What You Cannot See Can Help You

Sometimes it can feel like you're outnumbered as you walk with the Lord. The world is not ambivalent about our faith. There is both open and latent hostility toward Christianity in every place and in every age. We must learn to accept the sinful heart of man is naturally turned against God and those who stand for Him and with Him will bear much of that animosity.

Such is the case for Elisha's servant in 2 Kings 6.

For some time, Elisha has been giving the king of Syria's secret plans to the king of Israel to help Israel avoid her enemies. Elisha does this through the power of the Lord's spirit.

Eventually, the king of Syria turns his attention away from the king of Israel and on to Elisha to root out his problem. He comes to Dothan and surrounds Elisha and his servant. The next picture is one we can relate to...

2 Kings 6:15–16 (ESV) When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

First, we must consider who we are in this story. We are surely the servant. And we are often at wit's end with regard to our next move when the world seems to surround us with animosity on every side or our troubles surround us with fear.

Then notice the servant's cry: "what shall we do?" Not knowing what to do for this servant is the result of spiritual blindness. He only sees on one level. He needs to see on another. Elisha's next prayer is for his eyes to be opened to the surrounding armies of God. 

2 Kings 6:17 (ESV) Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD 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.

Secondly, we must notice that Elisha PRAYS for this man's sight to see God's armies. Could it be that simple? Is prayer really enough for us to lift our perception from the surrounding troubles and to see the armies above us who are for us and with us? I believe so. I believe we have here a very important lesson on prayer. Prayer lifts the lid of our perception. We see better when we pray. Instead of fearful circumstances, we see the God of all power and authority who surrounds those who surround us. When we lift our eyes to Him in prayer, we will stop letting what happens to us determine what spirit gets in us. 

This passage teaches the reality of a spiritual realm that we often cannot see and thus allow the conditions of our lives to overwhelm us. The passage also teaches us very simply that we need to pray for eyes to be opened to the unseen realm. Finally, the passage reinforces our need for a true Elisha who has the power to open our eyes. That is Jesus, our savior who opened both physical and spiritual eyes while on Earth:

John 9:5–7 (ESV) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

Luke 24:31 (ESV) And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

There is one who can open your eyes. Cry out to Him. He will answer and He will deliver. You are not alone, you are surrounded by the armies of the Lord.