Dear Ones:
We are often troubled by that which we see. It is also true that we can be greatly comforted by that which we cannot see, but which will be revealed, if we pray.
Elisha was in a difficult situation. The village (Dothan) where he was residing with his servant was surrounded by a hostile force of soldiers who had come to take him captive. Elisha’s servant had risen early, went outside, and saw these soldiers. He immediately became afraid. The servant was dominated by what he saw. Elisha was dominated by that which he did not see, but which he knew to be true. The word of Elisha to his servant was simple: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them..” (2 Kings 6:16) It was then that Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the servant’s eyes, so that he could see the “greater” reality. “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisah.” (v.17) Most certainly, when the servant saw what was spiritually true, he was comforted, and overwhelmed. His former fear was swallowed up by the vision of God’s power.
Now, what is interesting about this episode in the life of Elisha is that, the remedy to the problem of the hostile force of the Syrian army was not by “horses and chariots of fire.” It was by Elisha’s prayer that the Lord would “smite this people…with blindness.” (v.18) Why then did God give such a vision only to answer in another way? Often, in the economy of God, He chooses to give us a “vision,” or perception of His glory in one way or another, in order to strengthen us to believe Him to answer prayer. Why did God give to the Peter, James, and John, the vision of his Jesus’ transfiguration, when He met with Moses and Elijah? It was to stir them up to believe Him, and to obey Him. Peter had his own idea of what to do, which was a mistake. But the Father made clear what was to be the result of the vision: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM.” (Matt. 17:5)
As we read the word of God, and trust the Father to give to us “…the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17), He will open our eyes to see His glory in His word, in creation, and in His church. The result of the vision is two-fold: It delivers us from fear, and it instructs us in the way we should go. It should also inspire us to believing, specific prayer that God desires to answer. What do we do with that which God reveals to us? Do we use it, pray it, believe it? Or shall we choose instead to be dominated by what we see? The prayerless man will faint in his faith. The worshipful man will be inspired by God to believe Him for the out-working of His will, for His glory and honor. The question we must ask is: Will we be like the servant who looks at the circumstances of life, to be dominated by them? Or will we be like Elisha who prays for the eyes to be opened in order to see “…the glory of God,” and be dominated by the greater reality? “The just shall LIVE by faith….,” and believing prayer.”
Dear Lord of Elisha, open our eyes to see Thy glory. And enable us to pray according to Thy will, believing Thee for the full out-working of Thy will in all that we say and do. Ever deliver us from fear by strengthening us to walk by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad