Your Basket
Your Basket Is Empty
“search the scriptures” John 5:39
The extraordinary life of ‘Elisha the man of God’, 2 Kgs. 5. 8, is epitomized in the events of 2 Kings chapters 6, 7, and 8. In these chapters we see Elisha disrupting the plans of kings, defeating his enemies, delivering a besieged city, and declaring the future.
Elisha displays many commendable, Christlike features in these chapters. His calmness and confidence, in the most trying of circumstances, and his ability to communicate powerfully for God were all the direct result of his personal communion with God. He was a man in touch with heaven - he prayed and God answered, 2 Kgs. 6. 17, 18; he prophesied and it came to pass, 7. 1. He was also a man who had a heart full of love for others. In chapter 6, he shows his care for his servant as well as his compassion for his enemies. In chapter 8, we have his care for a widow as well as his crying, v. 11, while contemplating the future for the children of Israel.
The remarkable recovery of the axe head, in the first few verses of chapter 6, was considered in a previous study. Following this event we are told, in verse 8, about a council of war between the king of Syria and his trusted servants. The omnipresence and omniscience of God are clearly seen as He reveals to Elisha the secret plans of the enemy which allows the king of Israel to avoid an ambush more than just once or twice. The king of Israel’s evident knowledge of these top-secret discussions caused consternation in Syria and led the king to suspect one of his advisors must be a traitor. What a surprise it must have been to learn that Elisha was being allowed by God to listen in to the very words spoken in the king’s own bedroom! Even more amazing is the fact that the servants of the king of Syria knew about Elisha and his ability to know their top-secret plans. Such was the public testimony of Elisha that even his enemies knew he was a man with power from God.
The lessons for us in this section are twofold. Firstly, let us never forget that God knows all that we do, say, and think. He is listening in to our conversations and knows our thoughts and motives. His eye is upon us even in our bedroom when no one else is around. Nothing is hidden from His all-seeing eyes. As Hebrews chapter 4 verse 13 reminds us, there is no ‘creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do’.
The second lesson here is that God’s providential hand is able, according to His good will, to thwart the evil schemes of men and intervene on behalf of His people. Well might we remember that the plots and schemes of men in the council chambers of Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Davos are all known to God. With all the uncertainties in our modern world, and the struggle for power being played out on the global stage, it is good to remember that ‘the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will’, Dan. 4. 17.
In the following verses we see the plot of the king of Syria to try to turn the tables on Elisha and spy on him. The king hears where Elisha is and plots to capture him in Dothan. Overnight the city was surrounded by ‘a great host’, 6. 14. Rising early, Elisha’s servant saw the enemy all around them and was filled with dread. In verse 15, he cries in desperation, ‘Alas, my master! how shall we do?’ Despite being surrounded, Elisha’s trust in his God was unshakeable. His calming words in verse 16 bear a striking resemblance to those of 1 John chapter 4 verse 4, where we are reminded that ‘greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’. What confidence he had in God even when circumstances looked bleak.
In trials and tribulation we do well to remember that, as believers, we are in the hand of Christ as well as in the Father’s hand, John 10. 28, 29, and we are sealed by the Spirit of God, Eph. 1. 13. This truth gives us eternal security against any forces of evil that would attempt to pluck us out of His hand. Thank God we can never lose our salvation but, more than that, because every genuine believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God, Rom. 8. 9, we can experience personal victory over Satan and his forces. The superior power of the Holy Spirit residing in us means that we can be overcomers on the spiritual battlefield.
With confidence, Elisha prays that God would help his servant to understand the reality of the situation. From a human standpoint, their plight was beyond hope, but the eye of faith was enabled to look beyond the circumstances and rest in the fact that God is able to protect His own. The servant saw that Elisha was indeed surrounded, not by his enemies, but by the Lord’s host. Good it is when we have the same confidence that Elisha had in his God.
As believers we are never promised an easy passage through life. We will face difficulties on life’s journey and, at times, we may feel overwhelmed and hemmed in. Through it all, though, we have the assurance of His promise, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’, Heb. 13. 5. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 8 and 9, expresses a similar thought when he says, ‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed’. As we face these circumstances, let us pray that God would open our eyes that we may see His hand upon the tiller. The One who saves is the One who keeps. In every circumstance of life, no matter how dire the outlook might be, it is always safe to trust Him.
Elisha prays again and God answers His servant once more. This time Elisha prays that open eyes might be made blind. Such is Elisha’s fellowship with God, and his understanding of God’s will, that God grants his request and does ‘according to the word of Elisha’, 2 Kgs. 6. 18.
The enemy is left floundering until the very man they were trying to capture comes out to speak with them. In an audacious move Elisha persuades them to follow him. Evidently, they were not completely blind as they could walk but they were unable to discern where they were headed or who was guiding them. The man they had been pursuing is now leading and directing them, and meekly they follow him all the way to Samaria, the capital city of Israel.
Elisha prays again and God once more responds and their blindness is removed. What a shock it must have been to them as they suddenly realize that they are deep in enemy territory in Samaria not Dothan! They were at the mercy of the king of Israel who thinks he has been given an amazing opportunity to gain a victory over his enemy. To the king’s credit, he waits and asks for direction, from the man of God, before acting. Here is an essential lesson for us as too often we act hastily and fail to seek God’s mind and will before we make our choices in life. It is vital that we learn the importance of waiting upon God for His guidance. The king’s reluctance to act without Elisha’s permission changed the outcome for these men. The nation of Israel, too, was spared any potential repercussions from the enemy that may have arisen had the king been swift to execute justice, at the expense of grace.
In an act of mercy, Elisha commands the king to spare their lives. But then he goes one step further and commands the king to ‘set bread and water before them’, v. 22, and set them free. This was more than these men deserved. Only a short time before, they had been seeking to kill Elisha, but now, with Christlike compassion, he spares them and prepares a ‘great provision for them’, v. 23. Peace was wrought that day through grace.
What a beautiful illustration of the gospel this is. Men who once were set on a course of destruction are turned around completely and now head homeward, at peace with their enemy. We, who once were blinded by sin, were likewise being carried along deep into enemy territory. Our end was certain death until God, in His matchless mercy and grace, intervened and opened our eyes to see our plight and offer us a ‘great salvation’, Heb. 2. 3. What bounty has been provided for us through Christ. The words of Luke chapter 4 verse 18 come to mind as Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled through the One who came ‘to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised’. We, who once were enemies, have been ‘reconciled to God by the death of his Son’, Rom. 5. 10.
The lessons are many in these delightful chapters. First, let us ever rejoice that ‘the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men’, Titus 2. 11. Above all, it is important to note that it was communion with God that brought confidence and courage despite the difficult circumstances faced by Elisha. Second, it is worth remembering that Elisha’s care for his servant, and compassion on his enemies, brought peace to a troubled heart and nullified a tyrant’s hostility. Let us have the same care for our fellow believers and, wherever possible, treat our enemies with compassion, in order that we may ‘live peaceably with all men’, Rom. 12. 18.
Your Basket Is Empty