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Let me take a minute to remind you of the setting. Elijah has been taken up by a whirlwind to Heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha has succeeded him as God’s prophet to the nation. And to authenticate that Elisha is indeed God’s man, and not some imposter, God has empowered Elisha to do miracles… last week we saw God gave Elisha the power to heal Naaman of his leprosy.
In order to get a better understanding of the times in which Elisha lived, lets turn first to 2 Kings 2.
2 Kings 2:19-24 – Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. 23 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
Please don’t think these youths who accost Elisha are innocent little boys out playing pranks. This is a gang of thugs… trouble-makers. Since we know that 42 of them were mauled, Elisha was outnumbered 42 to 1, and maybe even more than this if there were some who escaped. This could have been a very intimidating confrontation for Elisha, but the bad boys of Bethel got what they deserved. God says we reap what we sow, and here the harvest came in an instant. The very ones who thought it would be great fun to intimidate Elisha wound up on the receiving end of the intimidation as God provided a feast for 2 hungry female bears that “just happened to come out of the woods at this particular time.”
These brats were both hostile and insulting to Elisha. It wasn’t uncommon for the prophets to shave their head, and calling Elisha “baldhead” was certainly not a term of endearment. And there are two ways to understand what they meant by the words, “Go up”. Were they challenging Elisha to do what Elijah had just done (“Go up” into Heaven), or were they suggesting something like this: “Get out of town, you’re not welcome here.” I think it is obvious they did not want to hear the Word of the Lord.
I also think it’s important to realize that Elisha didn’t personally harm any one of these gangsters. Yes, Elisha pronounced a curse on them, but by pronouncing a curse, he left judgment where it belongs… in the hands of God. It was God who sent the bears to maul these young men. If we don’t like what happened to them, then we have a problem with God. God tried these young men as adults and found them guilty.
There are 2 lessons we need to take away from this as we get ready to look at 2 Kings 6. First of all, watch what you say to bald peopleJ. Second, we need to respect others. Parents, I believe this starts by teaching your kids to respect you.
2 Kings 6:1-7 – And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. 2 “Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” 6 So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. 7 Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
At first blush we may be tempted to think, “What a strange story. Why did God include this in the Bible?” But if we slow down for just a minute, I think we will realize it is not so strange after all. Do you see what is going on here?
The school of the prophets was growing and they needed some new facilities. The phrase “sons of the prophets” is not intended to point us to who the parents of these men were, but to identify them as men taught by God’s prophets. It refers to the school of the prophets. We are told very little about these schools of the prophets in Elisha’s day. In fact, we know virtually nothing about them except the fact that they existed. One at Bethel (2 Kings 2:3). One at Jericho (2 Kings 2:5). One at Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38)
One of the prophets asked Elisha for permission to go to the Jordan where all of the prophets would get busy building their new facility, and they even wanted Elisha to join them. I think we need to ask how many seminary students would be willing to build their own schools today, and how many seminary students today want to spend time with their professors outside of the classroom?
As they are in the process of cutting down trees to build their new facility, one of the prophets loses his axe head in the Jordan River. He is upset because the axe head was borrowed, and he no doubt doesn’t have the resources to purchase a replacement (which he knows he is obligated to do). So he cries out to Elisha and the prophet performs a miracle… the axe head floats to the surface and the man retrieves it.
I don’t think the primary lesson for us to learn is that we need to be careful with the things we borrow (even though that is true). And likewise, I don’t think the lesson we need to learn is that we need to make sure the things we lend are in good working order (even though that too, is true). I especially don’t think we need to be too critical of this poor man who lost the axe head for this reason… he was engaged in a great work. He was busy… he wasn’t goofing off doing nothing while everyone else was working. If there is a flaw to be found, it is found in this… he was working, but he was not watching. And because he wasn’t watching, he lost the axe head and thus he was unable to continue his work. He had lost his cutting edge.
The axe head is the power that gets the job done. You are not going to be much help to the rest of the group by flailing at trees with just an axe handle… it takes the sharp, penetrating power of the axe head to cut through the bark and fell the tree. Do you think there might be a lesson for us today? What is our cutting edge?
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We need to realize that our cutting edge is the Word of God, and it is the Holy Spirit Who takes the Word and surgically applies it to our hearts. Many of you know the name Vance Havner, and “old-timey” evangelist from North Carolina. He made the following comments about this text:
Many of the Lord’s workmen today have lost the axe head of power. They have lost the joy of salvation; they have not the upholding of God’s Spirit. The axe head of the Spirit’s unction has fallen into the waters of worldliness, ponds of indifference, and swamps of sluggishness. They have ability, training, earnestness, but they are chopping with the handle.
