2 Kings 6:8-23
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, 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.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 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.” 17 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. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (2 Ki 6:8-23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Syrian Kings raided the land of Israel and every time it was thwarted because Elisha knew their plans. Elisha the servant of God was given great wisdom from God. Elisha shows his trust in God, even when everything seems to be going wrong. The armies of Syria come to kill the servant of God, but he prays for God to open the eyes of his servants. They can see that they do not stand alone. Elisha even prays for God to blind the army so that they will become their captives.
Think of all the people who have hurt you in your life. Think of all the people that may have fired you from a job or were promoted ahead of you. Think of all the people who you think have wronged you in some way. Now picture them coming after you with a great army. What would be the first thing you would do? Would you pray or run? Now God has opened your eyes to see the mighty army he uses to protect you. He has delivered your enemies into your hand. He has tied them up with a nice gift wrapped bow on top. What would you do? Would you torture them? Would you get your revenge against them?
God has come to visit with his enemies. He has come with a great army of one. He has come in the flesh to bind up all those things that threaten his creation. He has come to bind up blindness, diseases, epileptics, demons, and sin. He has come to destroy these and he does it not with chariots and horse men nor bow and sword. He comes to destroy your enemy through the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In Christ Death he destroys these enemies. Are we to taunt them or pity them?
No comments:
Post a Comment