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Elisha’s Closing Ministry
121
place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him,
and he was watchful there, not just once nor twice.
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“Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled
by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, ‘Will you
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 who
is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your
bedroom.’”
2 Kings 6:8-12
.
Determined to capture the prophet, the Syrian king commanded,
“Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” On learning
that the prophet was in Dothan, the king sent “horses and chariots
and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded
the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and
went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and
chariots.”
Verses 13-15
.
In terror Elisha’s servant came to him. “Alas, my master!” he
said. “What shall we do?”
“Do not fear,” the prophet answered, “for those who are with us
are more than those who are with them.” Then, so that the servant
might know this for himself, Elisha prayed, “Lord, ... open his
eyes that he may see.” So “the Lord opened the eyes of the young
man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and
chariots of fire all around Elisha.” An encircling band of heavenly
angels had come in mighty power to protect the Lord’s helpless ones.
Verses 15-17
.
The Syrian soldiers advanced boldly, ignorant of the unseen
armies of heaven. “Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Strike this
people, I pray, with blindness.’ And He struck them with blindness
according to the word of Elisha. Now Elisha said to them, ‘This is
not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to
the man whom you seek.’ But he led them to Samaria.
“So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said,
‘Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.’ And the
Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside
Samaria! Now ... the king of Israel ... said to Elisha, ‘Shall I kill
them?’ But he answered, ‘You shall not kill them. Would you kill
those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow?