Surrounded by an army, Elisha’s servant cried, "What shall we do?" But when Elisha prayed, the servant could suddenly see that God’s forces, invisible to everyone else, far outnumbered the enemy. The story offers a rare glimpse of the "invisible world" of supernatural forces. God has resources to help that we cannot see.
A. Elisha saved a company of the prophets from death because of eating poisonous vegetables.
B. When a present of food was given him, Elisha set it before 100 men, and the Lord increased the supply to satisfy them (4:42-44).
C. Elisha healed Naaman of leprosy (ch. 5) and rescued a young prophet’s borrowed ax head (6:1-7).
D. He gave timely warning, repeatedly saving Israel from defeat by the Arameans (6:23).
E. When the Arameans came to Dothan to capture Elisha, he prayed and his servant was shown the armies of God protecting the city. The Arameans were stricken with blindness, and Elisha led them to Samaria and persuaded the king of Israel to feed and release them.
1. The King of Aram wanted to eliminate the influence of Elisha.
A. The man of God knew every step the King of Aram was making.
B. The man of God warned the King of Israel of the location of Arameans. 9The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there." Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
C. The Aramean King suspects there is a spy in the house
11This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, "Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?"
D. They say this about the prophet
12"None of us, my lord the king," said one of his officers, "but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom."
E. The plan to eliminate Elisha
13"Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan." 14Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
2. What did the servant see?
the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
A. The Prophets Says
16"Don’t be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
B. The Prophets Prayer
17And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
C. The Prophets request granted
18As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
D. The Prophets Mercy
20After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
21When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?"
22"Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." 23So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
3. What we don’t see? We don’t see the divine Protection
16"Don’t be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
17And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
A. We don’t see the Divine Protection, but this was vision-ed by Jacob
Gen 321Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.A
B. We don’t see the heavenly representative that secures our protection
Psalm 34:7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
C. We don’t see the watchmen who Protects us in all our ways
Psalm 91:11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
D. We don’t see what is at our disposal when in trouble
. Jesus said, Matt 26:53"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
E. We don’t see the Plans for our future Like the servant never saw the encamping angels
1 Corinthians 2:9"eyes have not seen, ears have heard , nor has it entered into the heart of man the things God has in store for those who love him.
F. We don’t see God’s Prominence. Every knee shall bow because of the awe of God.
Romans 14:11 11It is written:
" `As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
