things are not always as they seem
look closer…
If you are familiar with the story of the Bible, chances are really good that you have heard of the prophet Elisha. Just the other morning I was reading a section of the story surrounding this prophet of God who performed mighty deeds and proclaimed remarkable messages. As I did, I was reminded that it is not always a popular thing to do great deeds and speak great declarations on God's behalf. People end up not liking you for doing so. Sometimes, very powerful people end up not liking you.
Such was the case with Elisha. And he found himself on the outs with a powerful potentate, the King of Aram.
Now it just so happened that this King was at war with Israel, and was trying to ambush the Israelites in order to defeat them. Just one problem: Elisha kept getting told by God where the ambush would be, and the King of Israel would then get told by Elisha, consistently foiling the plans of the King of Aram, a foiling that resulted in fury...
The king of Aram was furious over all this. He called his officers together and said, “Tell me, who is leaking information to the king of Israel? Who is the spy in our ranks?” But one of his men said, “No, my master, dear king. It’s not any of us. It’s Elisha the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel everything you say, even what you whisper in your bedroom.” (2 Kings 6:11-12, The Message)
So, the king decided to do something about this meddling prophet...
The king said, “Go and find out where he is. I’ll send someone and capture him.” The report came back, “He’s in Dothan.” Then he dispatched horses and chariots, an impressive fighting force. They came by night and surrounded the city. Early in the morning a servant of the Holy Man got up and went out. Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city!
The young man exclaimed, “Oh, master! What shall we do?”
He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.” (2 Kings 6:13-16, The Message)
Wait, what?!? The city was surrounded. It is clear that they are going to be slaughtered. What does Elisha mean saying "there are more on our side than on their side"?
Then Elisha prayed, “O God, open his eyes and let him see.”
The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw.
A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha! (2 Kings 6:17, The Message)
So the surrounded were surrounded, and by more than the young servant had perceived. They were surrounded by a supernatural and flaming force!
Huh.
Here was the simple observation I wrote in the margin of my Bible that morning: "Don't lose perspective. Things are not always as you see them."
It can be so easy, can't it? So easy to feel overwhelmed, like there is no way out of a predicament you are in, to feel, well...surrounded. But things are not always as we see them. And it seems to me that we could pray the same prayer for ourselves that Elisha prayed for his servant: "O God, open my eyes and let me see."
In other words, that God would let us see things as he sees them, from his perch as the Sovereign Creator of all that is, who is constantly in control of all that is. To be reminded that despite the fact that he has a universe to run, and 7.75 billion people to sustain by the word of his power, our way is never hidden from him, and he does not disregard our situation (Isaiah 40:27). Just like for Elisha and his servant, he is acting on our behalf, surrounding us with his power and might, and will provide what we need so that we will not be overcome (Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:10; 43:1-7).
It is as Jesus' closest friend once said,
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (1 Jn 4:4, NLT)
