Chariots Of Fire Series

The way you see things makes a big difference. Do you see the glass half empty or half full. You know the story of two shoe salesman that went to a primitive tribe to sell them shoes. One of them says that they are all barefoot. No one will be interested in shoes. The other salesman says they are all barefoot. All of them need a pair of shoes. The second salesman saw the possibilities.

2 Kings chapter 6 speaks to us about how we look at a situation. This is more than just having a good attitude or thinking positively. This is about seeing the possibilities when we consider the power of God in the situation. This is about looking at every situation with spiritual eyes of faith.

In these times we live in troubles can surround us even overcome us. We may be blind to God’s resources to overcome. If you want to remain victorious then 2 Kings 6:8-23 is just what you need.

What we see for Elisha was that the troubles were surrounding them.

Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When 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 no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. (2 Kings 6:14-15)

We find Israel at war with the Arameans or Syrians. The Arameans tried on several occasions to catch Israel off guard with a surprise attack. Every time they launched a surprise attack they failed. Somehow Israel already knew their plans and they were ready for battle and there was no element of surprise.

The king of Aram was furious. He concluded that one of his close inside confidants was a spy. He thought someone must be leaking the battle plan information to their enemy. His men told the king what was happening. It was not a spy. The surprise attack was known because of the prophet Elisha.

Elisha had this superpower to spy on the king even in his most private moments. As we really understand how God used Elisha, we realize that what Elisha’s superpower really was amounted to faith in God. His superpower was to trust God when the troubles surround him.

Elisha knew the kings’ words even when spoken from the privacy of his bedroom. When King Ben-Hadad found this out he was determined to take out Elisha. They figured out where Elisha was and put in place their plan to capture him.

“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.” (2 Kings 6:13) King Ben-Hadad sent an army to surround Dothan. Elisha’s servant got up the next day and looked around. They were completely surrounded by enemy troops.

Elisha’s servant saw the troubles and he anticipated certain death. Wake up Elisha! We are surrounded. What are we going to do now?

It may be that you feel surrounded by troubles. Your troubles could be financial troubles, health or your family relationships breaking down. Elisha trusted God when he was literally surrounded by troubles. This passage should lead us to trust God when troubles surround us.

Elisha was a great prophet, but his servants, not so much. His last servant Gahazi just left him. He tried to exploit the miracles Elisha did. Elisha healed a soldier of Aram named Naaman of leprosy. Elisha refused a gift and Gehazi the servant said that was crazy to refuse the gift. He went back and collected some loot and stashed it. Elisha rebuked him and Gehazi was cursed with the leprosy Naaman was healed of. (2 Kings Chapters 4 & 5)

Now this unnamed servant is in a panic. But that is the experience of so many of us. We see only the troubles and that is what we are guided by. Thank God, for men of faith like Elisha.

We must know our resources when we are surrounded by troubles.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)

Picture Elisha’s servant in hysterics and here is Elisha with enemy troops surrounding him and they are all after him specifically and he says, don’t be afraid. The scripture never tells us, but I would think Elisha already knew the armies were there. After all the reason they have surrounded him is because he knew everything the king thought about and did.

Elisha was calm because his trust was in God. It wasn’t that he didn’t face troubles. He was in the most terrifying battle situation imaginable. It was because Elisha looked beyond the situation. Elisha looked to God.