Observe, first, that this axe head was borrowed. The believer’s power for service is from God, he has nothing he did not receive. He may study, have personality, enthusiasm, but the axe head is borrowed….
Consider, next, that this workman lost his axe head. The tragedy of lost power! Was there a time when you could pray with liberty, teach with power, preach with freedom? Was there a time when you had influence with your children, and your neighbors had confidence in your testimony? And now you have lost the axe head; it has fallen into the water of business cares, pleasure, worldly living, evil habits, indifference or laziness…. You are going through the same old motions of wood chopping, but it is all a vain show, for the power is not there….
Consider, again, that the prophet stopped chopping until the axe head was recovered. That is natural, but would to God that His workmen would stop hollow motions in His service until power be recovered…. Men work all the harder to hide their lack of power as sometimes the preacher pounds the pulpit all the harder when he has run out of something to say. But there is no sense in working doubly fast with the handle just to keep men from seeing that there is no axe head on it!…
Elisha asked the distressed workman, “Where fell it?” The place to find lost power is where you lost it. If you have disobeyed God, go back there and confess it…. There must be confession before God can cleanse and empower. Vance Havner, The Secret of Christian Joy (Old Tappen, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1938), chapter 7.
But there’s another lesson in this story… one that speaks not only about God’s power in us, but of God’s care for us. Most of you know the story about John Newton, the English sea captain who was a slave trader, but more importantly, a vile and wicked man. He was wondrously saved and he became a well known pastor in London. Newton is best known for composing one of the hymns we love to sing today, “Amazing Grace,” but what is not as well known is the fact that John Newton would regularly compose hymns to tie in with his sermons. Here is a hymn that he composed to go along with the story of the axe head.
The prophet sons, in time of old,
Though to appearance poor;
Were rich without possessing gold,
And honored, though obscure.
In peace their daily bread they eat,
By honest labor earned;
While daily at Elisha’s feet,
They grace and wisdom learned.
The prophet’s presence cheered their toil,
They watched the words he spoke;
Whether they turned the furrowed soil,
Or felled the spreading oak.
Once as they listened to his theme,
Their conference was stopped;
For one beneath the yielding stream,
A borrowed axe had dropped.
Alas! it was not mine, he said,
How shall I make it good?
Elisha heard, and when he prayed,
The iron swam like wood.
If God, in such a small affair,
A miracle performs;
It shows his condescending care
Of poor unworthy worms.
Though kings and nations in his view
Are but as motes and dust;
His eye and ear are fixed on you,
Who in his mercy trust.
Not one concern of ours is small,
If we belong to him;
To teach us this, the Lord of all,
Once made the iron swim.
Does Scripture bear this out, or is this just wishful thinking?
Psalm 37:23 (NLB) – The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Matthew 10:30 – But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
One of the wonderful realities about God is that He guides the galaxies with one hand, and He counts the hairs of our head with the other.
2 Kings 6:8-13 – Now the king of Syria [Ben Hadad] was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God [Elisha] sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.”
The king of Syria was making war with Israel (I wonder what role Naaman is playing in all this now that he has been healed of his leprosy and has become a worshipper of the One, True, Living God, the God of Israel). The college class War 101 teaches us that to be successful in war the element of surprise is essential, and this is where God was giving the Syrians fits through His prophet, Elisha. God told Elisha all about Ben Hadad’s secret battle plans, and Elisha would tell Joram (the king of Israel) before Syria attacked. Obviously, every Syrian attack was thwarted.
After several of these failed efforts, Ben Hadad was convinced that one of his men must be a double agent, passing along secret information to the Israelites. But one of his men (Naaman?) told Ben Hadad that Elisha the prophet was the one revealing Syria’s battle plans to the king of Israel.
I think it is quite amusing that Ben Hadad thought he could take out Elisha, and thus solve all his problems. Ben Hadad had ears, but he couldn’t hear!!! Ben Hadad’s servant told him that Elisha was telling Joram all his secret plans. Does Ben Hadad think that somehow he can keep this new plan a secret?
So the first thing Ben Hadad does is to ascertain Elisha’s whereabouts. How easy it would have been for God to tell Elisha what Ben Hadad was up to (after all, this is what had been happening up till now), and while we don’t know whether or not God revealed all this to him, we do know that Elisha made no effort to get away.
2 Kings 6:14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
Ben Hadad found out that Elisha was in Dothan, and as such he surrounded the city with his great army. Humanly speaking, it is not looking good for Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17 – And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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.
Early the next morning, Elisha’s servant (Gehazi?) went out of the house and thought he was a dead man… Syria’s army equipped with horses and chariots had him surrounded. Dothan is situated in the hill country in northern Samaria, just south of the Jezreel Valley. When the servant walked outside it isn’t hard to imagine his fright when he saw the horses and chariots, and he knew they were ready to attack.
