The Bible speaks of opening the "windows of heaven," and this is used in a literal and a metaphorical sense. When God judged the earth in the days of Noah, the windows of heaven were opened to send a deluge of water which covered the planet (Gen. 7:11). This term is also stated figuratively in a promise to those who give their completed tithe in Malachi 3:10: "Bring
all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food
in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of
hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of
heaven and pour out for you such
blessing that there will not be room
enough to receive it." The windows of heaven are figurative, but when opened can provide quantifiable increase and fruitfulness from God.
It appears the windows of heaven are able to pour out judgment upon the unbelieving wicked and blessing upon those who fear God and are obedient to Him. There is only one other occasion in scripture when this phrase is used, and it contains a useful application. The city of Samaria had been besieged by the Syrians and the situation was dire. The famine had grown so severe people had resorted to eating their own children to survive. Though the seige had been long and the outlook hopeless, God promised a complete and almost immediate reversal of the situation in 2 Kings 7:1-2: "Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " 2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
The adviser to the king could not believe the word of the LORD spoken through Elisha. With the horrors he had seen perhaps he wondered if God existed at all, and if He existed was He able to make windows in heaven to supply their needs? It seemed beyond improbable; it was impossible and unthinkable! Through miraculous circumstances, the two-fold prophesy of Elisha did come to pass: God provided abundant provision and salvation for the people in Samaria, and the man who did not believe saw with his eyes but did not eat of it because he was trampled by starving people in the gate. The lesson for us is there are windows of heaven, and God is able to open them. He is able to bless and curse, to destroy and save. He is the God of the impossible. Those who believe God are those who will see and receive the good things God has prepared!
It appears the windows of heaven are able to pour out judgment upon the unbelieving wicked and blessing upon those who fear God and are obedient to Him. There is only one other occasion in scripture when this phrase is used, and it contains a useful application. The city of Samaria had been besieged by the Syrians and the situation was dire. The famine had grown so severe people had resorted to eating their own children to survive. Though the seige had been long and the outlook hopeless, God promised a complete and almost immediate reversal of the situation in 2 Kings 7:1-2: "Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " 2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
The adviser to the king could not believe the word of the LORD spoken through Elisha. With the horrors he had seen perhaps he wondered if God existed at all, and if He existed was He able to make windows in heaven to supply their needs? It seemed beyond improbable; it was impossible and unthinkable! Through miraculous circumstances, the two-fold prophesy of Elisha did come to pass: God provided abundant provision and salvation for the people in Samaria, and the man who did not believe saw with his eyes but did not eat of it because he was trampled by starving people in the gate. The lesson for us is there are windows of heaven, and God is able to open them. He is able to bless and curse, to destroy and save. He is the God of the impossible. Those who believe God are those who will see and receive the good things God has prepared!
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