[The Lord opened the servants eyes]
17 And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, 'Strike this army with blindness.' So, he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, 'This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.' And he led them to Samaria. 20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, 'Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.' Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, 'Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?'
22 'Do not kill them,' he answered. 'Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.' 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israels territory.
1.God leads us to pray with repentance and selflessness. (A prayer for the servant)
Q: who is it I need to pray for selflessly and persistently so that God would open his/her eyes? What do I need to repent in my attitude towards that person?
2.God makes you see what you need to see, not what you want to see. (A prayer for Aram)
Q: what do you want to see at any cost? What was the dark event that forced you to see Jesus? What would you rather see for your child: success or salvation?
3.God enables us to bear the fruit of obedience.
Q: Are you crying out like King Jehoram, 'Shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?' How should we overcome our stubbornness and apply this message so that such an obedience would lead us and those around us to life?
