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Take another look

A devotion on God's protection

Do you often feel like you are being ambushed? Do the challenges of life sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed and fearful of things to come? What do you do when your back is against the wall and devastation seems imminent? 

In 2 Kings 6, there was a servant who found himself in a dire situation with no way out. The King of Syria was at war against Israel and planned several sneak attacks to ambush the Israeli army; however, God revealed to the Prophet Elisha the king’s plans. Elisha warned the king of Israel to avoid the areas where the Syrian army planned to attack. 

Once the King of Syria heard it was Elisha who warned the people of the attack, he became furious and during the night sent a great multitude of soldiers with horses and chariots to capture him. 

The next morning when the prophet’s servant went outside, he panicked when he saw they were surrounded by the Syrian army. Can you imagine walking out of your front door to find you are surrounded by the enemy? 

In an attempt to calm the young man, the wise prophet spoke these words, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16). What? Did the prophet forget how to count? The servant could clearly see the two of them were outnumbered so why would the prophet make such a statement? 

Elisha had faced similar situations prior to this, and he was certain God was on his side, so he prayed for God to open the servant’s spiritual eyes. Afterward, Elisha encouraged the servant to take another look, and when he did, he saw things from a different vantage point. 

As the servant looked at the situation again, he was not only able to see the Syrian army with his natural eyes, but he could now see God’s divine protection from a spiritual perspective. 

“And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). 

That’s what I call a view from the top! 

Often we feel like the servant who stepped out his door and felt surrounded; however, we must remember that no matter what things look like, God is in control. 

When you feel your back is against the wall and life is coming at you fast and hard, try not to panic and always remember, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Stop, pray and ask God to give you a view from the top.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” –Proverbs 18:10

Written by Shonice Reed, director of the Buckner Family Hope Center at Aldine.

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