And he answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16 AV). The Word of God is sometimes difficult to receive. This is especially so in times of great distress and trial. For it is much easier to say I receive God’s Word rather than to actually receive it in faith, to the degree that it changes our outlook and perspective. In fact, God’s Word is given to us for the purpose of enabling us to see beyond what things appear to be. Second Kings 6:16 contains a Rhema Word that the man of God delivered to His servant when in the eyes of his servant, all was lost—including their very existence. Isn’t it good to know that God yet speaks in real time, even when crises are upon us?
If the circumstances of 2 Kings 6 were not a crisis of epochal proportions for the prophet Elisha and his servant, it’s hard to imagine what then could be a crisis. Because of their alignment with the people of God and their willingness to be used of God, they found themselves early one morning awakening to the sight of being surrounded by hostile forces from an enemy nation. The king of Syria had dispatched his forces to shut down the prophetical ministry of Elisha which had done his armies much harm by warning Israel’s king of every ambush set in place for the armies of Israel by Syria. The prophet’s servant, apparently the first of the prophet’s retinue to be outside in the streets of Dothan early on this fateful morning, is shocked by not just the visual of enemy troops but also the size of the company that had been sent to stop just one man. Satan, like the king of Syria quite often attacks with the old military stratagem of overwhelming force. This type of attack is designed to demoralize, disconcert, and bring about a quick surrender. Scripture indicates that this is most certainly the mindset that dominated the thoughts of the man of God’s assistant as this very moment.
It is in the midst of this scenario that the following exchange occurred between the prophet, his aide, and the God of glory. Our recorder in 2 Kings spells it out succinctly in the following verses: “Don’t be afraid,” Elisha said, “because there are more of us than there are of them.” Then Elisha prayed, “LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and fiery chariots surrounding Elisha (2 Kings 6:16–17 CEB). May we go forth in this day, not oblivious to present challenges and crises, but reinforced in our spirit, understanding that no matter how overwhelming the forces of opposition may appear to be, God has dispatched a stronger force to deliver us and see us through to ultimate victory. May the prayer of every believer continually be: “Lord, open my eyes!”
Yours in His Service,
Bishop Lambert W. Gates, Sr.