20241005

horses and chariots of fire

2 Kings 6:1-23

2 Kings 6:1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision is too small for us.
2 Kings 6:2 Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.” “Go,” he said.
2 Kings 6:3 Then one said, “Please come with your servants.” “I’ll come,” he answered.
2 Kings 6:4 So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
2 Kings 6:5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”
2 Kings 6:6 Then the man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a piece of wood, threw it there, and made the iron float.
2 Kings 6:7 Then he said, “Pick it up.” So, he reached out and took it.
2 Kings 6:8 When the king of Aram was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.”
2 Kings 6:9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”
2 Kings 6:10 Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.
2 Kings 6:11 The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?”
2 Kings 6:12 One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”
2 Kings 6:13 So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”
2 Kings 6:14 he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
2 Kings 6:15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So, he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”
2 Kings 6:16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”
2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So Yahveh opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:18 When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to Yahveh , “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So, he struck them with blindness, according to Elisha’s word.
2 Kings 6:19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
2 Kings 6:20 When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So Yahveh opened their eyes, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
2 Kings 6:21 When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “Should I kill them, should I kill them, my father?”
2 Kings 6:22 Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”
2 Kings 6:23 So he prepared a big feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders did not come into Israel’s land again.

horses and chariots of fire

The miracles described in this text were not parlor tricks designed to mystify. Nor were they random displays of supernatural power. They were displays of God’s power intended to help God’s people do his will, or hinder their enemies from doing theirs. Often we do not see God at work in our lives because they are so filled with us, and not directed toward him and his glory.

LORD, direct us to your plan, and open our eyes that we might see you fulfilling it.