2 Kings 6:1-23

Scripture Reading: John 9:13-25

Introduction

We have Officially Come to My Favorite Story in the OT

It’s an Amazing Story of God’s Protection of His People

It’s an Amazing Story of God’s Grace to All People

And, as Every Good Story should…

It has an Amazing Plot Twist at the End

2 Kings 6:1-23

In 2 Kings 5, We See God Save the Pagan Commander of Aram from His Leprosy

And Because of God’s Gracious Salvation…

He, Naaman, Converted to Faith in the God of Israel

In Our Text Tonight…

We’re Going to See God’s Salvation Come Upon the Arameans Again

In 2 Kings 4, We See 3 Separate Stories…

Of Elisha Miraculously Helping the Other Prophets & Their Families

That’s Exactly How Chapter 6 Begins as Well

The Prophets Needed a Bigger Place to Stay

Whether They Shared a Building with Each Other…

Or They’re Simply Referring to the Place They would Gather…

They had Outgrown it & Needed a Larger Building

So They Asked Elisha if They could Cut Trees By the Jordan River…

And Use the Wood to Build a Bigger Building

Elisha Allowed Them & Went with Them

While One of Them was Cutting a Tree…

The Iron Head of the Axe Flew Off & Fell in the River

He was Really Distraught about this Because:

Iron was Extremely Expensive at this Time

The Axe Head was Borrowed

So, He Now Owed Someone a Lot of Money

But, Elisha Threw a Stick in the Water…

And the Iron Axe Head Began to Float

Elisha Saved this Prophet from a Significant Financial Debt

2 Kings 6:8 (NLT)

When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”

Once Again Israel & Aram are at War

And the King of Aram…

Is Mobilizing His Forces Within the Border of Israel’s Territory

But for Some Reason…

Every Secret Attempt to Strike by the King of Aram has Failed

No Matter What He Tries to Do…

Israel is Always One Step Ahead

2 Kings 6:11 (NLT)

The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

This was the Only Explanation as to Why Israel Knew of His Every Move:

There had to Be a Traitor Amongst His Men

But One of the King’s Officers Believes He Has a Better Explanation

2 Kings 6:12 (NLT)

“It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”

One of the King’s Officers Knew Something the King Didn’t Know

How Did He Know Elisha Knew All of this Private Information?

We Aren’t Told

But He Knew There was a Prophet in Israel…

Who was Giving Away Their Secret Plans of Attack

And He Doesn’t Just Know About Their Battle Plans

He Knows the Very Things the King Whispers in His Bedroom

These Words Had to Send Shivers Up the King’s Spine

But the Officer was Absolutely Correct (According to the Previous Verses)

2 Kings 6:9–10 (NLT)

But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.

Elisha Knew Every Secret Plan that the King of Aram Made

So, Elisha’s Got to Go

2 Kings 6:13 (NLT)

“Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”

He Receives Word that Elisha is in Dothan

Dothan is Located About 10 Miles North…

Of Capital City of Samaria

2 Kings 6:14 (NLT)

So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

The King of Aram Wasn’t Going to Take Any Chances with Elisha

He Sent a Huge Army to Capture this One Man

While the People of Dothan are Sound Asleep…

The City is Being Surrounded By the Enemy

There was No Way of Escape

2 Kings 6:15 (NLT)

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

Elisha’s Servant Wakes Up to Discover the Horrible News

And He’s Scared Out of His Mind

He Asks Elisha:

“What in the World are We Going to Do Now?”

But Elisha’s Reply Seems to Make No Sense at All

2 Kings 6:16 (NLT)

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

I Like the More Word-For-Word Translation of this Verse Better

2 Kings 6:16 (NASB)

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

What Elisha was Saying Simply Didn’t Make Sense

What Army Did They Have to Protect Them?

