God enables the weak to overcome all odds

By Gary Wilkinson  April 23, 2012
   

The powerful nation of Syria moved to attack Israel but God revealed to Elisha every move Syria was about to make. Because of this, the prophet was able to warn Israel's army and keep them out of harm's way.

The Syrian military was comprised of mighty battalions, huge chariots and up-to-date weapons. Yet it was thwarted at every move because of Elisha, which infuriated Syria's king. Finally, he gave up his attacks on Israel and turned his entire army on Elisha: "Go, find out where he is . . . so I can send men and capture him" (2 Kings 6:13, NIV).

Elisha was staying in Dothan. The Syrian king sent ". . . a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city" (6:14). The next morning, Elisha's servant woke to see the enemy forces and cried out to Elisha in a panic, "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?"

Have you ever felt panic as this servant did? "There's no way out of this problem. It's too big! What can I possibly do?"

At such times, our prayers can turn into worry sessions, filled with anxiety. We tell ourselves, "There's no way God can pull me out of this."

Elisha answered his servant, "Don't be afraid. . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (6:16). Elisha prayed for his servant, saying, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see" (6:17). Suddenly Elisha's servant saw what was invisible to the naked eye: "He looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (6:17).

Right now in your crisis, the odds against you may be 10,000 to 1. But as Elisha's story shows, 10,000 is a meager number when weighed against the infinite number of angels at God's service. You may feel overwhelmed and outnumbered — but God never loses. He never retreats and He never negotiates. He is with you in the midst of your battle to deliver you supernaturally.

You may ask, as Elisha's servant did, "What shall I do?" God has already answered you in Elisha's story: "Trust in the Lord." When all else seems to fail — when you feel there's no hope left, that you're about to fall in defeat — God enters and transforms everything.

Here was the end result: "The bands from [Syria] stopped raiding Israel's territory" (2 Kings 6:23). It was yet another faith-building lesson for Israel. Elisha was showing God's people, "Having the Lord on your side is better than having the world's most powerful army. Trust in Him!"