When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)
Read: 2 Kings 6: 8-23
Consider: When Elisha was in the city of Dothan, the king of Aram sent his army to capture Elisha and bring him back to him. Why? We are told that Elisha kept warning the king of Israel of the king of Aram’s plans and this enraged him (2 Kings 6: 9-11). We are told: ‘Go, find out where he is,’ the king ordered, ‘so that I can send men and capture him.’ The report came back: ‘He is in Dothan.’ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city (6:13-14). His reasoning was obviously that if he captured Elisha his plans would longer be conveyed to the king of Israel. This would enable him to continue his war against Israel and to defeat them. But he hadn’t counted on God’s intervention.
As the hostile troops surrounded the city of Dothan, we might presume that Elisha and the Israelites had no hope of escape from the King of Aram. This was clearly the response of Elisha’s servant, as we read: When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my Lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked (6:15). Elisha’s servant had a typical reaction when he saw the city surrounded by the king of Aram’s chariots. He too hadn’t counted on God’s intervention. However, Elisha tells his servant: ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them’ (6:16). This would have been an easy thing to say so as to give the servant confidence, but Elisha didn’t leave things there. We read: And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha (6:17). After Elisha had prayed the servant saw what had been there all the time. Interestingly, Elisha knew what was there and this gave him confidence in the face of trouble.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the confidence we should have in God, when he says: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).
When all seems lost and we are prone to despair, we might respond like Elisha’s servant who initially could not see God’s hand of protection. Or we could have the confidence of Elisha, who knew that God’s hand was there protecting him and the people of Israel, even though it was not evident to everyone. We need to ask God to open our eyes, so that we can see how he is protecting and guiding us in all the ups and downs of life. What confidence does it give you, knowing that God is always at work in your life?
Pray: Father, forgive us when we fail to see that your hand is always at work protecting and guiding us through every aspect of our lives. When we face opposition from the world, open our eyes to see that ‘those who are with us are more than those who are with them’. Amen
Every blessing
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