17 And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes (OPEN OUR EYES), LORD, SO THAT HE (AND WE) MAY SEE.’ 2 Kings 6
The antidote for fear is to see the Lord and His forces in our midst!
In the previous chapter 5, we read how Naaman, the commander of the armies of Aram was healed through the prophet Elisha and became a worshipper of the Lord. Now in chapter 6 we read that the King of Aram was once again at war with Israel and positioning his soldiers to attack Israel’s forces, but Elisha kept warning the King of Israel where the enemy were waiting.
11 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?’
12 ‘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.’ 2 Kings 6
The King of Aram suspected a traitor in his camp but one his officers revealed the truth, that it was the prophet Elisha who was responsible for exposing his plans. God is still showing His prophets today the schemes and plans of the enemy, made in secret places, but fully visible to Him. How foolish for God’s enemies to believe that they can do things that He won’t know about. God uses people to change the course of wars. In the book, ‘Rees Howells, Intercessor’, Norman Grubb revealed how God had used their prayers to alter the course of battles in World War 2 and give the allies victory. Derek Prince also described how God told him to, ‘pray for a leader that He could use to give victory’. After a plane crash, General Bernard Montgomery was appointed to lead the allied soldiers in North Africa. He gathered his officers to pray before battle and they won their first victory after a long time in retreat.
13 ‘Go, find out where he is,’ the king ordered, ‘so that I can send men and capture him.’ The report came back: ‘He is in Dothan.’ 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
The enemy moved under cover of darkness to surround the prophet in Dothan and when Elisha’s servant arose in the morning he saw the enemy was all around them. He ran to Elisha, fearing the worst, but the prophet wasn’t afraid, because he saw the armies of God were present with them.
16 ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’
17 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 round Elisha.
When we begin to see and know as the Lord does, fear will not dominate us. May the Lord open the eyes of our spirits this day to His presence and the presence of His angels. The Greater One is with us, ask for open eyes to see the forces of heaven around us.
May the Lord bless and keep you. Immanuel, God is with us.