(Read II Kings 6:8-23)
Since the fall into sin, God has allowed things unseen by the naked eye to bring destruction on humanity. How many lives have been lost due to germs associated with the Black Death, smallpox, and the Spanish Flu pandemics? In some ways humans are more afraid of a death they cannot see coming.
In contrast, God also saves people through the protection of unseen things. Guardian angels are real, yet rarely revealed (Psalm 91:11). Wouldn’t it be nice to see the protective hand of God in our lives with our own eyes? Elisha and his servant got to experience just that! Let’s see how.
Syria, a long-time enemy of Israel, was making plans to attack. Through God’s revelation to Elisha, Israel’s king was forewarned, and the Syrian king’s plans were thwarted. Now seeking revenge on Elisha, the Syrian king had a great army with horses and chariots surround the city in which Elisha was staying. When the sun arose the next morning, Elisha’s servant saw the enemy and said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15) Indeed, what should they do? There was no escape that the servant could see. They were far outnumbered and lacked a military force. Surprisingly, Elisha answered his servant’s question, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (verse 16) Knowing his servant doubted that truth, Elisha prayed that God would reveal to him what he normally could not see. Elisha’s prayer was answered, and the young man saw a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire protectively surrounding them. Not only that, but God granted Elisha’s second request as well, to strike the enemy army with blindness.
Elisha reveals to his servant the army of the Lord
Have you ever felt that there was no way out of the problems you face? The physical and spiritual enemies of ours seem to be at every turn. Is it addiction, despair, loneliness, weak faith, stress, or depression? Wouldn’t it be nice to see the protection and loving hand of God with our own eyes? Look more closely—not at what your eyes see, but what the promises of God reveal in His Word. He will never leave you or forsake you. He sends help from expected and unexpected places. Solutions we would never come up with, He does. He turns the most awful situation into a beautiful blessing, all according to His will, which is always for the spiritual good of His children. Perhaps you have caught yourself saying after an “impossible” problem was resolved, “Why was I so worried about that?”
Back to our account. Elisha then led the blind Syrian army to Israel’s headquarters in Samaria. God restored their vision. Now they were the ones terrified. Israel’s king asked Elisha if he should have this enemy army killed. Elisha said no. In fact, he told the king to give them food and drink and let them go home. As a result of these merciful acts, the Syrian raids on Israel’s cities stopped. God’s solution once again proved to be better than man’s.
Physical death coming from unseen sources can be frightening, but spiritual death is much worse. Our enemies are numerous and relentless in trying to lead us astray. Salvation from spiritual death is unseen as well. The Gospel message works faith in our hearts to believe God’s promises of life through His Son, our Savior. Because of this, we need neither live nor die in fear.
is a professor at Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.