Elisha Reveals Spiritual Resources

GOLDEN TEXT: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” —Romans 8:31

II KINGS 6:8-17

ONE scholar has translated our Golden Text to read, “Since God is for us, who can be against us?” (Emphatic Diaglott) This makes it more definite that God really is for his people, that he provides for their every need. When they are weak, he gives them strength. When they are perplexed, he guides them by his counsel. When they err, he graciously extends his forgiveness. Yes, God is for those who love him, and who are called according to his purpose.

God was also for his people of old. Indeed, many times he manifested himself to them in more literal ways than he does to us. The Gospel age is one of faith, much more so than preceding ages, as is evidenced in the narrative of today’s lesson. In Psalm 34:7 we read that “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear [reverence] him, and delivereth them.” A wonderful demonstration of this fact was given to Elisha’s servant. First his eyes were opened to see that this was true, and then he saw how the Lord used these angelic hosts to answer his master’s prayer to close the eyes of their enemies in order to render them harmless.

The Scriptures reveal that the Lord uses the angels in many and varied ways in the accomplishment of his purposes. In the New Testament the Greek word translated “angel” literally means “messenger,” implying that these heavenly hosts do the bidding of their Lord, the great God of the universe. The Bible gives us very little information as to how the angels accomplish the tasks assigned to them.

In a measure the Bible locates for us the plane of life on which the angels dwell. David informs us that man was created a “little lower than the angels,” and the Apostle Paul says that when Jesus was raised from the dead he was exalted far above angels, and “all principality, and power, and might, and dominion.” (Ps. 8:5; Heb. 2:9; 1:4; Eph. 4:10; 1:20,21) From these texts we know that the angels are of a higher order of life than the human, and on a lower plane than the exalted Jesus.

There are many incidents recorded in the Old Testament in which angels were used by God in one way or another to minister to his people. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua and outlined the strategy which was to be used in conquering Jericho. (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:2-5) An angel guided Gideon in the defeat of the Midianites. (Judges 6:11-22) An angel destroyed the army of Sennacherib—185,000 strong—in one night.—II Kings 19:35-37

In the New Testament, Jesus told Peter that if he wished he could enlist the services of twelve legions of angels. (Matt. 26:53) Angels delivered the apostles from prison, etc. (Acts 5:19,20; 12:7-9; 16:23-40) There seems no doubt that the Lord is still using the angels to shape his providences for his people, that all their spiritual interests may be safeguarded in keeping with his will. Speaking of the angels, Paul said, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”—Heb. 1:14

Today’s lesson calls our attention to a very interesting manner in which the Lord used the angels to care for his people. The king of Syria, in his aggression against Israel, determined upon a certain location to establish his camp. This was intended to be a carefully guarded military secret, yet on several occasions it eventuated that the king of Israel had learned the secret.

The king of Syria, conducting his own investigation, demanded of his trusted servants which one among them was a friend of the Israelites and engaged in espionage on their behalf. One of his servants explained that there was no disloyalty among them, but that a prophet in Israel had a strange power which enabled him to know even what the king thought in his secret chambers. Evidently the angels communicated the information to Elisha.

The king demanded to know where Elisha could be found, and was told that he dwelt in Dothan. He at once arranged to surround the city with soldiers for the purpose of capturing Elisha. This was done at night. In the morning Elisha’s servant discovered that they were surrounded by their Syrian enemies, and he became very much alarmed. Then Elisha prayed that the young man’s eyes might be opened to see who was on their side to protect them. “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.”—vs. 17

Actually, of course, this was in the nature of a vision. But it assured the young man that there were powerful, though unseen, forces always near. This was mightily demonstrated when, in answer to Elisha’s prayer, the Syrian soldiers were smitten with blindness, thus rendered helpless.

QUESTIONS

What better translation has been suggested for our Golden Text?

What agencies does the Lord use to shape his providences over his people?

Name some of the incidents in the Old Testament in which God used the angels as his servants?

Name similar incidents in the New Testament.

Relate the story of Elisha and his servant, whom the Lord protected against their Syrian enemies.

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