Sound the alarm!!
We are not told how Dothan came to learn they were surrounded. If you just quickly read through this Biblical bit of history you likely will deduce that Elisha’s servant made the discovery. Maybe, but just as likely another did with the servant learning it as he bustled around outside their dwelling. What did he do when the rumors arrived? Did he go verify? Once there did he look up and down the hillside outside the city? Was a messenger being readied to go to Samaria? Were the first stages of panic being fomented? While the author left those details out they are less important than the result. The result was verse 15 where he ran back to Elisha and broached all the news with his master. Elisha did not lose his poise.
We are not told how Dothan came to learn they were surrounded. A first look at that 15th verse may lead you to think that Elisha’s servant made the discovery. Maybe, but just as likely another did with the servant learning it as he bustled around outside their dwelling. What did he do when the rumors arrived? Did he go verify? Once there did he look up and down the hillside outside the city? What was the city doing to face this problem? Was a messenger being readied to go to Samaria? Were the first stages of panic being fomented? No matter those details we do see that he ran back to Elisha and broached all the news with his master, a master who would
16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15–ESV)
In earlier years I would have presumed that most of the interaction happened after the servant got back to their room. “Master, Master, wake up!” Sounds a bit like disciples fearing their boat will sink. “What are we going to do?” Probably, Elisha had the young man take the equivalent of a few deep Hebrew breaths, and then off to take a look at things they went.
Elisha set the stage by getting them out to the edge of Dothan, out where they could see the enemy soldiers. Then with all those enemy soldiers in full view, with the fears in full gear Elisha spoke. Off his tongue rolled a phrase of destiny, a phrase iconic in Christianity. He backed it up with a prayer and what we know as verse 17. Enough said. Once before had Elisha been near such a vision. That time it was for him, the double blessing. Here it was for the servant and all those who would read of this down the millennia.
Just faith…
Elisha met the challenge head-on. No inclinations are given us about when Elisha knew how the day would unfold. Maybe he knew, maybe not. Regardless, no flight or fight, just faith. Elisha knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be, that is, right where God had placed him. Was that a dangerous place? It might look like it, but in reality, it was the safest place he could be. He walked deliberately right at the stressor in his life. Knowing God he was poised, unrattled, focused. The first one he brought with him that day was a scared young man. Since then he brought along so many more.
You and I will not likely see an abundance of miracles play out in our daily lives. But, you can, you may see an abundance of things which may be labeled blessings, God-giftings. I propose that you walk like Elisha: deliberately toward the stressors in your life, the places you are in because it is the right place for you to be. Do this in God’s strength with an openness of mind regarding the timing and the outcome. You may feel like the servant and if all you can do is call for help, fine do so. If at all possible, though, model your life like that of Elisha, for he, like Christ, was poised.
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