Text: 2 Kings 6:14-18
Memory verse:
“And Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
II Kings 6:17 NKJV
Have you ever been in a situation where you suddenly discovered that you could no longer escape? This was the scenario that the servant of Elisha saw in our text.
The Syrian army had surrounded Dothan in the night, where Elisha was located, to arrest him. They came in their numbers and with horses and chariots to arrest one man! The servant of Elisha woke up in the early hours to discover that they had hedged them on every side. Fear gripped him as he cried out to Elisha, ““Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (II Kings 6:15). What will you do when you wake up to see multitudes of fierce looking soldiers with armoured vehicles surrounding your house? It was natural to fear in such situations. The servant only saw with his natural eyes. He saw defeat even before the battle began!
Now, pay attention to the way Elisha responded to the bad situation. “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (II Kings 6:16-17).
The two men, though in the same place, saw things differently. The servant saw defeat, but Elisha saw victory. Elisha saw that those who were with them outnumbered the Syrian army. The servant saw from the natural but Elisha saw from the spiritual.
Did you observe that they didn’t react the same way? While the servant reacted with fear and helplessness, Elisha reacted with faith and helpfulness. The servant also looked and considered the great Syrian horses and chariots, which he saw, Elisha looked and considered the horses and chariots of fire that were around him.
Did you observe that Elisha didn’t even bother to go out to look at the great army of Syria, which his servant told him about. He was too sure of the presence of God with him and that he wasn’t alone.
Friends, the presence of God in the lives of His children is more real than the heartbeat! Don’t doubt His presence with you in the dark night, that is, difficult and challenging times. Don’t question His presence with you when you are being threatened by the adversaries. Don’t express unbelief when it appears as if you can’t see a way out of the situation.
Prayer points
1. My Father, please, help me to be conscious of Your presence in my life always, even when I can’t feel it or in the dark night, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, open my spiritual eyes to see the angelic protection around me in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. God’s presence is with me always, even in the eleventh hour, so I will not be moved.
2. I am conscious of God’s presence in my life, and I don’t allow any situation to make me doubt.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng