Syria is at war with the King of Israel. Elisha hears from God every time the King of Syria plans an attack on Israel; as much as God hates Israel’s sin, he hates Syria’s even more.
So Elisha saves Israel several times. This frustrates the King of Syria to the point of trying to seize and silence Elisha (6:13). Elisha’s servant cries out in panic, but Elisha comforts him (and all who live in fear of judgment coming down on our country today):
16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So 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.[1]
Chariots of fire – the unseen angels of God!
When the Syrians come to attack, Elisha prays, they are struck by blindness, and he says to them:
“This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.”[2]
Always remember, too: the way of the idolater is not the way of God, and our cities are not to become cities of evil.
The blinded Syrians are led to Samaria and their sight restored. The King of Israel wants to attack immediately. But Elisha says that they are prisoners of war: having seen the chariots of fire arrayed against them, they are in no mood for suicide. Instead, the prisoners are treated to a sumptuous banquet, sent home, and peace breaks out!
But under Ben-Hadad king of Syria, they do return to siege Samaria and cause a great famine. Read the gut-wrenching story of the starving woman and her son (6:26 – 30). The King of Israel decides it is all Elisha’s fault and calls for his execution immediately.
In Chapter 7, Elisha confronts his assassin and declares that the famine will end tomorrow and the people will be fed. The King of Israel’s captain of the army scoffs (modern language adaptation): “What, God is going to make windows in heaven to feed us?”
Elisha answers that, yes, the captain will see it with his own eyes, but he will not, as judgment for his unbelief, eat of it himself.
Elisha causes the Syrian camp to hear the sounds of chariots and horses, they flee in terror, and the people of Samaria sack the abandoned camp for food and money. In the process, the famine is broken in just one day, and the captain is trampled to death by the people rushing to relief (7:3 – 17), just as Elisha promised.
The writer of 2 Kings concludes that, when the man of God speaks and the captains of the world scoff, the captains will perish.
20 And so it happened to him[3]…
The sinful, idolatrous believer king is saved by the never-ending love of God. But the captain who scoffs at God feels the full judgment of God.
Don’t be a captain.
Do everything you can to unblock the flow of the Holy Spirit into your heart, every day, over and over. Be that Elisha who saves your country with the truth of God!
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 6:16–17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 6:19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 7:20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
So Elisha saves Israel several times. This frustrates the King of Syria to the point of trying to seize and silence Elisha (6:13). Elisha’s servant cries out in panic, but Elisha comforts him (and all who live in fear of judgment coming down on our country today):
16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So 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.[1]
Chariots of fire – the unseen angels of God!
When the Syrians come to attack, Elisha prays, they are struck by blindness, and he says to them:
“This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.”[2]
Always remember, too: the way of the idolater is not the way of God, and our cities are not to become cities of evil.
The blinded Syrians are led to Samaria and their sight restored. The King of Israel wants to attack immediately. But Elisha says that they are prisoners of war: having seen the chariots of fire arrayed against them, they are in no mood for suicide. Instead, the prisoners are treated to a sumptuous banquet, sent home, and peace breaks out!
But under Ben-Hadad king of Syria, they do return to siege Samaria and cause a great famine. Read the gut-wrenching story of the starving woman and her son (6:26 – 30). The King of Israel decides it is all Elisha’s fault and calls for his execution immediately.
In Chapter 7, Elisha confronts his assassin and declares that the famine will end tomorrow and the people will be fed. The King of Israel’s captain of the army scoffs (modern language adaptation): “What, God is going to make windows in heaven to feed us?”
Elisha answers that, yes, the captain will see it with his own eyes, but he will not, as judgment for his unbelief, eat of it himself.
Elisha causes the Syrian camp to hear the sounds of chariots and horses, they flee in terror, and the people of Samaria sack the abandoned camp for food and money. In the process, the famine is broken in just one day, and the captain is trampled to death by the people rushing to relief (7:3 – 17), just as Elisha promised.
The writer of 2 Kings concludes that, when the man of God speaks and the captains of the world scoff, the captains will perish.
20 And so it happened to him[3]…
The sinful, idolatrous believer king is saved by the never-ending love of God. But the captain who scoffs at God feels the full judgment of God.
Don’t be a captain.
Do everything you can to unblock the flow of the Holy Spirit into your heart, every day, over and over. Be that Elisha who saves your country with the truth of God!
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 6:16–17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 6:19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 7:20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
RSS Feed