2 Kings 6-7 Believing

These chapters tell of two enemy attacks and how God delivered the Israelites in two very different ways.

 

First, the king of Aram decided to go after Elisha after he was told that God was giving Elisha “military intelligence” on the Aramean troops.  While Elisha was in Dothan, the king’s army surrounded the city during the night.  Early the next morning, Elisha’s servant saw the huge encampment and ran to Elisha in fear.  With wisdom that we could use today, Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid.  The army that fights for us is larger than the one against us.”  Then he asked God to open his servant’s eyes.  God did, and the servant was able to see the vast angelic host waiting all around for the battle.  Then Elisha prayed that God would blind the enemy, which He did (apparently not in a physical way, but in a way that the army did not know where they were and who was leading them, much as Elisha’s servant had been).

 

Elisha led them to the capital city, and once they were surrounded, God enabled them to again see where they were.  They were fearing imminent death, but God directed Elisha to have the king provide them with a feast, and afterward they were allowed to leave, more as friends than enemies.

 

It wasn’t long, however, before the Aramean king decided to send his entire army against Israel rather than just border raiders.  They surrounded Samaria and laid siege to the city, planning on starving out the inhabitants.  The king reacted much as Elisha’s servant had – in unbelief.  When Elisha prophesied that food prices and availability would return to complete normality by the next day, one of the king’s officers scoffed at the suggestion, saying “Even if the Lord opened windows in the sky that couldn’t happen!”

 

But God is sovereign, and he caused the invaders to hear the sound of a huge invading army headed their way.  During the night, they abandoned everything and ran for their lives!  The next day, the unbelieving officer was trampled to death as the hungry citizens ran to collect the spoils of war the Aramean army had left behind!

 

Father, I’m used to seeing you do the impossible.  I even watched You do it twice yesterday!  Help me to help others to believe in You wholeheartedly.  Help them to know that they too can trust You if only they’ll believe.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford