here is a cool little anecdote from Faust's talk...

 Sister Yaeko Seki experienced part of this precious promise. She writes: 

 "My family and I were spending a day at the Japan Alps National Park . . . . I was pregnant with our fourth child and was feeling rather tired, so I lay down under the trees. . . . I began thinking about our financial problems. My heart became overwhelmed, and I burst into tears. 'Lord, we are full-tithe payers. We have sacrificed so much. When will the windows of heaven open unto us and our burdens be lightened?' 

 "I prayed with all my heart. Then I turned to watch my husband and children playing and laughing together. . . . Suddenly, the Spirit testified to me that my blessings were abundant and that my family was the greatest blessing Heavenly Father could give me." ("The Windows of Heaven," Tambuli, Mar. 1992, 17) 

Had to slip that story in because it definitely makes a point about blessings and their many guises.  Look around and see the whole picture don't equate all blessings with financial or physical results.  Pay your tithing and the windows, which are already there, will be opened and blessings abundant.

~Kipling