Looking beyond ∙
Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. – 2 Kings 6:17
2 Kings 6:15-17
15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the following day and went outside, troops, horses, and chariots were everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.
16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”
17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
Laurel and Hardy, legendary icons of the golden age of American cinema, carved out a unique niche as one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedy duos during its early years. The lanky Stan Laurel and his stout, rotund counterpart Oliver Hardy became household names from the late 1920s through the mid-1940s, endearing themselves to audiences with their hilarious and charming performances.
Their on-screen adventures consistently plunged them into an array of predicaments with unforeseen outcomes. Oliver Hardy, often portrayed as the more responsible and authoritative figure, would frequently find himself exasperated by Stan Laurel’s innocent yet bungling antics. This led to one of the most memorable catchphrases in film history: “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.” Delivered with Oliver’s trademark look of dismay and a pouty expression, this line became synonymous with the duo’s comedic style, making appearances in over 15 of their films.
Beyond their slapstick humor and perfectly timed gags, Laurel and Hardy’s enduring appeal lay in the chemistry and camaraderie between them. Their ability to evoke laughter through simple, relatable scenarios, combined with impeccable comedic timing, turned their films into timeless classics. Audiences of all ages could identify with their charming misadventures, ensuring that their legacy would continue to thrive long after their final curtain call.
Children of the King frequently encounter challenging predicaments due to their own choices. Life is filled with uncertainty, which raises a pivotal question: How do we make the best decisions? The Father has given us minds capable of observation, calculation, and logical reasoning to navigate through life’s complexities.
In the kingdom of the Father, there is much more. Sometimes, clarity doesn’t come from hard work and perspiration but rather from divine inspiration. The children of the King are guided more by faith than by sight. Human sight is limited to the physical world that can be seen and observed. However, there are unseen realities that are not visible to the human eye.
Elisha and his servant found themselves in a difficult situation. They were surrounded by enemies who intended to harm them. Humanly speaking, they were defenseless and had no earthly means to resist. However, Elisha knew something that his servant did not. He could see beyond what was visible and could see the unseen. Elisha was aware that the Father had sent an army of angels to protect him and his servant. This angelic army came with the power and authority of the commander of Heaven’s army. In the face of Heaven’s army, the Syrian forces were impotent.
Elisha, the prophet, was a seer. He could see angels, and he was fearless because he saw with the eyes of faith. The angels were more than a match for the Syrian army. Elisha wanted his fearful servant to be able to see as he did, so he prayed that the eyes of his servant would be opened to see the unseen.
2 Kings 6:17 Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes, and him see!”
A whole new reality opened for his servant, one that can only be seen by the eyes of faith. The angelic armies had been there all along, yet they remained cloaked to the ordinary human eyes. Much remains invisible and thus hidden to those who do not look with eyes of faith.
“Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees” (Stanley).
REFLECT & PRAY
The limitations of our physical eyes restrict our natural vision here on Earth. However, our spiritual vision knows no bounds. It enables the eyes of our hearts to open and see the unseen.
Father, I often don’t know what to do. I am limited by my human resources. Help me learn to tap into Your resources and walk by faith, not by sight alone.
INSIGHT
Elisha was a servant leader and a man of faith. He routinely saw the unseen, things that were hidden from others. This extraordinary ability had landed him in the precarious situation of being encircled by adversaries. Aram, the king of Syria, was at war with Israel. He had drawn up secret plans for attack. Time and again, his covert strategies were foiled. His plans were thwarted. He was furious and decided there must be a spy within his ranks that was betraying him.
There was a spy, all right. But that spy was Elisha.
2 Kings 6:12 Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!
Elisha had prophetic insight. He could see the unseen and discern what was hidden from others. Geographical distance and palace walls were not obstacles to him.
A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way (John C. Maxwell). A leader can translate vision into reality, faith into substance, and hope into conviction. While a boss issues orders. A true leader guides.
A leader is optimistic and upbeat. They radiate confidence and resilience. Challenges are not overlooked nor ignored; they are addressed and surmounted. Ultimately, a leader is defined by optimism, courage, foresight, planning, and implementation.
“The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been” (Henry Kissinger).
2 Corinthians 4:18 We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Paul’s unwavering trust and confidence in the Father’s promise and power rips away the veil of limited physical sight. The chasm between the visible and invisible, the temporary and the eternal, is seamlessly bridged by the lens of faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We walk by faith, not by sight
“If we think only of the things that are visible, we are bound to see life that way. But there is another way. The writer to the Hebrews said of Moses: ‘He persevered as though he saw him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27)” (Barclay).
Supernatural sight, that is, seeing the invisible, comes through faith in the One who is Himself invisible. It is a paradox. It cannot be validated through scientific experimentation.
Ephesians 1:18 I pray that eyes of your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called.
What do you see, enemies or the angels of Heaven’s army?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 7-14-1
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 