And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 2 Kings 6: 16
Precious Lord, we feel secure in Your keeping! As we study this day, may our sense of security increase. In Jesus’ name. Amen
The promise for today was spoken by Elisha, the prophet who succeeded Elijah. When Elijah was about to be taken to heaven, “Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me” (2 Kings 2: 9). It was Elijah who stood on Mount Carmel and prayed to God, and God answered by fire with such a manifestation of awe-inspiring power that the Israelites bowed in worship and proclaimed God as the only true God!
It was this same Elijah, who, because of the sin of the children of Israel had prayed to God to keep back the rains, “and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5: 17). After the grand showdown on Mount Carmel all the prophets of Baal were destroyed. Then Elijah prayed to God, and the God of heaven once more listened to the prayer of His servant and sent rain. That is how mighty a man of God Elijah was!
Now his successor, Elisha, had asked for, and received, a double portion of his spirit. From very early in his ministry this power was manifested. He had caused the effect of the poisonous gourds in the pot of stew of the prophets to become of no effect. He prayed that a childless woman would have a child, and when the child died, he prayed to God, and the child was resurrected. He instructed Naaman the leper to go and dip seven times in the river Jordan “and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5: 14). He had “seen” when Gehazi went after Naaman, coveting the gifts that the prophet had refused; and commanded that the leprosy of Naaman cleave to Gehazi instead. These were only some of the feats he had accomplished in the power he received from the double portion of the spirit of Elijah!
When the king of Syria found out that the man of God was able to discern even his private thoughts, he sent a great army with horses and chariots to surround the city of Dothan where the prophet was. The prophet’s young helper panicked when he saw the great host, and horses and chariots surrounding the city. But the man of God, filled with the Spirit of God, could see “behind the scenes.” And so he prayed that God would open the eyes of the young man, so that he might see what their true situation was! He found out that day, something I pray that we may never forget, that “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
At first he saw an host with horses and chariots, but when his eyes were opened, “he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” When we see with spiritual eyes we see things that the natural eye may never discern. But what we see with spiritual eyes is our true situation! Whoever, or whatever the “them” may be; no matter how threatening the “them” appears to be: Don’t ever forget that two thirds of the angels remained in heaven! The Lord’s host is more than adequately equipped to protect those who call upon His name!
Whenever you feel fearful, just ask God to open your spiritual eyes. You will see things that will change your outlook on life forever!