"Lord, please open his eyes"

Scripture:

2 Kings 6:15-17 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" (16) He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (17) Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please 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.

Observation:

Elisha's servant was no longer afraid when he saw God's mighty heavenly army. Faith reveals that God is doing more for his people than we can ever realize through sight alone. When you face difficulties that seem insurmountable, remember that spiritual resources are there even if you can't see them. Look with the eyes of faith, and let God show you his resources. If you don't see God working in your life, the problem may be your spiritual eyesight, not God's power.

Application:

2 Kings 6:16 is one of the most memorable, unforgettable words of Scripture. It emphasizes the importance of seeing things from God's point of view, with spiritual insight, with faith.

After a trip to France, a pastor described the disappointment he felt on first seeing the famous cathedral of Chartres. The old building was dirty and gray; its windows looked dark and dreary. The church had no charm or appeal. He wondered what there was about this ordinary structure that had drawn medieval pilgrims there by the thousands and still attracted tourists today. Then he went inside, and the transformation was dramatic. It was magnificent. Streaming through the stained-glass windows, the sunlight set the sanctuary aglow with the deepest hues of the rainbow. The inside of the old church was totally different from its outside. It was a place of rare, incomparable beauty.

Looking at the Christian faith from the outside, many critics describe it as dull, legalistic, unintelligent, unappealing; but from the inside it is something else altogether. Through the eyes of faith, the Christian life is beautiful, majestic, powerful, full of joy and meaning.

Similarly, through the eyes of fear and unbelief, the situation at Dothan looked hopeless. No wonder the unbelieving servant sighed, "Alas my master! What shall we do?" (v. 15). But Elisha, facing the identical situation, saw things differently. He said, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (v. 16). He was viewing the situation from inside the cathedral of faith. Through the eyes of God, the horses and chariots of divine protection were clearly visible. Elisha asked God to give his servant the same 20/20 vision on the spiritual eye-chart, so he too would not be afraid. "Seeing is believing" is the motto of the secular world. "Believing is seeing" is the motto of faith.

The enemy loves to attempt to speak fear into your life by what you "see" around you. Everywhere you look, you see the problem, surrounding you. How can there be a way out? My friends, please understand that there is a battle going on in the "heavenlies" that you can't see with the physical eye. You have to see it by faith, and understand that God is fighting for you. Jehovah God wants to open our eyes that we may see!

Prayer:

"Lord, this morning my prayer is exactly like Elijah's: 'Open our eyes that we may see.' Your Word tells us that the young man's eyes were opened and he was able to see that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.' May we all understand that in spite of what we see, hear, or feel, the Lord is whispering to us with confidence, 'Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' In Jesus name, amen!" Blessings