Focal Passage: II Kings 6:8-12, 15-24
This is the final lesson in the series Elisha: Seeing the Hand of God at Work. And what an exciting series it’s been! The prophet Elisha’s story often parallels our Lord Jesus Christ’s. Elisha and Jesus both did hard work in their early years. Both had similar forerunners — Elijah and John the Baptist were ‘men of the wild.’ The school of the prophets led by Elisha was somewhat like Christ’s chosen apostles. Both Elisha and the Lord Jesus dealt with kings; both performed many (some very similar) miracles; both helped women struggling with life issues. The words of both were prophetic and powerful. Both were mocked. And the graves of both the crucified Jesus and the dead Elisha included a restoration to life! (Read II Kings 13:20-21.)
Of course we know that there’s never been anybody like Jesus; the God-man — all man as if not God at all, and all God as if not man at all! But there are some Bible events (like the passover in Egypt), some objects (like the Ark of the Covenant), and some persons (like Adam, Isaac, and others, especially Elisha) that clearly foreshadowed His coming.
And … today’s Elisha-story (II Kings 6:8-12; 15-24) has two features that were very prominent in our Lord’s life and ministry, “blindness” … and “kindness.”
Blindness taken away and blindness received: Verses 8-12, 15-18
Dr. Stephen Olford notes three implications found in these nine verses:
(1) Verses 8-12, Satanic opposition. The king of Aram (or Syria) was enraged. He had discovered that Elisha was “listening in” on his private conversations — through a “bugging device” in the king’s bedroom? The truth is, God Himself was telling Elisha what the king’s secret plans for attacks on Israel were, and Elisha was revealing them to the authorities in Israel. The enemy king was ready to hunt down Elisha and destroy him. Satan is like that: a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8), seeking to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) God’s servants.
(2) Verses 15-17, Spiritual revelation. The Syrian king dispatched his army to Dothan, where Elisha was living, and surrounded that city, ready to move in on the prophet. Elisha’s servant saw the enemy troops circled all around, and cried out in despair. Elisha prayed for God to open his eyes, assuring his servant, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” The servant received a spiritual revelation; through faith he saw God’s invisible army, the HEAVENLY HOST, on guard against the demonic enemy!
(3) Verse 18, Sovereign vindication. When Elisha prayed, the servant’s eyes opened — and the soldiers’ eyes closed! So Elisha called out to the blinded battalion, and volunteered to lead them to whom they were seeking. He led them — then restored their sight — right smack in the middle of Samaria, in Israel; God’s vindication indeed.
Kindness received and kindness taken away: Verses 19-24
Israel’s king would have killed them all. But Elisha treated the enemy with kindness and grace! (Remember Bro. Dave Gardner? He’d say, “Love your enemies; it’ll drive ’em crazy!”) The well-fed army returned home in peace, only to come back sometime later in attack mode (verse 24); that’s how pagans often handle God’s kindness. May His kindness lead US to repentance! B&R — Dawson is pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church, Columbia, and has served as transitional interim pastor at numerous churches across the state since retiring from full-time ministry.