Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old
Testament: Syrian Army Routed.
Occasion: The Rescue Of Elisha.
Location: Dothan.
Bible Text: II Kings 6:8-23 NLT
II Kings 6:8-23 NLT (Arameans
trapped.
8 When the king of Aram was at war
with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will
mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”
9 But immediately Elisha, the man of
God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for
the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”
10 So the king of Israel would send
word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha
warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.
11 The king of Aram became very
upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which
of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of
my plans?”
12 “It’s not us, my lord the
king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in
Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the
privacy of your bedroom!”
13 “Go and find out where he is,”
the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.”
And the report came back: “Elisha
is at Dothan.”
14 So one night the king of Aram
sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.
15 When the servant of the man of
God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were
troops, horses, and chariots 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.
18 As the Aramean army advanced
toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So
the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.
19 Then Elisha went out and told
them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city!
Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And
he led them to the city of Samaria.
20 As soon as they had entered
Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them
see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they
were in the middle of Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them,
he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill
them?”
22 “Of course not!” Elisha
replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and
send them home again to their master.”
23 So the king made a great feast
for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the
Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.
II Kings 8:6 NLT
When the king of Aram was at war
with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will
mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”
During the reign of
Jehoram of Israel, Syrian King Ben-hadad, warred against Israel.
King Ben-hadad in
his campaigns against Israel, would tell his military captains where
his secret places for encampments would be.
II Kings 6:9,10
NLT
9 But immediately Elisha, the man
of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place,
for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”
10 So the king of Israel would
send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again
Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.
A fine idea, but....Elisha the prophet of God, knew his plans and
warned King Jehoram. All the most clandestine plans of Ben-Hadad,
were thus spoiled, leaving the King in utter rage.
II Kings 6:11,12
NLT
11 The king of Aram became very
upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which
of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of
my plans?”
12 “It’s not us, my lord the
king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in
Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the
privacy of your bedroom!”
The Apostle Paul spoke of this spiritual gift:
I Corinthians 12:8 KJV
For to one is given by The Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
And why does The Spirit Of God, give these gifts?
I Corinthians 12:7 KJV
But the manifestation of The Spirit is given to every man to
profit withal.
And Israel was blessed because of the prophets gift of knowledge!
King Ben-Hadad, was not to be out done by Elisha, he had a plan,
that surely would not fail!
II Kings 6:13-15 NLT
13 “Go and find out where he
is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.”
And the report came back: “Elisha
is at Dothan.”
14 So one night the king of Aram
sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.
15 When
the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went
outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh,
sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.
And, yes that may be us facing the enemy, but thank God, He has
promised....
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Numbers 14:9 NLT
Do not rebel against The Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people
of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no
protection, but The Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
II Chronicles 32:7,8 KJV
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the
king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for
there be more with us than with him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is The Lord our God to
help us, and to fight our battles..."
Psalm 3:6-8 KJV
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set
themselves against me round about.
7 "...O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies..."
8 Salvation belongeth unto The Lord: thy blessing is upon thy
people. Selah.
Psalm 27:3-6 KJV
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not
fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of The Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in The House Of The Lord all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of The Lord, and to enquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in
the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up
upon a Rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round
about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto The Lord.
Psalm 34:7 KJV
The Angel Of The Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him,
and delivereth them.
Psalm 91:4 KJV
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt
thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm 108:13 KJV
Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread
down our enemies.
Psalm 125:1,2 KJV
1 They that trust in The Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot
be removed, but abideth for ever.
2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so The Lord is round
about His people from henceforth even for ever.
Isaiah 59:19 KJV
So shall they fear the name of The Lord from the west, and His
glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a
flood, The Spirit Of The Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
I Corinthians 10:13 MSG
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of
what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God
will never let you down; He’ll never let you be pushed past your
limit; He’ll always be there to help you come through it.
I John 3:8 KJV
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from
the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that
he might destroy the works of the devil.
II Kings 6:16,17 NLT
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.
Mark 11:22 KJV
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Ben-Hadad had a plan, but unknown to him, God had plans of His own.
II Kings 6:18-20 NLT
18 As the Aramean army advanced
toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So
the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.
19 Then Elisha went out and told
them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city!
Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And
he led them to the city of Samaria.
20 As soon
as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their
eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they
discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.
The enemy had been captured! One moment they were strong and
ruthless, ready to kill and maim, and capture the prophet of God.
Now, the tables had been completely turned, they were the hostages.
Genesis 18:14 KJV
Is any thing too hard for The Lord?..."
II Kings 6:21-23 NLT
21 When the king of Israel saw
them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should
I kill them?”
22 “Of course not!” Elisha
replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and
send them home again to their master.”
23 So the
king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their
master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of
Israel.
As Prisoners Of War, it would not have been humane to kill the enemy
soldiers.
God, had proven to Israel once again, that He alone was Almighty God!
II Chronicles 16:9 KJV
For the eyes of The Lord run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is
perfect toward Him.
