Scripture Reference 2 Kings 6 : 13-17

¹³ “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.

 ¹⁴ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. ¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. ¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Most of us can relate to a sudden and somewhat terrifying crisis that catches us completely off guard. For many of us our response to the sudden crisis might more closely resemble Elisha’s servant than Elisha.  

Elisha’s servant did not fail to be his servant due to his terrified response.  Elisha did not disown the man for allowing his fear to get the better of him.  God does not disown us when we are overcome by emotion rather than keeping our minds focused on Him. The disciples experienced this kind of thing on more than one occasion and Jesus did not disown them for it, Luke 8: ²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” 

The disciples, like Elisha’s servant forgot faith when confronted with a serious threat. Many of us are reactive, we experience a threat and we immediately react, either in fear or in rage, flight or fight. Jesus simply asked His disciples the question, “Where is your faith?”  Now for many of us, Jesus’ response like that of Elisha’s seems far too reserved given the intensity of the situations. This could be compared to an ER doctor working in triage. In that context it will never do for the doctor to lose his/her head and allow emotion to govern his/her responses. They must remain focused on what they have learned and respond with the knowledge they have gained through intense study. Likewise, the Christian ought not to lose his/her head over the crisis and instead respond with the knowledge they have gained through an intimate relationship with Christ. In other words, respond with faith.  

The real issue here is focus. You cannot both focus on the wind and the waves and focus on Christ, it is one or the other. Elisha was unmoved because his heart and mind were focused on the Almighty. Elisha was unmoved because through faith he was able to perceive what God was doing as the greater reality than the threat of the army.  Elisha also prayed for his servant and God then opened his eyes to the greater reality that encircled not only them, but the army as well. By faith we are to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ, 2 Cor. 10:5! If people of faith seem blind to what God is doing, we who see by faith ought to pray for them! God can and will open the eyes of the blind! The perceived threat is powerless! Why? Because the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them, Ps 34:7!