Bible Readings for October 25th
2 Kings 6 | 1 Timothy 3 | Daniel 10 | Psalm 119:1–24
Despite the fact that Elisha healed Naaman, the commander of Syria’s army in 2 Kings 5, Syria nevertheless attempts to capture Elisha in 2 Kings 6. The reason for turning against Elisha is simple: he had prophesied military intelligence about the Syrians to Israel’s king (2 Kgs. 6:12). But when the king of Syria sends his army to capture Elisha, Yahweh protects Elisha—much in the same way that Yahweh had protected Elijah from King Ahaziah with fire from heaven in 2 Kings 1. Elisha’s servant is terrified at the sight of the Syrian army, but Elisha calms him by explaining, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kgs. 6:16). After Elisha prays, Yahweh opens the servant’s eyes so that he sees the reality: the mountains are full of horses and chariots of fire sent to protect them (2 Kgs. 6:17).
But rather than annihilating the Syrian army at once, Elisha simply prays that Yahweh would strike the Syrians with blindness (2 Kgs. 6:18), and then (humorously), Elisha leads the blinded army directly into Samaria, the capital of Israel. When the king of Israel asks whether he should strike them down (2 Kgs. 6:21), Elisha insists that the king should instead show them hospitality by sparing their lives, feeding them, and sending them on their way (2 Kgs. 6:22). It seems that this act of mercy does the trick, since we read that, ultimately, “the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel” (2 Kgs. 6:23).
This is a magnificent passage to help believers understand how to face fears in our lives. Our Lord Jesus has promised that he would be with us always, to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20), so that we may have confidence that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). And if Jesus promises to remain by our side, we must also remember that Jesus is the commander of the army of Yahweh (Josh. 5:14), which means that he brings with him all the chariots of fire from heaven in our defense.
Put another way, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). No power in heaven or on earth or under the earth can stand against us if God himself is for us—and if God didn’t even spare his only Son for us, but freely handed his Son over to die in our place because of his great love for us, then how will God not graciously protect us now (Rom. 8:32)?
No matter what armies may surround you, pray that God might open the eyes of your heart to remember that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
