I would suggest you read the whole story in 2Kings 6:8 -23 I will use the Message in my posting.
It will be helpful as well to recall how Elijah when threatened by Jezebel ran away into the wilderness. Contrast that with how Elisha handles his situation. The King of Syria has been giving Israel trouble and trying to set ambushes for them but Elisha is telling the King of Israel all the plans of the King of Syria and it is ruining all of Syria's plans. Naturally the King of Syria is outraged and thinks there is a spy in their midst. When he is told it is Elisha who knows everything the King says and is the one derailing him, he wants to know where Elisha is, and he sends out an impressive fighting force to take him captive.
There are several things we should note about this story if we are to learn the lesson the Holy Spirit desires for us to learn.
Elisha knew everything the king of Syria was up to. VS 12 But one of his men said, "No, my master, dear king. It’s not any of us. It’s Elisha the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel everything you say, even what you whisper in your bedroom."
Why is this so significant? We could assume that Elisha knew the King of Syria was up to and yet Elisha stayed at Dothan and slept.
Elisha did not run away or pray to avoid the plot, he stayed put and rested there. He lost no sleep over it. A man of God does not need to run from his problems because he has what it takes to face them. If he has heard from God he can rest in the midst of it.
This is a picture of knowing your God and trusting Him in whatever it is He has prescribed for you. Elisha knows that whatever is going on had to be allowed of the Lord and He is able to see the work of God unfolding in it as a result.
How much do you trust that the Lord is overseeing your affairs in this life?
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
