2 Kings 6-8 Insight Into Scripture
Today we read more about Elisha and the miracles he performed. One of the miracles we read about is one of my favorites. It tells of how Elisha "Opened" the eyes of his servant to see the spiritual world around him.
Dothan is 10 miles north of Samaria. (6:13) This would have been quite a walk for an army of blind soldiers!
Bringing the Bible Alive
This is a picture of Samaria. In today's reading, Elisha asked YAHWEH to blind the soldier's eyes who were out to capture him. YAHWEH did as Elisha requested, then when the soldiers' eyes were opened, they were in Samaria. (6:20) Samaria is well situated with steep slopes on all sides. Click in the picture to see more pictures of Samaria. These pictures are taken from Bibleplace.com
Scripture Reading
13 And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 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. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. - 2 Kings 6:13-20 ESV
Thought for the Day
How deep is your faith? Let me put the question another way. When a bad situation arises, do you turn to other men? Maybe you turn to yourself and try to solve the problem on your own? OR do you turn to your MAKER for help?
Overnight Elisha and his servant were put into a bad situation. Elisha had been giving the King of Aram some prophetic advice that the king did not like. He sent an army to capture Elisha and his servant. They were in some deep trouble! Elisha's servant looked to Elisha for help because his eyes could only see earthly things, but Elisha knew different. Elisha saw with spiritual eyes, he looked to YAHWEH for deliverance.
Elisha then prayed for his servant to receive a glimpse of the spiritual world, his servant eyes were opened. Can you imagine the amazement of his servant, what a neat thing to see!.
I truly believe that we miss out on many blessings and we'd rather face our bad situations alone, then suffer the consequences due to our lack of faith. We try and solve all our problems on our own, or look to other men to solve them. GOD wants to help us and solve our problems, but we never ask. The same army that Elisha's servant saw is around you today, ready to fight YOUR battles. Do you see them, will you use them?
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Thank You Father for the many angels You put around me, to protect me and to hold me accountable. I pray Father that I remember that as I go through my day and I remember that they are there to protect me, that You are there to protect me. I pray Father that Your word reaches many and that I may be a part of that. I pray for those hurting physically, that You will lift them up to You and give them peace and a restful day.
I love You and pray in Jesus name, Amen
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3 comments:
Bible Trivia:
What plague in Egypt came first, the frogs or the lice?
ANSWER: Frogs
Exodus 8:5-17
5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
LIST of 10 plagues in order and where found:
1) Water to Blood:
Ex. 7:19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
2) Frogs:
Ex.8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
8:3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
8:4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
3) Lice:
Ex.8:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
4) Flies:
Ex.8:21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
5) Livestock Diseased:
Ex. 9:3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
6) Boils:
Ex. 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9:9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
7) Thunder and Hail:
Ex. 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
8) Locusts:
Ex.10:4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
10:5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field
9) Darkness:
Ex. 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 10:22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days
10) Death of the Firstborn:
Ex. 11:4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
11:5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
I am posting a couple of links that have great craft ideas for children.
I came across these while surfing the web about the plagues. I love to find things that creates a fun atmosphere for children to learn of Jesus and the stories in Bible.
You will need to copy/paste
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http://www.mssscrafts.com/oldtestament/plagues.htm
http://biblicalholidays.com/Passover/10_plagues_actvity.htm
http://sewhttkr.home.comcast.net/bibleWS/bibleWS/27_plagues.htm
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