Chariots of Fire

June 21

2 Kings 5-6

Psalm 73:21-28

Proverbs 16:12-13

Acts 16:16-40

Chariots of Fire

“So he said, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’  Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Yahweh, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’  And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  2 Kings 6:16-17 LSB

The king of Syria was upset because it seemed that every time he made a move against Israel, the king of Israel was prepared for it.  They knew where his men were and where he planned to attack.  He called his men together because he believed there must be a traitor among them.  One of the servants explained to him that Elisha, the prophet, told the king what his plans were.  God told Elisha the plans he made, Elisha told the king of Israel, and the king of Israel acted accordingly to prepare for their attack.  God was protecting His people.  The king of Syria sent horses and chariots and a heavy military force to get Elisha in Dothan where he was staying.     They surrounded the city and prepared to seize him.  Elisha’s servant woke up and saw the horses and chariots surrounding the city and was terrified.  He woke Elisha and told him what was happening.  Elisha wasn’t concerned and told the servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  The apostle John expressed the same sentiment in I John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”  Elisha and John both knew that our God is above all and beyond all.  No individual, army or demonic entity has any power against Him. 

Elisha was confident in the power of God to protect him and the people of Israel.  Elisha then prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes so he could see.  He didn’t pray that God would annihilate the enemy.  He had faith that God was going to take care of them, but he knew that his servant was scared so he prayed that God would allow the servant to see the reality of the situation.  When God opened his eyes, he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  He understood that the Syrian army was great, but they had no power against God.  The Syrian army could not see the army of God so they moved forward.  Elisha asked God to blind the enemy so they couldn’t see him and he led them to Samaria.  He then asked that their eyes be opened.  They realized they were in Samaria surrounded by the army of Israel.  Elisha instructed the king of Israel to be kind to them.  He prepared a feast for them to eat and drink and then sent them on their way.  They went back to Syria and did not return.  The servant was spiritually blind and God opened his eyes to see the reality of the situation he was facing in order to increase his faith.  God closed the eyes of the Syrian army so that Elisha could lead them away from Dothan to Samaria and then God opened their eyes to see where they were.  It is important to recognize that God is the one who opens our eyes to spiritual reality.  Without His intervention we cannot see and understand spiritual truth.  We cannot open anyone’s eyes no matter how hard we try to persuade them.  Our job, like Elisha, is to pray for their eyes to be opened so they will believe.