Gone last week. Was hanging out with some missionaries and shepherds who serve under the banner of Village Missions. They were gathered for a few days of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation at a mountain-top conference center (aka sketchy wi-fi and no bars on the phone). Together we also remembered God’s faithfulness as we celebrated VM’s 75 years of taking the gospel to, and caring for the local church in rural America. A good week, to be sure.

This morning, after my readings in 2Kings I went back into my journal to see what thoughts I may have jotted down about “windows in heaven” in the past. Could Calvary be a more open window? Thinking not. Here’s a slightly reworked post from 2015.

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The situation was desperate. Samaria had been besieged by the king of Syria (2Kings 6:24). Nobody gets out of the city. Nobody gets in. More importantly, nothing gets in. Not food . . . not water . . . nor anything else necessary for sustaining life. What’s more, the siege had occurred during a time of famine in the land so that hyperinflation also seized the city because of lack of supply –“a donkey’s head sold for thirty-four ounces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for two ounces of silver” (6:25). So, the situation inside the walls went from bad to worse really fast — so much so that mothers were even eating their children (6:28-29). Dark, difficult times. Hopeless times. But it’s in such times, that we’re reminded God can create windows in heaven.

Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord says: ‘About this time tomorrow at Samaria’s gate, six quarts of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver and twelve quarts of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver.'”

Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man, responded to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”

(2Kings 7:1-2 CSB)

Twenty-four hours. That’s all it would take, prophecies Elisha. Twenty-four hours for the siege to be lifted and for the supply of food to so outweigh the demand that buying in bulk would only cost shekels. And the king’s captain says, “Really? Impossible! Even if the LORD Himself should make windows in heaven, how could it be?”

Cue the windows. Draw the curtains. Throw open the shutters. Open wide! And watch the glory of God come down!

Bottom line is the LORD spooks the marauding Syrian army. They hear sounds in the night and, thinking them to be mercenary armies somehow hired by Israel, they flee leaving everything behind. Literally, everything is left behind! Horses, donkeys, and tents filled with enough food, clothing, and silver and gold, so that an army could outwait a city (7:6-8). And it’s there for the taking. More than anyone could have imagined. Easier to get than anyone could have thought just twenty-four hours earlier. All because there are windows in heaven.

Incredible story. Unbelievable. Abundance available to everyone who had been in captivity. Nothing they needed to do but leave the safety of the city walls and venture out into the abandoned camp and reap the spoils. How could this be? Windows in heaven.

Sounds like another incredible story. A story of those besieged by sin. Held captive by the lust of their flesh and the darkness of their world. Though unaware of their desperate plight, people trapped and without any means to free themselves — even feeding on themselves, and on others, in order to satisfy a soul hunger that can only be satisfied through windows in heaven.

“I am the bread of life. . . This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

(John 6:48-51 CSB)

The windows of heaven opened. The King of Heaven Himself enters into the famine. So that people might be freed from the siege of sin. And that they might drink of living water in abundance. And feed on the food of eternal life without measure. All without cost to the captive, accessible to all who believe and who, by faith, leave the death-sentence of their “safe city” and wander out to see the LORD’s provision. Provision not found in tents filled with food and money but found in a blood stained cross. Death’s specter removed by an empty tomb. Living bread and living water supplied by a risen, ascended and living Redeemer. Heaven’s best given for sinners such as I. All through windows in heaven.

Oh, what a Savior!

Windows of God’s grace. Windows for God’s glory.

Amen?