Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

How does 2 Kings 6:16 encourage believers facing overwhelming odds?

2 Kings 6:16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

2 Kings 6:8 - 23

ESV - 8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.

The passage of 2 Kings 6:8-23 records a strange incident during which God blinded the eyes of the Assyrians when they sought to capture prophet Elisha and possibly harm him. God miraculously intervened to protect His prophet from imminent capture. He blinded the eyes of the Assyrian army and Elijah's servant directed them to Samaria, far away from Elisha's location.

Elisha restrained his servants from destroying the Assyrians. Instead, he extended kindness to them by feeding them and sending them away. 

Elisha's prophetic statement recorded in v.16 is compelling. It reveals that God had surrounded Elisha with His heavenly host. There is no greater power than God's army. This was an assurance of God's protection for His servant. God did not permit the Assyrians to capture and possibly kill His servant. 

How does the statement in v.16 encourage believers facing overwhelming odds? 

Here's the text: "So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (NKJV). 

Elisha assured his fearful servant that God's heavenly host was at hand to preserve him against the Assyrians. Humanly speaking, this statement was incomprehensible! Elisha prayed that God may open the eyes of his servant so that he could affirm Elisha's prophecy. 

God graciously opened the servants eyes. In v. 17b, the writer says: "Then 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." (NKJV). 

It took God's intervention to calm Elisha's servant. There are circumstances in our lives that God makes some interventions that reveal His presence with His people. God can use these unusual circumstances to calm our fears and to cause us to trust Him. He reveals His loving grace to us through the assurance of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 

John 14:15-18 says "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you 

We may not physically see God's heavenly host surrounding us in our moments of distress. However, the assurance of His abiding presence is indelibly affirmed in Scripture. This should cause us to keep our eyes fixed on Him. Hebrews 11:1 says"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (NKJV)

Scripture assures us that God will never forsake His covenant people. In Deuteronomy 31:6, God assures Joshua of His abiding presence and help, saying, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (NKJV). This assurance should encourage God's people facing overwhelming odds.

Deuteronomy 31:8 says: "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (NKJV). 

In the New Testament Scriptures, the writer of Hebrews 13:5 proclaims "For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NKJV). 

No matter what we go through in this passing evil world, we are assured of God's steadfast love and His abiding presence.

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