A Devotional

Chariots Of Fire
Elisha’s servant pounded on his door early one morning fearing for his master’s life and possibly
his own. The king of Aram had sent his army in the night to surround the city of Dotham, a city
in the northeast of Samaria near Mount Gilboa, in order to capture Elisha, who had been sharing
the king’s secret battle strategies. Everytime the King of Aram laid a trap for the King of Israel,
Elisha warned him of the peril in advance. When word of this reached him, he sent his forces to
put a stop to the prophet.
Elisha went out to his servant. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us
are more than those who are with them.” 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. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to
the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, as Elisha had
asked. 2 Kings 6:16-18
Elisha was familiar with the burning chariots of heaven. One had taken away his master, when
Elijah’s time had come to leave the Earth. It was then that Elisha had asked for a double-portion
of his spirit. Elijah had said, if Elisha saw him depart, then he would know that his request was
granted by God. Since that time, Elisha had been faithful in following in his master’s footsteps
as a prophet and growing in his relationship with the Lord. He reached out to the people with a
message that the Lord was faithful and compassionate despite their unfaithfulness toward Him.
Elisha and his servant, surrounded by the blind Aramean soldiers, ended up leading them into
Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, where he convinced King Jehoram to have
compassion on them, throw them a feast, and release them when their sight returned. He
demonstrated that God’s power and compassion reigned supreme over the might of men. 2 Kings
6:19-22
We are more like that panicked servant than we care to admit sometimes. We are occasionally
faced with overwhelming armies at all sides, and wish we could see God’s plan for our future
protection. We wish we could see behind the veil and spy the hosts of angels in fiery chariots
protecting us, as Elisha did, but we need to trust that God is faithful and compassionate in all His
promises to us. We need to, each day, strive towards the kind of relationship of trust and
obedience that Elisha had with God that everything the Lord does is for our eternal salvation
with Him in heaven. His plan may be concealed from our sight, but it is glorious and
surrounds us everyday.
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love Him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Submitted by: Rachel Linkswiler