21 June 2010

Seeing as God sees
 
9The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
11This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
12“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
13“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15When 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 no, 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.”
17And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that 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.
18As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
20After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. 2 Kings 6:9-20 (and on)
 
 
 
Observations

This story gives us some important lessons of faith. In brief the story shows us that:
1.    Elisha, the man of God kept upending the enemies plans

2.    The enemy set out to get Elisha

3.    The man without faith saw the problem and was dismayed by the problem

4.    The man of faith saw what God was doing and wasn’t overwhelmed by the problem.

5.    Because He saw what God was doing, He knew how to pray and how to act.

6.    God rescued them from a seemingly impossible situation

 
In the passage, there are a number of key statements from which we can draw the following principles:

1.    God is greater than the enemy

16“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
 
2.    We need to open our eyes to see what God is doing

17And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that 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.
 
3. It’s only then that we know how to pray in relation to the problems we are faced with.
18As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
 
4. We need God’s perspective to determine what steps we must take
19Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
 
We can choose to be like the servant who saw the problems or like Elisha who saw the solution that God had in place.
 
Application

To me this is a big challenge. How can I be like Elisha who not only saw what God was doing, but was able to appropriate it and walk in it. Jesus said:

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:19,20

The key to walking in God’s will and His power is to see what He is doing and to keep in step with Him.

I wonder how many times I have been like the servant who was only able to see through human eyes and not heavenly eyes?

My challenge is to position myself to have ears and eyes like Jesus who can hear and see what God is saying and doing. Then the problems that we face will be brought into the perspective of what God is doing and His solution.

For me, that’s why it I so important to have times where I am unhurried in God’s presence, reflecting on His word, praying to Him and worshipping Him.

The temptation is so often to put the task first, before seeking His presence. But when I do this, I will be like the servant who wakes up and see the problem and becomes overwhelmed.  The solution is never in the problem. It’s in God.

As a church, this is why it is so critical that those in leadership all position themselves to dwell in God’s presence so that we can act out of the revelation, understanding and wisdom that He brings, remembering that He who is with us is greater than those that are against us.
 
Prayer

Lord, open my eyes that I may see, open my ears that I may hear, and guide my to walk, keeping in step with your Holy Spirit to walk the journey that you have laid out.
 
In Jesus name, Amen
Tim O'Neill