God’s Hand in Facing Opposition

Elisha the Prophet

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Are you a hurkle durkler, a bed rotter, or… are you up early, unbothered with that main character vibe?

Intentionally being unproductive and lingering in bed, intentionally being unproductive in bed for long stretches any time, or do you get stuff done.

Gen Z leads the way with 89% participation, and spending 498 hours a year, which equals 21 days a year of life, doing nothing.

This trend is leading to depression, guilt / shame, and poor sleep patterns.

This has nothing to do with the lesson but I read an article about this, and the fact that it is even being talked about and a statistical survey, shows its a problem.

My mind was blown….but technically I was hurkle durkling when I read the article. Can’t be too judgmental.

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Alright last week we talked about Naaman, who was an amazing man, a military leader, a wealthy man, but…he was a leper. Elisha send his servant tells him wash in the Jordan seven times, and Naaman gets furious. Finally, he yields and listens, resulting in being healed of leprosy.

This week will be our final lesson on Elisha, and we are moving on to a new series that looks to be pretty good and exciting. We are going to take a look at spiritual warfare, and God’s Hand in Facing Opposition.

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2 Kings 6:8–12 “8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.””

War is a heritage of humanity. From even Cain and Abel, there was the spirit of war and contention as Cain kills his brother, for his own rejection by God. The same spirit is alive and well today. Look at what is happening right now in the Israel-Iran crisis. There is a people group that wants to currently as we speak, wipe Israel off the map.

Iran is modern day Persia, when we read in the bible. It is significant in the past and will play a role in end time prophecies. So, war is nothing new, and Israel has been plagued with war since they stepped over out of Egypt.

This is nothing new. But could you imagine if there was a prophet today like Elisha? Every move Iran makes someone comes into Benjamin Netenyathu and says ok here are the plans.

This is what is happening in this narrative. Every plan, every thought, every discussion in regards to war strategy and plans are being leaked to the King of Israel. It is assumed that this is Jehoram based upon the surrounding history. Every word that Elisha tells him, he immediately listens.

look at vers 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

This was not just a situation of well they got lucky here or there, this was at every turn Israel was one step ahead.

This clearly troubled the king of Syria, most likely Ben-Hadad, It says in verse 11 he was “greatly troubled”. He was convinced that there was a traitor among the ranks. Someone was clearly leaking military strategy, and Israel was always one step ahead on the battle front.

I imagine him stewing in frustration, depending on what type of king even threatening, some one is going to die. Who is telling our strategies.

Then finally someone speaks up. Remember Elisha? Remember the prophet in Israel? I bet he’s the one telling our strategies.

I love how vs. 12c puts it “ tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” The words you speak in the most private, intimate setting, he not only knows what you say, which is kind of creepy, but tells them to the king of Israel. Its like the OT equivalent of bugging a room.

Now we have a whole crew of surveillance and counter intelligence, back then God was just like, Elisha let me tell you what Syria is planning.

Can you imagine how you would feel? Picture playing a game, or a sport, or anything with an opponent and they stopped you at each and every turn. What about business? Your competitor at work, or another company seems to know exactly what to do and when to do it before you.

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2 Kings 6:13–17 “13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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.”

Have you ever been in a predicament you could not get out of, or seemed completely stacked against you?

Like you were in over your head, you bit off more than you could chew, and any other idioms that are out there.

I want to share a picture with you. I recently got a new to me Jeep Wrangler. We have owned several jeeps over the years and have done some pretty tough off-roading. This past week my son Chandler and I went out into the gorge area and found a good road to go down, it is like a US forestry road or something like that.

The app tells you about the trails and give them ratings and difficulty scales. This particular trail was rated 3/10 and Easy. Made for a stock jeep to go through no problem. We are in a modified jeep, not stock. All the rain we have had made the trail not easy. We got in a couple miles or so and got completely stuck.

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Here is a picture of our predicament. We worked for hours with the very little tools we had to get us out, and could not. We used SOS on our phones, 911 pretty much said we can’t help. Thankfully some locals came by and tried to help us, but couldn’t. They road us out on the fenders of a four wheeler, and gave us a ride home.

