This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, "Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?" "None of us, my lord the king," said one of his officers, "but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom." "Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan." Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike this army with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?" "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.
(2 Kings 6:11-23 NIV)
I love this passage. From the eyes of the world Elisha seems to have lost and God abandoned him to the mighty army of the King of Aram. But Elisha sees what the world does not see. He is surrounded by an army of the Lord that is greater than the army that opposes him. And Elisha opens his servants eyes to see. How beautiful that vision must have been of a real and powerful God protecting and saving them. I imagine the grandeur and light shining from heaven upon the army of the Lord.
God I am like the servant. I am blind to your spiritual and physical forces. I see the surrounding army and all that fight against me and you. I despair and fear. Please open my eyes to see your power and presence. For where you call you provide. You promise us persecution and you also promise us eternal life and protection.
But the story of Elisha does not en the way we might expect. The Lords army does not destroy the human army opposing Israel. Instead Elisha prays and the whole enemy army is blinded and he guides them to Samaria where the army of Israel surrounds them. And still the story gets stranger. They don't capture the army of Aram. They throw a feast and treat their enemies well. Through all of this the lord gave Israel protection and victory while teaching them to trust him and love their enemies. For the text says that as a result of this power and love instead of violence the army from Aram stops raiding Israel.
Thank you Lord for your love and protection! I want to trust in you more everyday Lord. I want to call upon your name as I seek and find you more.
Amen
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