The King of Syria became angry
when he suspected that there was a spy in their ranks, since
it seemed that every time he sought to corner the King of
Israel he would somehow escape, as if he knew exactly where the
Syrians would be and what they were going to do. One of his
aides informed him that it was not a spy among them, but rather
that Elisha, the prophet, was able to know his whereabouts
and plans and was informing the king of Israel. Thus he set out
to capture Elisha, who was in the city of Dothan, by sending
a great host of soldiers, horses, and chariots to surround the
city. When Elisha's servant arose early
the next morning, he was struck with fear as he saw the surrounding
army with no hope of escape. He excitedly awoke Elisha, expressing
his despair and overcome with fear. Yet the man of God seemed
to have no fear at all, and spoke words of comfort to him, saying,
Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be
with them. These should have been comforting
words to the servant, Yet they offered little immediate help
to him because he could not clearly see what Elisha saw by the eye
of faith. The servant longed for deliverance
from the enemy, but he could not see the grounds upon which
to hope for such until his eyes were opened to behold the glory
and might of Him who is mighty to save. And Elisha prayed and
said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes that he may see. And
the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold,
the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about
Elisha. The gospel is a glorious message
of hope and deliverance, yet it can afford no comfort or help
at all to those who are blind, even as the scripture describes
them dead in trespasses and sins. This is exactly what the Lord
said to Nicodemus, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Unless and
until a man is born from above, he will remain in his natural
state of spiritual death. unable to see the truth of God
and unwilling to embrace it. We see that truth illustrated
very plainly in this account of Elisha's servant. He could
only see what natural men see. He had some measure of confidence,
no doubt, in the prophet, even as natural men have some measure
of confidence in their own religious standing. Yet he lacked understanding
and had no vision of the things which are hidden from the natural
man, and therefore remained ignorant of the truth of God. We see the
grace of God demonstrated as the Lord opened his eyes and
removed his fears when he showed him his chariots of fire. The servant of Elisha was a man
of humble means, fearful demeanor, and knowledgeable of his own
weakness and inability to deliver himself. He could not be greatly
affected by the power of positive thinking or description of how
he could be saved by his free will. Though he was blind by
nature, he was greatly favored of God to be given eyes to see
the salvation of the Lord. These Syrian soldiers, on the
other hand, were certain of what they could see, and confidently
thought they could easily take a lone prophet into captivity
by their own devices, even as religious men think that they
can attain unto the kingdom of God through their own wisdom
and supposed righteousness. By nature all men are blind,
all are deserving of wrath, yet by the same nature all men think
they can see. The prophets of free will assure
them that they can be saved any time they are ready to exercise
their choice to be saved. Such a message is steeped in
the wisdom of men, and they will use their sight to prove their
theories and reinforce the natural man's conviction that he can
somehow earn the favor of God. Men are born into this world
believing that they have a free will, and no man can convince
them otherwise. The only way that any man can
become acquainted with what he truly is by nature is to be made
to see. Only those who are made to see
can behold the glorious salvation that is found in Jesus Christ
alone. The blind man said unto Him,
Lord, that I might receive my sight.