And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master!" What shall we do?"
So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who ARE with us ARE more than those who ARE with them."
And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." 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. 2 Kings 6:15-17
As I was going to sleep last night my last thoughts were of the scene above. I could see this young man waking up early to start is duties for the day, seeing the army that had surrounded them in the night, and in an instant he is wide awake and he is afraid! He is afraid because of what he sees. You can see his panic and fear in his reaction and words to Elisha; but the thing is, you can see Elisha's reaction as well. Elisha isn't afraid. He doesn't panic. He simply speaks a word of encouragement to his servant based on his knowledge that God is with him. He tells him "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." That little three letter word tells us all we need to know about Elisha's reaction. That three letter word that Elisha spoke three times affirms, and declares his knowledge that God is with him. He says it with confidence because he knows that his ARE are bigger then their are!
He then prays and asks that the young mans eyes would be open and that he would see! The Lord opens the young mans eyes and he gets to see and know what Elisha knows; that God is with them! That is my prayer for us today. That we would see that our God is bigger than anything that the enemy would bring against us. Lord that we would not just see but know, with confidence that you are with us.
As I was going to sleep and contemplating this scene with Elisha, Daniel and the lion's den, the fiery furnace, Moses, Joshua etc. I was thinking about the fact that they knew, they knew He was on their side as they stood for Him. They didn't waver. There are times when your reading the word that you can see their passion, but you don't see fear, or panic, or a whole lot of stress and worry. What you see is that they are resting in Him. Their confidence and hope is in Him; in knowing that He goes with them; that He will battle on their behalf. They know because they know that He will do what He said He will. He will be with them. I was thinking about that look on their faces as they stand for God. (Personally I picture that look that Charlton Heston had in the Ten Commandments as He raised his hands and the water heaped or his stance as he went up the mountain to receive the tablets.)
I can see that look on Elisha's face as he is telling his servant, "Don't be afraid, Have a look." I can see that look on Daniel's face as he shoots one last look at the king that says, "Don't worry. It's all good. God's got it covered." I can see that look on the face of Noah as he builds day after day. I can see that look on the face of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, Stephen, etc. Its a look that is confident, content, and peaceful all at the same time.
As I was going to sleep last night contemplating all these men and the fact that they all seem to have that look. (As you read the word you can feel that look as they were about to do that big thing for Him.) I asked the Lord about it and He spoke one word. "Rest!" I looked the word rest up in the Strong's and it means to repose and it kept coming back to the idea of abode. To enter into His rest has to do with the idea of being at home, kicking back, being refreshed, being in a place of being at peace, and the idea of matrimony. That look of being at one with the will and purposes of God comes with entering into His rest. Being at home with Him and knowing that He is with you! You in Him and Him in you; sounds familiar!
One last thought about resting in Him is this: "What look did He have on His face as He rested on the seventh day? ...Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good...Genesis 1:31
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