The Prophet ElishaSample

God Reigns Supreme

“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.” (2 Kings 6:18)

Elisha repeatedly informed the Israelite king about the secret plans of the Syrians that God revealed to him. Therefore, the Syrian army came to catch Elisha. However, Elisha asked God to make the soldiers blind — and He did. It’s almost ridiculous to read how the prophet Elisha told them, “I’ll bring you to the man whom you seek,” and led them to the Israelite king in his capital city, Samaria. As soon as the soldiers entered the city, the Lord opened their eyes, and they noticed that they were trapped by the very man they had come to arrest. They found themselves in the lion’s den, so to speak.

However, Elisha did not strike them down but prepared a great feast. The soldiers were now bound by social custom (for the time being) not to attack someone who had offered them hospitality and protection.

This story shows how God sometimes intervenes in politics as well. When kings and armies go against His will, “the One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Psalm 2:4). He is the ultimate ruler. He caused these soldiers to walk right into the trap, blind to the plain truth. He revealed to Elisha the Syrians’ most secret plans that nobody was supposed to know. He reigns supreme, and He is in charge!