Person-2-Person - June, 2024

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

It isn’t always possible to trust our eyes. A few weeks ago, I was in the break room at work when I noticed a magazine on the table. On the cover was the word “Shoplifting!” along with a photo of a celebrity. I have to confess a bit of curiosity because I wondered what the celebrity had done. I took a closer look and realized that the words on the cover were “So uplifting!” It probably says something about me that I was no longer interested at that point. So much for my foray into the world of celebrity gossip.

The Bible has something to say about trusting our eyes, even if it doesn’t mention celebrities. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “. . . we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7 New King James Version). Many years before, there was a war between Israel and the neighboring kingdom of Syria (2 Kings 6:8-23). Each time Syria’s army made a move, the prophet Elisha was able to warn the king of Israel (vs. 9-10). The king of Syria demanded to know who among his kingdom was a spy (vs. 11). One of his officers told him Elisha was able to see everything he did. The king ordered his men to find out where Elisha was so his army could capture him. A report came back that Elisha was in the city of Dothan (vs. 13). The king then sent his army at night to capture him (vs. 14).

The next morning, Elisha’s servant saw the surrounding army and panicked (vs. 15). He asked Elisha, “‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’” (vs. 15b NKJV). Elisha replied, “‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’” (vs. 16 NKJV). Then he prayed, “‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’” (vs. 17a NKJV).

I believe what happened next may have been a “vision.” The Bible account says “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.” (vs. 17b NKJV). The Voice Bible says the servant saw “heavenly realities,” which I think is an intriguing way of describing it. He became aware of things he hadn’t known, things only God could reveal.

Elisha then prayed that God would make the Syrian army blind, and God did (vs. 18). Then Elisha told the Syrians they were in the wrong place and offered to guide them to the one they were seeking (vs. 19). He led them to Samaria, then asked God to restore their sight (vs. 19b-20). The king of Israel asked if he should kill the men (vs. 21) but Elisha told him to provide them with food and water and send them home (vs. 22). The king prepared a feast for the men, and when they had eaten their fill he sent them back to Syria (vs. 23a). From then on, Israel no longer had any trouble with Syria or its king (vs. 23b).

I can’t say what happened. Again, I can only guess there may have been a “vision.” Elisha either saw “heavenly realities” or he had faith to believe they were there, and somehow God made Elisha’s servant aware of them too. They’re probably all around us in our times of need, spiritual help to resist evil (2 Cor. 10:3-4). While some translations say something like “‘Do not be afraid. Our side outnumbers theirs.’” (New American Bible), others render it as “‘those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’” (emphasis added). I think that’s an interesting phrase: The forces of God don’t merely outnumber the forces of the world, our God is more, is greater, than anything else we can imagine (1 Chr. 29:10-13). Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12 NKJV). Elisha recognized this and he also recognized that we are not in the battle alone.

The author of Hebrews wrote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1 NKJV). Faith can allow us to perceive “heavenly realities.” When Jesus was on Earth, he didn’t just see sinners, he saw people in need of redemption (John 8:2-11). If we look at others through eyes of faith, we will see them as God sees them, as beloved children of God, in need of our own love and grace.

“‘For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1Sam. 16:7b NKJV.)