Elisha And Battles…

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”

2 Kings 6:16-17

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I was reading through a couple of random chapters the other day and I came across that story with Elisha in it, and where an army of angels had his back. I do not know why I get emotional with that statement. Maybe because I know that the battle that rages within me is not against flesh and blood. It is never against the seen. I am at war with an enemy who would do anything to put an end to my life. He does not play fair. As I was reading this story again and again I put myself in there with that servant. I tried to imagine it..to understand what was really going on. Ok, I will back up a little. See, this king fella was mad at Elisha because ole tattle tail told him that he was rattin him out to the king of Israel. (This angry king man he was from Aram. I don’t know I didn’t do well in geography.) Anyway, so basically the king was angry and sent this army full of chariots and horses to surround the city. (This is my favorite part..it’s coming) His servant gets up the next morning and sees what is happening and he freaks. He’s like “Dude what are we going to do now?!” I mean, can you just hear him? I know, he probably didn’t say dude I added that for extra drama. Now, you would think right now Elisha would say back to him to somehow escape. But he doesn’t say that. He ain’t runnin. He says, “Don’t you worry, man. There is more on our side than they got.” I bet that servant guy thought ole Elisha was short a crayon in the box, because it wasn’t until he prayed for eyes to be opened that he saw from a different way. I’m sorry I really get emotional every time.

Here is why I think. When his eyes were opened he saw that the hillside around Elisha was full of chariots of fire and horses. Time out. We have to stop here for one minute maybe two. That kids life was never the same. He just got over watching the ax head float. Yeah that’s a different story for a different time. And now he sees a scary battle with probably some ugly looking people staring at him only for him to look up again and see the Lord’s army. I wish I could say I am more like Elisha in this story, but I fit in the category of the servant whose eyes were closed, who couldn’t see who was fighting his battles, and who was more afraid of the army in front of him than what was behind him.

I want to be honest. I have always been that with you, I am not going to stop now. I have made some choices in my life lately that were not great. My eyes were closed, and all I could see was the sin in front of me. The monster, the giant, the army of chariots and horses surrounding me. I know I am not alone in this. These choices and these actions they left me asking the question..what do I do now?

I wish I could tell you that miraculously everything was better after that, but I can not lie. What was different was my eyes were opened once again to the battle that is not mine. It is not mine to fight, and even though there may be lots of chariots and lots of horses and lots of ugly things starin at me. It leaves me with this..

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

Let me say it one more time.

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

You want to know something? The Lord is found when I come to the end of myself, and his strength is given as much as His grace too. I’d say it takes a lot of grace, mercy, patience, and love to handle me; I am so so so thankful He loves me more than to let me stay where I am. Ya know, I am ok being in the category of the servant tonight. At first, I did not like it, but I figure that servant fella became more confident in WHO his God was. I mean, come on it’s not every day you see an army of angels that weren’t there just a minute ago. I know his confidence grew, and I know his trust was more. I know these things it has to be true because he witnessed the hand of God. You are never the same after that!

I somehow ended up not telling the rest of the story. I chase too many of those rabbits, I know. So, I’ll sum it up for you. Blindness and confusion ended in a great feast. That probably makes no sense, and that is why you should go read it now. Put yourself in there with Elisha and the servant. Put your “army” in front of you, but don’t forget what is behind you. And if you can not see it. If you can not feel it. If everything in you doubts it just a little I pray your eyes will be opened to the battle that is the Lords. Like when Moses says to those crazy scared Israelites when they’re freakin about the body of water that has them stuck. He says stand still the Lord will fight for you. Dude. How do you feel about that?

I wonder what happened to that fella. Id like to think he married some nice lady, and had twelve kids and every once in awhile he’d sit down with them to tell em about the day victory was won. About how the hand of the Lord was there. And how he witnessed some crazy things. That is definitely better than the three little bears who were only worried about food and sleep. And rockin the day away.