The next day I went back and hiked in with 40 pounds of supplies on my back, worked my butt off by myself, and believe it or not got out of the hole with a shovel and a hand cranked come along. Yep I got myself out of the hole.

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To sit here, and be just as stuck. I was in over my head, I bit off more than I could chew.

Can I take a side note here and say that we will all have situations that swallow us up, that are outside of our control, that threaten to break us, but it is how we respond to those situations that truly matters. I’m not patting myself on the back but we thoroughly enjoyed our day. It was filled with prayer, good conversation, laughing.

Our enemy wants us to be swallowed up.

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

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Thankfully I was able to find an off-road recovery service that me me out there on the third day. I guess my jeep is spiritual; on the third day it was resurrected. Well, from the Daniel Boone National Forest

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2 Kings 6:13–17 That is where Elishas servant was at. Uh Oh we are in big trouble.

verse 14-15 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

The servant says - We are in a mud pit, our axles are buried, and the tires are just spinning, we are not getting out of here without some help. We’re stuck.

He’s looking at Elisha like, hey you may want to take a look out the front door of the tent. We might have a problem. The king of Syria is not playing around, horses, chariots, and a great army, all come out for one little bald, hairy dude.

Now can we just make a side note. Is it wise to go after the guy that knows your every move. Just a couple verses earlier, they tell the king he even tells what you say in your bedroom to the king of Israel, he knows your every move, and they’re like I have an idea, we have to deal with this Elisha character, lets sneak up on him and take him out.

This is a little deep, but a question.

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Why is human perception of spiritual realities often so limited?

I think it is kind of a matter of out of sight, out of mind. We can’t see the invisible world around us but the bible makes it very clear that this is where the real battle is. Jesus understood this. Its why He spent so much time in prayer, and in communion with the Father.

Ephesians 6:12–13 “12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”

Daniel 10:10–14 “10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.””

The spiritual world is always in motion around us, even though we can’t see it. Yet God watches over His people.

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Elisha has seen these chariots before. Remember when Elijah was taken in the whirlwind, and the chariot of fire blocked him and got between them. Here he answer his servant, probably Gehazi, verse 16 “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

I love that. Jesus talked in Matthew 26:53 “53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Seventy-Two Thousand).

1 John 4:4 “4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Verse 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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.”

To me this is a powerful example of prayer. Prayer in many ways is taking requests to God but also helps us see what God is already doing in our lives and the world around us. It helps us to see spiritually and not just physically.

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Moving on.

2 Kings 6:18–23 “18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria. 20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! 21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22 But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.

I love the juxtaposition here in the narrative.

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1. Elisha’s First Prayer – Eyes Opened (2 Kings 6:17)

Elisha prays that his servant’s eyes would be opened so he could see the heavenly armies surrounding them.

This is a prayer for spiritual vision, clarity, and faith.

The servant is afraid because he can only see the physical threat. His eyes need to be opened to the invisible, spiritual reality that God is present and in control.

2. Elisha’s Second Prayer – Eyes Closed (2 Kings 6:18)

Elisha prays that the Syrian army would be struck with blindness.

This is a prayer for physical sight to be taken away from the enemy so they are confused and powerless.

The army, who can see the physical world, is now blinded and unable to perceive or act effectively.

They end up capturing them, but treating them like prisoners of war, and then sending them home. This was apparently enough to say hey maybe we should stop messing with Israel.

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I want to do something a little different this week. I would like to try a Discussion Ending instead of sprinkling questions all through, maybe we end with some questions, and you can chime in or speak up for any question that resonates with you.

What would change about your fear, stress, or decision-making if you really believed God is fighting for you? Even when you cant see it.

Are you more focused on what is coming against you, or who is standing with you? think about that we have the presence of God

What practical steps can you take this week to shift your perspective from fear to faith?

What keeps you from trusting that God is working in the unseen spiritual realm on your behalf?