THE UNSEEN BATTLE
A glimpse is often all we need to make spiritual assessments.
Just a peek can bring fear or faith. What we see with our fleshly eyes often will produce immediate fear and dread. The things
we see by faith can dismiss those fears and allow us to procure victory.
Read II Kings 6:8-17. You are likely familiar with the account.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold,
an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with
them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD
opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about
Elisha.
The king of Syria sent to seize Elisha after he discovered Elisha was likely the reason Syria could not
defeat Israel. He found out where he was, at Dothan, which was not far from Samaria. Create, if you will a mental image of
this attempt. By night, the king sent an army to capture Elisha and bring him dead or alive. It seems that the king of Syria
knew that he was fighting against God but did not know how to do it.
He thought, like so many, that great numbers or great wealth or an abundance of virtually anything
in this world would bring the victory, so he sent a multitude of soldiers. Fire from heaven will consume 50 or 50,000. The
Host of Heaven is always sufficient. No matter the odds.
Elisha was not in a fortress, he had no guards or military presence around him. Yet, an army
was sent against him. Those that fight against God, and His people don’t know what they are doing! The appearance of
the situation caused great trepidation for Elisha’s servant. Consternation consumed him, he saw no way out. However,
Elisha’s faith was not diminished because he could see with spiritual eyes. The eyes of our faith are often opened thru
believing what God has already spoken.
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God . . . " Romans 10:17.
You know, if his servant had only a knowledge of God’s Word, had he just recalled some of the Psalms
that he doubtless had read, he would know that he did not need to be afraid of ten thousands of people (Ps. 3:6). He did not
need to fear a surrounding multitude or host against him, (Ps. 27:3)."
"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about."
Psalms 3:6
"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should
rise against me, in this will I be confident." Psalms 27:3