2 Kings 6 Elisha the Prophet
Opening Eyes, Closing Eyes
The Bible translation below is the New American Standard Bible translation.
8-10 Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.” The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice.
Here is Elisha the prophet. He's the follower of Elijah, who has since left the Earth. Elisha at first didn't seem as bold or strong as Elijah, but his God-honoring power comes through just as strong, but in a different manner. This is an important point. Many Christians get frustrated when they don't have the same ability or talent that another Believer does. That's not the point, though. God gives people different gifts and talents, and they can be just as strong. Let's not compare ourselves to others, rather, we should be concerned first of all if we are simply obeying God and glorifying Him in our daily lives.
The Aramean army had been raiding into Israel's territory in an agitating way, moving in a hit-and-run style, guerrilla warfare-style. It is important to note that Elisha wasn't an encourager of the illicit ways of the kings of Israel, but he was aware of the danger if Israel was overcome and became a slave state to Syria. In accordance with this, God made Elisha a temporary "CIA of the Old Testament", complete with a transcendent "bugging device"; Elisha knew what Aram's king was plotting even as he said it!
Here is Elisha the prophet. He's the follower of Elijah, who has since left the Earth. Elisha at first didn't seem as bold or strong as Elijah, but his God-honoring power comes through just as strong, but in a different manner. This is an important point. Many Christians get frustrated when they don't have the same ability or talent that another Believer does. That's not the point, though. God gives people different gifts and talents, and they can be just as strong. Let's not compare ourselves to others, rather, we should be concerned first of all if we are simply obeying God and glorifying Him in our daily lives.
The Aramean army had been raiding into Israel's territory in an agitating way, moving in a hit-and-run style, guerrilla warfare-style. It is important to note that Elisha wasn't an encourager of the illicit ways of the kings of Israel, but he was aware of the danger if Israel was overcome and became a slave state to Syria. In accordance with this, God made Elisha a temporary "CIA of the Old Testament", complete with a transcendent "bugging device"; Elisha knew what Aram's king was plotting even as he said it!
11-14 Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
How are they finding out where I'm going to strike next? Aram's king loses it. He is livid. He calls in his court and demands to know who is the traitor. One of the staff has been made aware of the Jehovah-given power of Elisha. "You shouldn't take out your anger on us, Sire!" he cries out. "Elisha, the Israeli prophet has been given the otherworldy ability to know exactly what you say, even if you were speaking to your wife in your bedroom!"
The king realizes that this is true. "Then I want him. Where is he located?"
They answer: "We have found out he's residing in Dothan."
The king, in his fury and in a great display of force, brings his greatest fighting technology, which includes chariots (the tanks of their day), and lays siege to Elisha's residence.
How are they finding out where I'm going to strike next? Aram's king loses it. He is livid. He calls in his court and demands to know who is the traitor. One of the staff has been made aware of the Jehovah-given power of Elisha. "You shouldn't take out your anger on us, Sire!" he cries out. "Elisha, the Israeli prophet has been given the otherworldy ability to know exactly what you say, even if you were speaking to your wife in your bedroom!"
The king realizes that this is true. "Then I want him. Where is he located?"
They answer: "We have found out he's residing in Dothan."
The king, in his fury and in a great display of force, brings his greatest fighting technology, which includes chariots (the tanks of their day), and lays siege to Elisha's residence.
15-17 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master!What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Note this: Elisha didn't call for a miracle; he prayed that they might see the God-protection that was already there! We often neglect to see that God is at work in our lives, and we miss some beautiful revealing moments of God's work and watchcare over us.
Any time fire is shown in the Bible, you can see it is the symbol of God's holy judgment. That is what is evident here: God is showing His holy judgment in protecting His servant and a woeful end if the army tries to breach that Heavenly army!
It's a good thing to take time to do a study of angels in the Bible. You'll find power, ranks, announcements, and a whole lot of other incredible facts about the celestial beings who have inhabited this universe for eons.
Are our eyes aware of the miraculous things going on around us? In a world of skeptics and humanistic views, we might be tempted to keep our sight on the low horizontal. pray that God might make your sight more heavenly every day so that you might see and appreciate the things the Lord does for us every day.
18-19 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.
What was going on here? Elisha gives them their answer: "I will lead you to the man you seek (you might not like the way that I do it, though)." God has struck them with a blindness that is even more than being unable to see the Heavenly army protecting Elisha and his servant. Isn't it strange that they follow Elisha? They must have been in a partially-blinded state that at a degree we cannot know, but they had enough sight to follow him ... all the way into their enemy's camp. They could not see enough to know where they were heading. Imagine the shock of the Israel army when the enemy walks right in, unprotected and defenseless. The Aram army got what they asked for ... only not in the way they expected.
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Note this: Elisha didn't call for a miracle; he prayed that they might see the God-protection that was already there! We often neglect to see that God is at work in our lives, and we miss some beautiful revealing moments of God's work and watchcare over us.
Any time fire is shown in the Bible, you can see it is the symbol of God's holy judgment. That is what is evident here: God is showing His holy judgment in protecting His servant and a woeful end if the army tries to breach that Heavenly army!
It's a good thing to take time to do a study of angels in the Bible. You'll find power, ranks, announcements, and a whole lot of other incredible facts about the celestial beings who have inhabited this universe for eons.
Are our eyes aware of the miraculous things going on around us? In a world of skeptics and humanistic views, we might be tempted to keep our sight on the low horizontal. pray that God might make your sight more heavenly every day so that you might see and appreciate the things the Lord does for us every day.
18-19 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.
What was going on here? Elisha gives them their answer: "I will lead you to the man you seek (you might not like the way that I do it, though)." God has struck them with a blindness that is even more than being unable to see the Heavenly army protecting Elisha and his servant. Isn't it strange that they follow Elisha? They must have been in a partially-blinded state that at a degree we cannot know, but they had enough sight to follow him ... all the way into their enemy's camp. They could not see enough to know where they were heading. Imagine the shock of the Israel army when the enemy walks right in, unprotected and defenseless. The Aram army got what they asked for ... only not in the way they expected.