When Elisha's servant got up the next morning, he saw that Syrian troops had the town surrounded. “Sir, what are we going to do?” he asked.
“Don't be afraid,” Elisha answered. “There are more troops on our side than on theirs.” Then he prayed, “Lord, please help him to see.” And the Lord let the servant see that the hill was covered with fiery horses and flaming chariots all around Elisha.
As the Syrian army came closer, Elisha prayed, “Lord, make those soldiers blind!” And the Lord blinded them with a bright light.
Elisha told the enemy troops, “You've taken the wrong road and are in the wrong town. Follow me. I'll lead you to the man you're looking for.” Elisha led them straight to the capital city of Samaria.
When all the soldiers were inside the city, Elisha prayed, “Lord, now let them see again.” The Lord let them see that they were standing in the middle of Samaria. The king of Israel saw them and asked Elisha, “Should I kill them, sir?”
“No!” Elisha answered. “You didn't capture these troops in battle, so you have no right to kill them. Instead, give them something to eat and drink and let them return to their leader.”
The king ordered a huge meal to be prepared for Syria's army, and when they finished eating, he let them go. For a while, the Syrian troops stopped invading Israel's territory.
2 Kings 6:15-23
I think we are all familiar with prayers that we utter when we ask for vision. When you cannot see things that you know by faith are there, God can open your eyes to the world of the unseen! Like Elisha's servant God can enable you to see His power working in the world around you.
But there are times when it is important to also pray for blindness, times when you can pray for God to blind the eyes of those who would try to stop you from doing His will in this world. Instead of praying that God would defeat His enemies who oppose you, pray that He blind their eyes to His calling on your life. Of course, He can destroy them as well, but you never know if by being blinded by God they will come to know Him and become your brothers! They may be on their "road to Damascus" and like Saul will be transformed into His faithful servants!
“Lord Jesus, give me the wisdom to know when to pray for Your enemies to be blind to what You are doing in this world, and when to pray that You defeat them. And Lord, give me the courage to fear only You and not those who for now consider themselves Your enemies. And may You, Jesus be praised forever. Amen!”
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