June 2nd | 2 Kings 6
Seeing What Other's Cannot
When I was a kid, there was something called a stereogram, also known as a magic eye. It was a picture that seemed to be just shapes and colors, but the longer you looked at it, the more you could see the hidden image. It would almost appear to be a 3D image floating off the page. At first glance, you couldn’t recognize anything, but after looking, you could slowly see the image take shape. Isn’t this how God’s kingdom is for us? We look and don’t always see God’s plans or purpose. We might see nothing at first, but if we pause and gaze at Christ long enough and ask for His help, we can see what others can’t see!
In 2 Kings 6, Elisha is being sought out by the king of Syria. The army is after him, and it appears that he and his servant are surrounded by the enemy. The servant is afraid, but Elisha is unbothered by the towering army he faces.
2 Kings 6:15-16, “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.”
The servant is terrified by the army, and if I were in his shoes, I would be terrified too! How could two men fight an army? In your own life, you might feel surrounded by an insurmountable army. You might feel engulfed by the enemy and sin. You feel like the servant. But in Elisha’s response, we see he is unconcerned. Almost as if he can see something the servant can’t.
2 Kings 6:17, “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.”
With the power of the LORD, the young servant could see what Elisha saw the entire time, an angelic army ready to fight for them! How could Elisha see what this servant couldn’t? Elisha was so connected with the Lord that he could see the power and provision of God. The servant might have offered a parting glance upon God, but quickly turned back in terror as he saw the opponents.
We, too, might give a glance at God, but our gaze is set on the enemy and our fear of him. Yet, our God is great and mighty. He is the commander of angelic armies. Take your gaze off the enemy and focus on the ruler of the universe. The more you gaze upon Christ, the more you will see that the enemy’s destruction is sure, and our victory is already won!
