II Kings 6:15 “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?”
Surrounded, outnumbered, and outgunned! Throughout Biblical times and in post-Biblical history, the faithful Children of God have often found themselves in just such predicaments. The natural, human response is fear, resignation, confusion, and despair. But, faith asks of the Lord, “how shall we do?”! That is, how are we going to get out of this predicament and go on in our service to our Lord? The answer was and is, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (II Kings 6:16)! Then, “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” (II Kings 6:17). The Lord opened the servant’s eyes so that he could see the mighty power of God defending them, but blinded the eyes of the adversaries (II Kings 6:18), confusing and disorienting them so that Elisha could simply lead them away and no great harm was done. The Lord’s allegorical “horses and chariots of fire” are even now “round about” the Children of God, lovingly protecting them! May the Lord, in His most tender grace and mercy, open our eyes to encourage and comfort us all!