God Fights Our Battles
God fights our battles. But sometimes we don’t let Him. We try to fight them on our own. When we are surrounded, if we will surrender to God instead of our fear, God will do miracles. God supplies what we need when we need it.
Today’s reading starts off with a lesson that God is in the business of doing the impossible.
Elisha is with a group of prophets and people who were following the prophets. As they were moving and building a place for more space, an ax head fell in the water. Even small things matter to God. God did a miracle through Elisha and the axe head floated.
God supplies what we need when we need it.
As Elisha and his company of prophets were in their place building, God spoke to Elisha about what the King of Aram was plotting concerning Israel. Elisha warned Israel each time the Arameans planned an attack.
2 Kings 6:11-15
“The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.” 13 So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.” When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,” 14 he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
God Fights Our Battles—If We Let Him
15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”
Have you ever been in a tight spot like this? You feel surrounded by problems or maybe by someone who has decided to be your enemy. It can be overwhelming. Surely, an army of horses and chariots would be overwhelming, right? Let’s see Elisha’s response in the Scripture of the day.
Scripture of the Day: 2 Kings 6:16-17
“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 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.”
Elisha prayed that the LORD would blind the nation. And God did. Then Elisha asked them if they wanted him to lead them to the man they were looking for. Elisha led them to Samaria.
20 “When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “Should I kill them, should I kill them, my father?”
22 Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”
23 So he prepared a big feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders did not come into Israel’s land again.”
God Fights Our Battles When We Surrender
When we are surrounded, we have God with us. God is greater than any foe.
Even a foe such as a famine. Due to Samaria being under siege by King Ben-hadad of Aram, they were on the brink of starvation. The king of Israel wanted to kill Elisha because of it.
We see what people are really made off when hard times hit, don’t we? God warned Elisha and then Elisha made a promise to the king of Israel
2 Kings 7:1-2
“Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord says: ‘About this time tomorrow at Samaria’s gate, six quarts of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver and twelve quarts of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver.’”
2 Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man, responded to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”
Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”
God sent chariots ahead of His people and fought for them. The Aramean camp fled when they heard the sound of chariots, horses and a large army.
God Fights Our Battles and Restores Us
In chapter 8, I love how Elisha is still looking after the Shunammite woman – he warns her of a 7 year famine that is coming. And after she left and returned, she needed her land restored to her and shared all that Elisha had done for her.
Even when it seems like we have lost all that was ours, God sees us. He restores us.
King Ben-Hadad of Aram was sick and Elisha said he would recover, but that Hazael would end up killing the King of Aram.
Jehu was anointed as King and killed the house of Ahab as well as Jezebel for the wickedness they had done. Jehu also dealt with the Baal worshippers. He was zealous to obey God.
But not in everything.
2 Kings 10:28-31
“28 Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, 29 but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—worshiping the gold calves that were in Bethel and Dan. 30 Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”
31 Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.”
Partial Obedience is not obedience.
When we are surrounded, if we will surrender to God instead of our fear, God will do miracles.
God fights our battles. But we have to be willing to recognize our need.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #191: 2 Kings 6-10
Scripture of the Day: 2 Kings 6:16-17
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/2Kgs.6
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