The King of Israel Didn’t Know About Aram’s Secret Night-Time Siege

No Soldiers had Been Sent from the Capital

They Were Completely Surrounded and Totally Alone

Or so it Seemed

2 Kings 6:17 (NLT)

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

What Elisha’s Servant couldn’t Yet See…

Was that Elisha had a Very Good Reason for Not Being Afraid

God Sent Heaven’s Army to Protect Elisha

Dothan was Located On a Hilltop

What Elisha’s Servant Saw When God Opened His Eyes was:

An Army of Horses & Chariots of Fire Surrounding Elisha

If the Arameans were Going to Get to Elisha…

They were Going to have to Get Through…

An Army of Heavenly Body Guards…

Sent to Protect Him

The Army of Aram Once Looked Powerful & Scary

But Now They’re Nothing to Be Afraid of

2 Kings 6:18–19 (NLT)

As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.

Elisha had Just Prayed…

For His Servant’s Eyes to Be Opened to Spiritual Reality

Now He Prays for His Enemies’ Eyes…

To Be Closed to Physical Reality

The Word for Blind/Blindness…

Gives the Idea that it was a Flash of Bright Light that Blinded Them

Once the Arameans are Blind…

Elisha Leads Them on a 10 Mile Journey to the Capital City of Samaria

2 Kings 6:20 (NLT)

As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.

Elisha Prays for to Allow Them to See Once Again…

And They Open Their Eyes to Discover…

That the Captors Have Now Become the Captives

They Were in the Capital City of Israel…

And Completely Surrounded By the Enemy

Elisha Had Led Them Straight to Their Doom

Or So You Would Think

This is What the King of Israel Thought

2 Kings 6:21 (NLT)

When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”

It Would Be One of the Easiest Victories Israel Ever had

The Arameans Haven’t Got a Chance

All the King has to Do is Give the Word…

And this Aramean Army would Be No More

So He Waits for Elisha to Give the Thumbs Up

The Rest of this Story is Indicative of What Happens…

When You Mess with God & His People!

2 Kings 6:21–23 (NLT)

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?” 22 “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.” 23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

What Just Happened?

They Didn’t Kill the Aramean Army

They Didn’t Even Take Them Captive as Slaves

They Treated Them Like Honored Guests…

And Threw a Banquet Feast for Them

Then They Released Them

This is What Happens When You Mess with God & His People:

Hospitality, Mercy, Benevolence, & Peace

Human Reason Says:

“You Can’t Do that!”

“They’re Going to Turn Right Around & Destroy You!”

This Army of Aramean Raiders Never Messed with Israel Again

Our God is Amazing

Not Because He can Destroy an Entire Army of Enemy Soldiers

But Because He can Destroy an Entire Army of Enemy Soldiers…

And Chooses to Feed Them Instead

He’s the God of Infinite Power & Strength…

But He’d Rather Show Grace, Mercy, and Love

Even to His Enemies

These Aramean Soldiers Should Be Dead

And Yet, They’re Alive

They Were Blind

But Now They See

Application

Do We Not See a Beautiful Picture of Christianity & God’s Grace?

In Christ, We Who were Once Enemies:

We should Be Dead, But He Gives Us Life

We were Blind, But He Gave Us New Sight

We should Be Banished, But He Gave Us a Place at His Table

He Shows Us How We are to Treat Our Enemies

We Don’t Harm Them

We Offer Them a Spot at the Table as Well

We Offer Them a Place Within Our Family

And if They Refuse…

We Don’t Fight Them

We Let Them Return to Their Master

In Christ, We’ve Been Given Everything We Will Never Deserve…

All By His Love & Grace

And it is Our Duty to Be Like Elisha, Our King, and Our God:

By Showing Love & Grace to Others, Whoever They May Be

Imagine the Great Banquet Hall Within the Palace

Imagine Israelites & Arameans Sitting at the Table Together

Imagine Enemies Sharing a Meal Together Like Friends

Israelite and Gentile Fellowshipping Together