The Unseen Hosts

by TOMS, A.F. | Category: In The Time Of Elisha The Prophet | May 2002

There is a spiritual world around us of which some are more conscious than others. The Bible says the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. However, the unseen, eternal things are every bit as real as the things we can see and handle. And they are infinitely more valuable, by as much as eternity is longer than time! We need to often remind ourselves of this fact and to be particularly mindful of the exhortation to 'seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth' (Col.3:l,2).

We are reminded of this by an incident in Elisha's life. (2 Kin.6:8-23) He had been advising the king of Israel where the opposing king of Syria was planning to strike. When the king of Syria found out how the secret information was reaching Israel's king he sent his horsemen and chariots to take Elisha captive. One morning when Elisha's servant looked out he found the city surrounded by the Syrian hosts. '"Alas, my master! What shall we do?"' he cried. Elisha's reply deserves our careful thought. '"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them,"' he said. But the young man could not see anyone with them. They seemed to be all alone and that was why he was so alarmed. Elisha could see what he couldn't see, for the spiritual world around him was real to God's servant. He had seen the angels escorting Elijah to heaven as in a whirlwind and he had never forgotten it. He was conscious of the presence of those same angels right now when his life was in danger, and he simply asked the Lord to open the young man's eyes. And God did just that. He caused the servant to see what Elisha had been aware of all the time, a host of horses and chariots of fire, doubtless angelic beings, for Habakkuk wrote of the LORD riding upon His horses and His chariots of salvation (see 3:8). They formed a wall of protection around God's prophet and his servant.

The spiritual world is real. We know that. There are spiritual hosts of wickedness under the control of Satan, which are against us. But thank God there are also spiritual hosts under His control which are for us, and Elisha's word remains for ever true, '"those who are with us are more than those who are with them"' (2 Kin.6:16). So, with the apostle Paul we say with confidence 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' We need the eyes of our hearts enlightened, do we not, so that we shall be more aware of our angel guardians, for 'are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?' (Heb.1:14)

Let us pray for ourselves and for one another as Paul did for the Ephesians, that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened that we may know,

1. 'the hope of His calling',

2. 'the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints' and

3. 'the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe' (1:18,19).

TOMS, A.F. | May 2002
In The Time Of Elisha The Prophet