ELISHA'S PRAYER

One of the most interesting characters of the Old Testament, for me, is Elisha. Elijah gets most of the press—but Elisha also had the goods. He was the real deal—one righteously bad dude! (Translation: He was a powerful man of God.)

Look at the story found in 2 Kings 6:8-23. The Syrians were warring against Israel and were constantly frustrated by them. Every time the Syrians would lay a trap for the Jews, the Jews would find out about it and the ambush would come to nothing.

In frustration, the Syrian king called his men together and accused them of having a spy in their midst. The loyal servants said, “No, there is no spy. The Jews have a prophet named Elisha and he tells the Jewish king even the words that you say in the privacy of your quarters.” The stunned Syrian king quickly replied, “Tell me where this man is so that I can send troops to capture him.”

Before we go on with the story, let’s pause for a moment. We are seeing a picture of how a prophet ministers to the body of Christ (the church). The prophet will often warn the body of what is ahead so they can take appropriate action and be appropriately prepared. In other situations, the prophet will speak about problems and what corrective action is needed.

There were few prophets in Israel and there are not many today. In fact, I am very cautious about people who call themselves prophets. My personal rule of thumb is, “If they call themselves prophets, they aren’t!” To give oneself a title or a position is an act of pride, and prophets are not proud people. We know this because God does not speak through the proud and arrogant. “God opposes [sets Himself against] the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 NIV).

Back to the story! By night the Syrians came against the city where Elisha was staying. It was a sneaky, Pearl Harbor-type attack. When Elisha’s servant went out early in the morning to get the paper, he was shocked to see that the city was completely surrounded by the Syrians. On the other hand, Elisha didn’t seem at all surprised. I believe Elisha foreknew exactly what was going to happen; after all, he was aware of what the Syrian king said in his bedroom!

Elisha’s servant cried out in fear, “What are we going to do?” Does that sound like a familiar question being repeated today? Elisha’s famous response was, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16 NKJV).

And then Elisha did something that I want you to take special note of. He prayed for supernatural eyesight to come on his servant so that he could see the army of God. Elisha prayed and the servant saw the host of heaven (the horses and fiery chariots) that cannot be seen by the natural eye.

As the storms increase and the attacks come suddenly upon us in the coming days, we are to expect God to do the supernatural on our behalf.

Not only did Elisha pray for his servant’s eyes to open, but he prayed blindness on the attacking Syrians. This was not physical blindness but mental confusion and bewilderment. Suddenly, confusion reigned in the ranks of the Syrians and they didn’t know where they were or who they were supposed to be capturing.

Again, this is an important point of understanding for us. When the enemy comes at us with overwhelming force, pray Elisha’s prayer: “Strike this people [this attack], I pray, with blindness” (6:18). And He will do for us what he did for Elisha.

The rest of the story is almost humorous. The confused Syrians lost sight (pun intended) of who they were to attack and capture. Elisha talked to them and they had no idea who he was. He told them that the man they were looking for was down the road and they should follow him for he would take them where they needed to be. Elisha then led them down the road right into the camp of the king of Israel. About this time the Syrians’ blindness lifted and they saw that instead of them surrounding Elisha, they were actually encircled by the Jewish army.

The king of Israel shouted out to Elisha, “My father [a term of respect], what should I do? Should I kill them?” Elisha responded, “No, feed them [bless them] and send them on their way.” Is this not a Christ-like response? Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to them that hate you…” (Matthew 5:44). Many of the attacks that will come against the church in the days ahead will supernaturally be turned into times of powerful ministry!

The response of Elisha and the king of Israel rendered the attacking forces powerless and the Syrians went back home. “So the bands of the Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel” (2 Kings 6:23).

In the days ahead when the storms rage and the attacks come, remember Elisha and how he responded. Remember the supernatural intervention and remember to pray Elisha’s prayer: “Strike these attacks, these attacking spirits, with blindness, confusion and bewilderment.”

In fact, don’t wait! If you are under attack now in any part of your life, go ahead and pull the trigger on Elisha’s prayer.