The servant frantically ran back to Elisha and told him the news. He asked what they should do. Elisha told him what he should do… he should calm down. Elisha knew that his servant didn’t see what he saw. His servant saw only flesh and blood. Elisha assured his servant that those who were on their side greatly outnumbered the enemy’s forces, so Elisha prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes so he could see the angelic army that was not visible to the naked eye. God’s prophet was safe and secure. The king of Syria may have wanted to take Elisha out, but God intervened.
Elisha isn’t talking about the people in Dothan when he says, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” He’s talking about the angels protecting them. And folks, there is a great lesson here for us. We’re not alone… that invisible army of angels that protected Elisha and his servant are alive and well today.
Psalm 34:7 – The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Hebrews 1:14 – Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
2 Kings 6:17 – And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
I think one of our biggest problems in life is our lack of spiritual perception… we don’t see things as they really are. And this works both ways. Sometimes the coast looks all clear when in reality danger is lurking. Samson thought it would be of little consequence to tell Delilah the secret of his strength, but when he woke up after a little nap, Samson thought everything was fine… he didn’t know that the Lord had departed from him.
I think too, of Balaam and his donkey. The donkey stopped in the middle of the road because it saw the Angel of the Lord with His sword drawn ready to kill Balaam. Balaam thought the coast was clear when in reality his very life was in danger.
On the other hand, sometimes things look pretty scary, but in reality, we are as safe as can be. Do you remember the time the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee and a storm arose? What was Jesus doing? He was sleeping. The disciples thought they were about to perish. They didn’t know that for every rising of the storm we can count on the rising of the Master.
Do you remember the time Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were tossed into the fiery furnace? I have no doubt they thought they were about to be die a horrible death.
Daniel 3:19-25 – Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Two verses come to mind that teach us a lot about the need for God to open our eyes so we can see what can’t be seen with just the naked eye.
Psalm 119:18 – Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
Ephesians 1:15-23 – Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
2 Kings 6:17- And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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.
Talk about a change of perspective! When the Lord opened his eyes he saw that he and Elisha were surrounded not by the enemy, but by horses and chariots of fire. Does that phrase, “horses and chariots of fire” ring a bell?
2 Kings 2:11 – Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
As I mentioned earlier, the angels that rescued Elisha some 2900 years ago are alive and well today.
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present–but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men with drawn swords circling the mission station. (Today in the Word, MBI, October, 1991, p. 18).
Back to our text:
2 Kings 6:18-20 – So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria. 20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!
Elisha prayed earlier that his servant’s eyes might be opened, and they were. And now he now prays that the eyes of the Syrian soldiers will be closed, and they were. God struck the entire Syrian army with blindness. That’s a pretty good way to render your enemy helpless. How are you going to fight someone you can’t see? But isn’t this just the point? These soldiers were fighting God whom they couldn’t see as they tried to capture and kill Elisha. They were spiritually blind and didn’t even know it… what a helpless condition. A condition that is worse than physical blindness.
2 Corinthians 4:1-7 – Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2 Kings 6:21-23 – Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22 But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.
Joram thought this was the perfect opportunity to slaughter the entire Syrian army, but before proceeding, he first asked Elisha’s permission. Elisha’s answer was quite a surprise. Who would have ever thought that Elisha would say no to such a request… after all the Syrian army had shown up for the express purpose of killing Elisha. Not killing your enemy is one thing, but who would have thought of putting on a banquet for your enemy? But, in obedience to Elisha’s command, the children of Israel fed their enemies. Can you imagine one of these Israeli soldiers coming home to his wife and telling her she needs to help feed an army… and that of the enemy?
After dinner, the Syrian soldiers were released and sent home. What a way to win a war… not by defeating your enemies, but by feeding them!
Romans 12:14-21 – Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary has this to say about the significance of this meal:
In the ancient Near East eating together under one’s roof constituted making a covenant of peace. The Arameans [Syrians]were now bound by social custom not to attack the friend who had extended his gift of hospitality and protection. For these reasons the Arameans stopped raiding Israel’s territory for a time.
Who would have imagined that God would spare Elisha’s life, that He would spare Israel from war, and that He would spare Naaman from warring against God’s people by allowing the Syrian army to find Elisha? Who would have thought that God would deliver His people (Elisha and Israel) through an enemy army, whose sole purpose was to destroy them?
Only God can do such things. Are there circumstances in your life that seem just as bleak? If you are a child of God, I can assure you that God delights in taking those things that appear to be our downfall and making them the instruments of our deliverance.
