A STORY RETOLD
There was a group of people called the Arameans who made war with Israel back in the day of Elisha. The prophet Elisha was getting downloads from God as to the troop movements of the Aramean army against Israel. Therefore the nation Israel was prepared at every advance of the enemy. This perplexed, enraged, and frustrated the king of Aram so much that he thought he had a traitor within his own court that was telling the war secrets to Israel. But one of King Aram's officers knew the truth - Elisha was in town and with him - God.
By the order of King Aram the target quickly changed from Israel to Elisha, known to be staying in a city surrounded by hills called Dothan. By night, the Armanean army moved in and surround the city. When Elisha's servant got up the next morning to take in the day, there was the army ready to greet Elisha and the city with death. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha proceeded to lead this blind army to the very doorstep of the capital of Israel at that time - Samaria. And even in these Old Testament times we see a story where the King of Israel did not destroy his enemy but fed them, took care of their needs, and sent them back to their home. For a while they stopped raiding Israel's territory. (Source Event: 2 Kings 6:8-23)
Here the supernatural meets the natural and the seen meets the unseen. Oh, to have that kind of unveiling! Can you imagine having spiritual eye-glasses that when put on allowed the user to see the kind of reality Elisha and his servant saw?! I know half of me would desire that and the other half is scared stiff to even consider putting the supposed glasses on. However, nothing is to fear when Elisha's Big Brother - God - shows Elisha and his servant the kind of troop power the Kingdom of God possesses.
The news just keeps getting better - my Big Brother is also the same as Elisha's and the same as Joshua's. Joshua was introduced to God as "commander of the army of the LORD". This pre-incarnate visit of Christ was awesome! Joshua receives the right perspective, right away. Then Joshua obeys the Lord concerning instructions on the defeat of Jericho. Here, faith in the who Joshua had seen, coupled with obedience to God's instructions equated to a flattened city and victory for God and His people. (Joshua 5:13-15---Joshua 6)
Paul delivers strength to believers in Christ when he says,
By the order of King Aram the target quickly changed from Israel to Elisha, known to be staying in a city surrounded by hills called Dothan. By night, the Armanean army moved in and surround the city. When Elisha's servant got up the next morning to take in the day, there was the army ready to greet Elisha and the city with death. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha proceeded to lead this blind army to the very doorstep of the capital of Israel at that time - Samaria. And even in these Old Testament times we see a story where the King of Israel did not destroy his enemy but fed them, took care of their needs, and sent them back to their home. For a while they stopped raiding Israel's territory. (Source Event: 2 Kings 6:8-23)
Here the supernatural meets the natural and the seen meets the unseen. Oh, to have that kind of unveiling! Can you imagine having spiritual eye-glasses that when put on allowed the user to see the kind of reality Elisha and his servant saw?! I know half of me would desire that and the other half is scared stiff to even consider putting the supposed glasses on. However, nothing is to fear when Elisha's Big Brother - God - shows Elisha and his servant the kind of troop power the Kingdom of God possesses.
The news just keeps getting better - my Big Brother is also the same as Elisha's and the same as Joshua's. Joshua was introduced to God as "commander of the army of the LORD". This pre-incarnate visit of Christ was awesome! Joshua receives the right perspective, right away. Then Joshua obeys the Lord concerning instructions on the defeat of Jericho. Here, faith in the who Joshua had seen, coupled with obedience to God's instructions equated to a flattened city and victory for God and His people. (Joshua 5:13-15---Joshua 6)
Paul delivers strength to believers in Christ when he says,
- If God is for us who can be against us. (Romans 8:31)
- in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
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