2 Kings 6:15–17 (NIV84)

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 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.

The army from Aram was after Elisha. Elisha had been providing intelligence to the king of Israel about the movements of the Aramean army. Now the Aramean army was going to eliminate this problem of Elisha and his cohorts. They surrounded the city of Dothan where Elisha and his servant were staying.

How could this be? They were servants of the true of God of Israel. This should not be happening. Why wasn’t there any special intelligence from the Lord to let them know the Aramean army was advancing? They were servants of the Lord Almighty after all, they should have the upper hand. This was not supposed to happen to them.

But Elisha knew that in God’s kingdom things are not always the way they seem. Elisha had already learned what the Apostle Paul would write for Christians hundreds of years later, “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). Even though the situation looked bleak, God gave eyes of faith to Elisha and his servant. They got to see the reality. God’s forces far outnumber the forces of the world. If there was any doubt that God was working on their behalf, it was wiped away when Elisha’s servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.

There are times in life when it seems like God leaves us in a difficult spot. We might doubt his care and protection. Today God opens our eyes of faith to see that his angels are doing battle with the forces of evil on our behalf. Things were not as they seem when God conquered our greatest enemy on a cross. Ponder it every day: “If God is for us, who can be against us. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31,32).

PRAYER: Lord Almighty, give me confidence that you are watching over me and protecting me even when I can’t see all you are doing. Amen.