What do you do when you’re surrounded and don’t see a way out? It might be in finances, in relationships, in a job situation, or a combination of circumstances that has you walled in. Elisha, the prophet and “man of God,” Woke up one morning to the news that the enemy of Israel, King Aram and his great army, had surrounded Dothan. They had come secretly at night. Listen to the response of Elisha’s servant upon discovering this intimidating situation, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Do you hear the panic in his voice? He woke up like any other day, looked outside (like many of us do) and saw the army of his enemy parked on the lawn as far as he could see.
Notice how Elisha, living the Still Life, didn’t react in kind. Elisha responded, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Much later that same truth was echoed by Jesus to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). He also said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). John, himself, re-enforced this fact when he wrote, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4).
Then Elisha did a significant thing. He prayed for his servant, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see” (II Kings 6:17). And look at what he saw, “And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw…the mountain was full of horses and chariots and fire all around Elisha” (v. 17b). Those chariots were God’s messengers, angels prepared for battle, which outnumbered the enemy forces. After that Elisha asked God to use an usual battle tactic, “Strike them with blindness…” which He did. Then Elisha was able to lead the enemy all the way to Samaria (and to the King of Israel) before he asked God to restore their sight. Elisha supernaturally took them captive without resorting to bloodshed.
The king of Israel, flabbergasted at this sight, asked Elisha what to do with them. Whereupon, Elisha calmly advised him to feed them and send them home. In other words, he showed them grace. And did they turn and go home? Yes, in fact, it’s recorded that “the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel” (v. 23b).
That’s what happens when we approach our problems, the armies of our enemy, in faith. We invite God, our God, into the fray and let Him open our eyes to His possibilities. Then we watch Him work supernatually. It happens over and over. Elisha had been surrounded before. He had practiced faith in overwhelming circumstances and proved God sufficient for anything. Can we do the same? We have the Word of God as our guide.
Surrounded
Lord of All, Almighty, Everlasting Father, open our eyes when life is scary, and we don’t know which way to turn. Remind us by Your Spirit to bring our problems and those things that threaten us to You. Let us not waste time worrying, fearing, or running. You have us surrounded by Your forces, and we have only to exercise our faith to see them. May we count on supernatural help, rather than human devices. In Your name we pray, Amen.
God Will Make a Way
"God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my Guide, hold me closely to His side.
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way,
He will make a way."
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