Opened Eyes

by J. P. A. TAYLOR | Category: Opened Eyes | Jul 1943

When Elisha was called to the home of the great woman of Shunem because her boy was dead and he shut himself in the room with the -dead child, he then prayed and stretched himself upon the lad; he had encouragement to persevere, for "the flesh of the child waxed warm." Again he stretched himself upon him- and unmistakeable evidence of the return of life was given when" the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his-eyes" (2 Kings 4.32-35).

When in faith we seek God's face in prayer, though He grant not our petition at first, surely, as in Elisha's case here, He fails not to encourage us to persevere. Truly, His delays are not denials.

In faith Elijah said to Ahab," There is the sound of abundance of rain." Then he went up to the top of Carmel and bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. He told his servant, " Go up now, look toward the sea," but nothing was visible to indicate the coming of the rain. Go again seven times " he said, and then it was that " a cloud out of the sea, as small as a

hand" became the sure sign that God had heard and was answering His servant's prayer.

Elisha's servant was in great anxiety when he saw the Syrian host with horses and chariots surrounding Dothan, intent on laying hold upon Elisha. He exclaimed, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" Elisha's reply may have been quite incomprehensible to him at the moment, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them," but when Elisha prayed,-" LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see," and the LORD opened his eyes, then he understood how true were Elisha's words, and what little cause they had to fear, for "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." Thus protected they were safe indeed. And has not prayer ever been a potent influence in the way of opening the eyes? Many are they whose eyes have been opened to see their need of salvation through the prayers of others which led to the new birth; others through the same means have been assured of divine protection amidst manifold dangers. Elisha's young man learned that God could make him see things which otherwise were to him invisible, and is not the scripture apposite to our theme which says,-" Our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" ? (2 Corinthians 4.17, 18).

We read of Moses in Hebrews ii. 27 that "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." Blessed indeed are all who in grace have had their eyes opened to see "Him who is invisible" ! It is fitting truly that we should seek to "run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God "(Hebrews - 12.1, 2).

J. P. A. TAYLOR | Jul 1943
Opened Eyes