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Jul 20, 2024 06:00am

Surrounded

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“When the prophet’s servant got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Alas, my master, what shall we do now?” he cried out to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For our army is bigger than theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes so that he could see horses of fire and chariots of fire everywhere upon the mountain!” 2 Kings 6:15-16

It was very early in the morning when he awoke. The rooster had yet to crow, and the morning star was still visible in the dark sky. He arose from the warmth of his bed and headed outside. What his eyes beheld terrified him, for troops, horses, and chariots surrounded his home. Rushing back inside, he woke his master. “We are completely surrounded! The enemy is everywhere!” he cried in a frenzied and panicked plea. “What should we do?”

What an abrupt start to the day. Finding that the enemy has infiltrated your territory while you were sleeping is unexpected and maddening. Invading our lives while we aren’t looking is a pattern of the enemy. It can come during the night or while we are distracted and too busy to notice what is happening. Distraction and sleep work in much the same way. Lulled to sleep by distraction, the enemy has ample space to set his deadly traps.

This story is wrought with lessons we can apply. For starters, the servant’s first course of action isn’t to turn inward and rely on his assessment of the situation. To be sure, he believes deadly defeat is imminent, but his first course of action is noteworthy. The first thing the servant does is seek the advice of his master. This is where I often get it wrong. When I am surrounded, instead of seeking the advice of My Master and asking Him, “What should I do?” I turn inward and mull my options over in my mind. Seeking my own advice and assessment of the situation limits my perspective because my emotions and circumstances are fallen, and they tell me lies about my options. Following the example of this servant, a more reliable course of action is to turn toward My Master and ask Him, “What should I do?” And then wisely listen to His response.

In our story, Elisha responds with commanding assurance, “Don’t be afraid!”

Don’t be afraid. But how can it be? We are severely outnumbered. The hills are crawling with opposition, and you are telling me to have no fear of the situation?

The master replies, “Don’t be afraid! For our army is bigger than theirs.”

As believers, our army is bigger than the enemy we face. I’m afraid far too often I dismiss this truth, forfeiting the power available. When I am surrounded, I want to be quick to remember, and this can only be done by turning to My Master when opposition has surrounded me. I want to be quick to remember these two lessons:

Ask the Master, “What should I do?”

And then listen to His reply, “Don’t be afraid! For our army is bigger than theirs!”

Let us pray like Elisha, “Lord, open our eyes and let us see!”

LORD, OPEN OUR EYES AND LET US SEE!

Elisha, the master, wasn’t afraid of the surrounding threat, which is why he could confidently tell his servant not to be afraid. He saw things his servant could not see. There was more at play in this situation than human eyes could see, for God had placed flaming horses and chariots of fire everywhere upon the mountain. An abundance of flaming provision was at hand.

What if there is an abundance of flaming provision surrounding our circumstances, and we need eyes to see it? Oh, merciful God, open our eyes!