Slivers of sunlight were gingerly peering over the horizon. It was early morning, and all was quite in the small town of Dothan. Elisha’s servant, following his master’s morning custom, had silently slipped out of bed and was headed to their usual prayer spot high on the town wall. The light tread of sandals on stone was all that was heard as he and Elisha slowly climbed the stairs to their favorite quiet place. They both enjoyed the view from the city wall. They could look far out over the fields and forests that extended in all directions as they quietly meditated on God’s Word.
As they ascended the last step to the top of the wall, Elisha’s servant let out a sharp gasp. Chariots, horses, soldiers! They appeared to be Syrian, and they were everywhere he looked. In fear he cried out to Elisha saying “Alas my master! What shall we do?”
Thoughts were racing through his mind. How had the soldiers — so many — surrounded the city undetected? Why were they there? How could he and Elisha, along with the people of Dothan, defend themselves against such an intimidating force?
Calmly, and with a distant look in his eye, Elisha replied, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha did something unusual to the unacquainted observer. He quietly lifted his voice in a simple request to God. “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
See? For a split second there is confusion in the young man’s mind as he ponders the prayer of this humble seer. Then suddenly his eye catches the bright flash of something in the distance. He rubs his eyes and looks again. Wow! He can’t believe it! Heavenly chariots of fire, by the thousands, on all the hillsides in every direction! “Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” In an instant his fear and anxiety were gone.
He could see.
Meanwhile, the tactical teams of Syria begin to advance towards the city gates, as they perceive that people inside are about to arouse for the day. Their mission was a simple one: capture a man named Elisha who was reporting all of the secret conversations of their king to the Israelite king through some unknown supernatural means. Dothan looked defenseless. And an old man who practiced some strange sorcery of a God named Yahweh? This was going to be a cake walk. Had not the Syrian gods helped them achieve impressive victories against great odds in the past? This looked like an easy win.
Peering down from the top of the city wall, Elisha’s servant wondered what would come next as the Syrian soldiers came within a stone’s throw of the gate. Elisha was looking quietly at the scene before him, then he lifted his voice once more to God with a simple request. “Strike this people I pray with blindness.”
As the servant looked on in amazement, God “struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.”
Quickly Elisha and his servant retrace their steps down the side of the wall. They hurry through the streets, out the city gate, and up to the large contingent of shocked soldiers who are vainly stumbling around. Elisha is now on a mission. He quickly and authoritatively informs the group before him Dothan is not the place they want to be. He then informs them that he will personally lead them to where they really want to go.
Ropes are quickly gathered by the awestruck residents of Dothan and placed in the hands of the soldiers as they prepare to follow Elisha single file to wherever he might lead them. Once the soldiers are all lined up, each tightly holding onto the rope that connects them all, Elisha gives the command to start marching after him. What a sight! A foreign army of blind soldiers following the humble seer from Dothan through field and forest.
After many miles, they finally arrive at their destination. Elisha looks around. Yes, this would be perfect. He once more lifts his voice to God, in the hearing of all, with a simple request. “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” Suddenly a murmur ripples through the throng of men as they rub their eyes and look around in amazement. This is Samaria!
Samaria? This was the city the Syrian King was really after in his strategic plan to overthrow Israel. Going after Elisha at Dothan was just clearing the way for the real battle. And now, here are the soldiers, right in the middle of Samaria, standing before the King of Israel of all people!
Elisha, who seems to be on a mission to help blind people see, isn’t finished yet. He turns to the King of Israel and asks that a feast of food and water be placed before these soldiers. Once they are well fed, they could then be sent back in peace to their Syrian master, explains Elisha.
Preparations are quickly made. Steaming platters and bowls filled with the bounty of Israel are brought out by the kings’ helpers and placed on the banquet table in front of the hungry soldiers. I then see Elisha stand up and speak a few words to the soldiers. Bowing his head, he asks the God of heaven to bless this food and the men who partake of it.
As the soldier’s feast, I’m sure they can’t help but marvel during this paradigm shifting meal. Who were these Israelites? Who was this God, Yahweh, that these Israelites worshiped? And this humble seer who seemed to speak to the Creator as if he was talking to a respected Friend? Perhaps in a few minds, a light began to dawn. Maybe a few began to perceive the true character of God — by seeing the example of His servant Elisha. Regardless, this experience left a strong impression on all the Syrian soldiers. The Bible says that “the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.”
Lessons Learned
There are a few lessons for us from this story. First, true miracles inspire trust and confidence in God, such as with Elisha’s servant. Second, true miracles are primarily for mission — they open the way for the proclamation of the gospel. We see this in the miraculous blindness of the soldiers, as it enabled Elisha to lead them to a place where he could reveal more. Thirdly, the gift of miracles is received through prayer & faith, as is demonstrated through Elisha’s humble requests of God throughout the story. Ultimately, God is glorified.
In these last days, as we wait for the return of Jesus, we serve the same powerful God as did Elisha. The same chariots of fire surround His people. The same opportunity for God to be glorified in the eyes of nonbelievers exist. The question for us is: do you and I have the same relationship with God that Elisha did?
Is there any reason we can’t?
For the complete Bible story, see 2 Kings 6:8-23.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
