The Reality of Invisible Protection
By Deidre Braley
Bible Reading:
2 Kings 6:15-17: When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Sometimes, I feel terribly vulnerable in this world, as though I’m walking about like a turtle without her shell. I feel alone and unprotected—and it feels like I could succumb to any number of dire circumstances.
Perhaps you sometimes feel this way, too. Nowadays, it doesn’t take much to inspire a sense of total panic; all we have to do is turn on the news and feel like society is tail spinning. With war and rumors of war, natural disasters, disunity, and hate seemingly running rampant, it can be easy to look around and think, “Where is God?”
The servant of Elisha felt precisely this way when he woke up one morning only to find that the city where he and his master were staying—Dothan—was surrounded by horses, chariots, and a massive army. It turned out that the king of Aram had discovered Elisha had been spoiling his plans to attack Israel, and he was not happy.
And so it’s easy to imagine the sense of dread and despair Elisha’s servant felt when he realized enemies surrounded them. But what happens next is genuinely mind-blowing.
As the servant cried to Elisha, “Oh my master, what are we to do?” Elisha responded, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:15-16). I’m sure the servant thought Elisha was crazy—they were visibly outnumbered, with no one to protect them. Who were the “those with us” that Elisha was talking about?
But his perspective changed the moment Elisha prayed. “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see,” he said, and at that moment, the servant looked around to discover that their surroundings were filled with horses and chariots of fire (presumably from God’s army) (2 Kings 6:17).
I share this story because, moments before, Elisha’s servant had thought they were alone and without protection. But Elisha could see what he couldn’t—that they hadn’t been alone for a moment. God’s army was standing, ready to go with and defend them.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
This story is a stunning reminder that the spiritual world is an active reality—just as real as the floor at our feet or the mug in our hands. Like Elisha’s servant, we often go about our days without seeing this spiritual world at play, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Today—and whenever we feel particularly afraid or alone—may we remember to pray Elisha’s bold prayer over ourselves: “Lord, please open my eyes and let me see.” And then, may we discover all the ways God’s protection and provision surround us now—and always have been.
Further Reading:
Daniel 10
Ephesians 6:12
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/JW
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