Horses and Chariots of Fire

                                                        2 Kings 6:15-23

 

September 4, 2021

 

 

Horses and Chariots of Fire

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”  He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  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.  And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.   And Elisha said 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.” And he led them to Samaria.

As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So, the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.   As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?”   He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”   So, he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

 

As the great Paul Harvey would often say, now the rest of the story.  The king of the Syrians sent an army to capture one man, yet did he not understand that if the man of God could know what he said in his bed-chamber, would he not be prepared for the army he was sending?  

 

How often do you think our leaders look to a man of God or think about asking God if they should get into a conflict with another nation?  I need not go any further with that, but what about you, what about me, how often do we enquire of the Lord before entering into a business deal, buying stuff, or seeking His will in the ministry He has for you and me?

 

Elisha's servant saw an army surrounding the city, and fear enter his heart for he knew they were in big trouble.  But  God had other plans and when Elisha ask the Lord to open his eyes, He saw God’s army.  And when Elisha ask the Lord to blind the army of Syria God honor the request, have no doubt all that was happing was God's doing, Elisha was God’s man doing God’s will, and he leads them to the entered city of Samaria, and God opens their eyes, and now it was not the servant of Elisha that fear for its life but the army of Syria.

 

That day the Syrian army believe they would take a city and capture Elisha; we do not know the plans their king had for him but it was not good.  The Syrians when from the high to the low on emotions, for they knew it was not a normal man they were messing with, but God’s man.  They believe that Elisha had led them into a slaughter, but he took them to a feast.

 

We know they return to Syria and never mess with Israel again in the life of Elisha.  A word to men in the Church who believe they can tell a man God has placed over them what he should and should not preach, you are messing with the wrong man, If he is an employee, then he is not God’s man, but if God has called him to be your pastor, he not anyone employee.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice