Elisha’s Closing Ministry
165
to learn whether a sickness then upon him would result in death. To
all the prophet bore faithful witness in a time when, on every hand,
truth was being perverted and the great majority of the people were in
open rebellion against Heaven.
And God never forsook His chosen messenger. On one occasion,
during a Syrian invasion, the king of Syria sought to destroy Elisha
because of his activity in apprising the king of Israel of the plans of the
enemy. The Syrian king had taken counsel with his servants, saying,
[256]
“In such and such a place shall be my camp.” This plan was revealed by
the Lord to Elisha, who “sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware
that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him
and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
“Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this
thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show
me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said,
None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth
the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.”
Determined to make away with the prophet, the Syrian king com-
manded, “Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him.”
The prophet was in Dothan; and, learning this, the king sent thither
“horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and
compassed the city about. 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.”
In terror Elisha’s servant sought him with the tidings. “Alas, my
master!” he said, “how shall we do?”
“Fear not,” was the answer of the prophet; “for they that be with us
are more than they that be with them.” And then, that the servant might
know this for himself, “Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee,
open his eyes, that he may see.” “The Lord opened the eyes of the
young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses
[257]
and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” Between the servant of God
and the hosts of armed foemen was an encircling band of heavenly
angels. They had come down in mighty power, not to destroy, not to
exact homage, but to encamp round about and minister to the Lord’s
weak and helpless ones.