The episode in 2 Kings 6 takes place around the middle of the ninth century BC. During the time of the divided kingdom, the Arameans (the Hebrew term for those who lived in Syria), were a constant thorn in the side of the Israelites. In Elijah’s time, they attacked Israel and King Ahab on a couple of occasions—killing him the second time. Their conflict had continued down into the years of Elisha. Now Ahab’s son, Joram is on the throne. Though not righteous, neither is he the wicked man his father was.
The narrative begins with the principle we find embedded thoughout the story—the difference between seeing and not seeing. God has enabled Elisha to have a special ability to see where the Aramean raids are going to occur, so Israel is able to take evasive action. This happens over and over (v. 8-10). Initially the Aramean king thinks there is a mole in his ranks until he is convinced that the cause is not defection from within but the prophet Elisha. In the context of the theme of seeing and not seeing—the king now sees what he didn’t before. But it’s not going to help him because he does the wrong thing with his insight. Insight is nice but it’s meaningless without a spirit of obedience.
Rather than respect Elisha as a prophet from God and submit to him, the king treats the matter as a simple military operation. They will find out where Elisha is and capture him. He finds out he is in Dothan so the king sends out “a strong force” to do capture him and they went at night and “surrounded the city” (v. 14)
It is this force that Elisha’s servant sees the next morning. They have surrounded the city (v. 15). He is filled with fear because of what he sees (the army) and what he doesn’t see (anything else). The one who can see (Elijah), tells him, “Don’t be afraid . . . those who are with us are greater than those who are with them” (v. 16). Elijah then prays for his eyes to be opened and they are. As a result, he sees the army of God and of course, that changes everything. Alexander McClaren succinctly reminds us that “the manifestation, not the presence, of the angel guard was the miracle.”
Elisha isn’t done. He asks for God to take away the sight from the Aramean army and his request is granted and they become sightless. Elisha then leads this sightless army to Samaria—the capital of Israel. Once there, he asks God to restore their vision and he does. We can only imagine their shock when they see they are inside Samaria.
Israel’s king (Joram) asks Elisha if they should kill the soldiers. Elisha’s answer contains a semi-rebuking answer. The king has eyes but doesn’t see very well. Instead, Elisha calls for them to be given food and drink. “So he prepared a great feast for them” (v. 23). And there they are—God has set a table before them in the presence of their enemies. Would God do that for people who didn’t believe in Him and threatened His people? There’s no debate about the matter because He did! And He did it because this is the relationship He desires with everyone.
But the story doesn’t end there. After the captured army had eaten, Elisha sent them home! But that’s not the end of the story either because this so affected the king of Aram that “the bands of Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory” (1 Kings 6:23).
What are we to do with truths so glorious? How do we integrate them, not just into our theology—but into our biography. Because if our theology doesn’t affect our biography, it’s not much use, is it?
Let me suggest one way we can make the word become flesh in this area. It’s anchored in Paul’s words at the end of Romans 12 where he speaks of not being overcome by evil, but overcoming evil with good.
Think about how Elisha did this. King Joram seems as if he wanted to execute their Aramean captives. But Elisha, he had something else in mind, something better. He wanted to overcome their evil with good, so he had a feast prepared for them.
And what did God do with that? He used Elisha’s graciousness to bring an end to the hostilities. That’s what happens when we make the effort to overcome evil with good—we inviting God to get involved.
So the question is: in what way this week will we invite God to get involved?
2 Kings
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 