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| Samarian Tell "and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" |
2 Kings 6:8-23
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be my camp." 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there." 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." 13 And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 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?" 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. 18 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. 19 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.
20 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. 21 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?" 22 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." 23 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.
Elisha was a prophet during a spiritually dry season in Israel. The nation had been divided into two kingdoms after Solomon’s reign and its people were struggling to keep the faith. Jesus tells us in Luke 4:27 that although there were many lepers in Israel during this time, the only one who was healed was a man named Naaman who was from Syria (2 Kings 5). It’s strange because although God was working in Israel, many people lacked the kind of faith it takes to trust Him completely. This is the culture and people God was using Elisha to speak to.
During this time (around 850 BC) Israel and Syria were often at odds with each other. Elisha’s servant didn’t have it easy the morning he woke to find an army encamped around them. Fear welled up in his heart as he turned to his leader, asking what they would do. Elisha wasn’t afraid though because his faith assured him that God’s power far out-matched that of his enemies. When Elisha prayed he first prayed for his servant, asking that the Lord’s armies be revealed to his servant. Once those armies and chariots of fire were revealed to the young man his faith was reassured but I’m sure he was also struck with fear. If I had eyes to see the Lord’s armies, mountainsides covered in horses and chariots of fire, I wouldn’t be at ease. I would tremble at God’s power and might, filled with the kind of awe that demands respect.
Elisha, remaining steadfast in the face of his enemy, prayed that they be blinded. He didn’t pray that they be annihilated. He didn’t even pray that they would also see the Lord’s armies (I think I would have prayed this). Just the sight of the horses and chariots of fire would have sent the Syrian army into a retreat. No, Elisha didn’t pray for those things. He prayed for blindness. At first it seems strange, but when Elisha prayed that the enemy would be blinded he was actually praying that they would come closer to him, so that he could lead them closer to God.
Imagine you’re blind. Think about being in a pitch black room before. Your other senses are heightened and on alert, especially the sense of hearing. If you hear a voice, you pay close attention to it. You figure out where it’s coming from and decided if you should move closer or farther away.
“Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” The man’s voice beckons you to follow. He seems innocent but it could still be a trap. Since you can’t find your way back you realize that you’re helplessly vulnerable to this man and you’re forced to follow. Things remain dark but you keep walking.
"O Lord , open the eyes of these men, that they may see."
Then all of a sudden light breaks through. You rub your eyes and struggle to find your vision and make out your surroundings. Things are blurry at first but you soon realize the man has led you into the heart your enemy’s territory. This is the place and these are the people you set out to conquer, except now they have the upper-hand. Will they kill you now?
Your fate doesn’t look bright when you hear the king ask “Shall I strike them down?” but Elisha resists. Instead of giving orders to have you killed Elisha invites you to the dinner table. A feast is prepared and you eat and drink your fill. This is definitely not what you imagined would happen. You may even remain skeptical until the release you to return home freely on your own. As you walk back you remember that Elisha prayed to the Lord and that the Lord responded to every prayer. And then you remember that Naaman, the old commander of your army, was a leper until he traveled into Israel peacefully and followed the instruction of Elisha “Wash and be clean.” Naaman left Israel healthy and full of faith, exclaiming "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."
Your heart stirs toward the Lord because you have seen His love and compassion at the hands of His servant. You also are leaving Israel healthy and full of faith.
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