When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So 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. (II Kings 6:15-17 ESV)
Knowing vs Seeing
Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, learned the difference between what you can see, and what you can know. That morning, when Gehazi’s eyes saw the army that surrounded him, he was afraid. His senses (his sight, his hearing, maybe even his smell) convinced him that doom had arrived.
But Elisha understood that there is a knowing beyond our senses. Elisha understood that while our senses are indeed useful, and necessary, and tools for learning, God is more than what we can see, or hear, or smell, or taste, or feel.
And the difference between sensing and knowing is the difference between fear and peace.
It’s not that our senses are foundationally unreliable. Those chariots were real. Those horses were there. That loud army was big, and skilled, and eager. But our senses are not the whole portrait.
Elisha understood that even though that big, real, active army was dangerous, the God who loved him was bigger, more real, and more active. And I commend Elisha. He chose knowledge instead of fear. He chose the big picture instead of narrow focus. He chose God instead of an army.
And he didn’t know as much as we do! Because in between Elisha’s time and our time is Jesus. Elisha hoped in a Redeemer, but from our perspective, the Redeemer has come. Elisha had to trust that God’s Words were true, but we have seen that God keeps His promises. We’ve seen what Jesus has done.
And if Elisha’s very small bigger knowledge was enough to overcome his fear… our bigger bigger knowledge stomps on fear, laughs at fear, shakes it’s head at fear, and ends fear.
We don’t face a high-tech army like Gehazi and Elisha did. We don’t face an angry empire like Gehazi and Elisha did. We don’t face human military action like Gehazi and Elisha did.
But whatever you fear today, God has a bigger truth. Whatever is making you ask, “Master, what shall we do???” God is already doing what you need. Whatever physical, emotional, or spiritual worries wake you up in the middle of the night…
God says, “Do not be afraid… “ Because Christ has ensured that God is with you.
Fear not.